[pushrod]

Hi new poster here but have lurked a bit in the past, anyway, i hatched out some buff orpington hen eggs earlier this year with the intention of sunday dinners. Anyway the first one was dispatched today , a cockerel, and i must admit that by the time it was plucked i was really disappointed by the lack of breast meat on it  
I reckon they must be about 22 weeks old, but not certain, should they be full grown by this age? they have always been well fed with pellets available all the time and loads of vegetable matter and corn in the late afternoon.  :?  Any thoughts appreciated.

[muntjac]

are they bantams or ful orpies  and how much feed you given them ,.each bird wants 3 oz minimum of growers / layers pellets

[pushrod]

are they bantams or ful orpies  and how much feed you given them ,.each bird wants 3 oz minimum of growers / layers pellets

They were bought as "buff orpington eggs believed fertile" at melton market, so not exactly sure what they are? Although they all look like orpingtons with the exception of one which seems to have a touch of silkie. They are considerably bigger than my marans but not as  big as some buff orpington cocks i've seen for sale. The hens have not come into lay (i assume because of the time of year) but could it be that they are just not mature/fully grown yet? The cocks have bright red combs but no spurs on their legs and they do not crow (mind i'm not bother about that   ) They get through the food like nobodies business and there is always plenty available to them. Is there any difference in the amount of meat you expect from cock birds compared to hens?
cheers.

[richyrich7]

Just saying welcome Pushrod  

[muntjac]

sound like banatams and they wont be meat birds so its doesnt matter hat ya feed into them they wont put it on they are egg layers matey

[pushrod]

sound like banatams and they wont be meat birds so its doesnt matter hat ya feed into them they wont put it on they are egg layers matey

Oh dear, sounds like sunday lunches might be a bit meagre, although we could have them two at a time  

[pushrod]

Just saying welcome Pushrod  

Hi richyrich    that egg exchange looks interesting. How does that work?

[muntjac]

if you can posta piccy it would help .if they are banties they are blooming expensivre  lunches £10 a bird expensive  :shock:

[pushrod]

if you can posta piccy it would help .if they are banties they are blooming expensivre  lunches £10 a bird expensive  :shock:

Hi muntjac, will try and post a couple of pics this evening, although my computer skills are not the best  :oops: .
 Sorry, don't understand the "expensive lunches, £10 a bird" ref. I have 10 birds, 6 cocks and 4 hens and was hoping to eat the males (bar one) and keep the females for eggs.
regards.

[muntjac]

well buff banty cockerals are werth £6 a piece  

[pushrod]

well buff banty cockerals are werth £6 a piece  

unfortunately round my way, Melton cattle market, cockerels only fetch a couple of quid at most, doesn't even cover the car parking  :evil:

[muntjac]

id expect that for mongrels but not banties  :roll:

[richyrich7]

Just saying welcome Pushrod  

Hi richyrich    that egg exchange looks interesting. How does that work?

Just contact the poster and go from there, see what they want or swop.