[Jane-M]

Is this the right place to ask for help on fattening birds for the table? If not please shunt this message to the right forum please.

I have three 16 week cockerels - not ever going to be fantastically big roasters as they are Dorking x brown laying hens. They free range three days a week and eat layers pellets, scraps and a little corn in with the laying flock. My question is, how soon before killing them should I bring them in for fattening? I have a separate house and run they can use. And at what sort of age should I be expecting to kill them - or should I weigh them? Sorry, seriously new to the meaty bit of chicken rearing.

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Jane, if you can separate them from the laying hens in a separate coop/run,  I'd do that and put them onto rearer/growers to get them a bit bigger, then a week before you are going to kill them put them back on layers or mixed corn to clean any medications out of their systems.

Do that now. 

Age wise, don't leave them too long or they get tough and no good for roasting unless you steam them first.  Say no more than 6 months.  But someone will disagree with me!!!

[Foxy]

Grannie at what temp do you roast yours at? 

[Jane-M]

Thanks Grannie.

[darcyhen]

Hi,

I had three spare cockerals also not particularly great for the table, speckled sussexs. I culled them at approaching 20 weeks. I didn't do anything special before just let them roam around the garden eating whatever and the mixed corn feed.
They were not very fleshy but each provided a meal for two adults and three kids and a great big saucepan of soup.
They looked very different from supermarket chickens. like frozen white turkey vs organic free range bronze turkeys. The meat was really tasty like how chicken should taste.
We still have one in the freezer and i would definately do it again if we hatch cockerals.
At 20weeks mine still hadn't crowed or made a play for a chicken, but i dont know how much longer they would have been able to stay in the garden with our cock - same age but matured quicker and looks prettier!
good luck!

Michelle

[GrannieAnnie]

Sorry Foxy, only just seen this one!  I sometimes start them off at 180 for 10 minutes to seal in the juices a bit, but if I'm outside working, I just put them straight on 150/160C, but cook them longer than a supermarket chicken.  I'm afraid I don't time things, just stick a skewer in now and again until the juices run clear with no pink in them.  then take it out of oven to stand for a bit.

[Foxy]

Thanks Grannie! Roasted one this weekend, low heat with tinfoil which I took off for the last 15mins or so...it was scrumptious, meat just fell off the bone, no fat at all or even gristle

[GrannieAnnie]

I know Foxy, lovely aren't they?  when we don't have our own chickens now, we don't eat chicken!  Luckily, we've been eating turkey all year, so guess what we are having for Christmas dinner?         BEEF!!!!! lol

[Caralou]

Im going to have to do my cock birds soon  I've been debating sneaking them in the car when I bring the kittens to Debbie and getting your Brian to do them Ann  I'm very attached to the smaller light sussex cock bird as he keeps bringing me worms to eat and dropping them at my feet - but he's always been destined for the table and I have to make myself do it as if I'm going to hatch I have to plan for the cocks.

I intend to seperate soon as the speckled sussex and larger light sussex are close to crowing and the speckled in particular has a good body weight already (he's now 23 weeks old and the light sussex 16 weeks old). I'm thinking a week on corn before the cull to flavour them up.

[Foxy]

Cara, if you want to give the light sussex a respite.. my neighbour needs a new boy desperately!

[Caralou]

YAY!!!!! He's pure breed and so lovely and likes being handled  Bet the other two wish they had brought me worms now 

And, if I come to you I get to see little Sammy, all is good 

[joyfull]

lucky him 
so what did the worms taste like? You did eat them I hope after all it would've been rude not to and you wouldn't want to have hurt his feelings now would you