Tiny Angry Roosters

[CrazyTalk]

I bought a bunch of straight run Appenzaller Spitzhauben chicks in June (13 weeks now), and ended up with 12 cockerels, and 4 pullets. If you don't know what the breed is, just think Polish, similar body size and shape. The cockerels are a bit over 3lbs at this point.

Anyways, the coop is big enough for 16 birds, but clearly not for 12 cockerels - the last 2 mornings I've come out to one cockerel with a bunch of broken tailfeathers and a bloody tail. Looks like they've all got blood feathers coming in and once one starts bleeding it just escalates. I've separated the two birds that were bleeding and grabbed two more last night (so 8/4 in the coop now), and there was no blood this morning.


So, what do I do here? Is it worth starting to process these cockerels at 3 lbs? Or do I need to keep them separated and try to put some weight on them? Any advice here?

 

[Rainier]

We had a problem with to many cockerels as well. We had 12 cockerels and 8 pullets.

When they started to fight, beat up the hens, and or attack us they went to freezer camp. I think some ours where about 3 lbs dressed out weight but I had no way to separate them into a bachelor pad.

We just used two for a dinner rather than one large. I've heard that cockerel isn't that great as the meat isn't tender but ours weren't bad at all. I think it is because of the young age.

 

[CrazyTalk]

I don't think I have any space for a bachellor pad at this point either - wife has sheep in one of the barn stalls, her geese in the other, and ducks in the shed. I'd have to build them something, and there's too many other projects on my plate.

Anyone butchered 3lb cockerels before? I'm guessing there's not going to be a lot there - maybe 2 lbs dressed?

 

[Rainier]

I had to double check with hubby. He said they lost between .5 to 1 lb. Started at 3 lbs and dressed were 2 to 2.5 pounds.

 

[LindaB220]

I had to double check with hubby. He said they lost between .5 to 1 lb. Started at 3 lbs and dressed were 2 to 2.5 pounds.

So two of them would be 4 to 5 lbs. Not bad and there should be plenty of meat. And no more outlay of feed for them.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Thanks. That's not too bad.

 

[Rainier]

Results will vary depending on what type of chicken they are as well. Ours were Barred Rocks.

 

[LindaB220]

We had a problem with to many cockerels as well. We had 12 cockerels and 8 pullets.

When they started to fight, beat up the hens, and or attack us they went to freezer camp. I think some ours where about 3 lbs dressed out weight but I had no way to separate them into a bachelor pad.

We just used two for a dinner rather than one large. I've heard that cockerel isn't that great as the meat isn't tender but ours weren't bad at all. I think it is because of the young age.

I just got some Barred Rocks and know that they get big. How old were your 3# birds?

 

[Rainier]

we had several that were 13 weeks! I had to double check with hubby this is what we sent to freezer camp:

6 BR cockerels ranging in age from 13 weeks to 18 weeks. Dressed out weight from 3 lbs - 6 lbs (these were not hatchery chicks)

1 Seabright bantam - dressed out about 1 lb.

1 OE Silver Duckwing bantam - dressed out about 1 lb.

1 Production Red - 3 lbs 14 weeks and was super mean broke skin on us! He tasted the best!

Hubby is a hunter so he's pretty good on guessing weight but we did not use a scale. All weights are guesstimates.

 

[CrazyTalk]

I processed the first couple a week or two ago - all around 2lbs 14 oz, dressed out at almost exactly 2lbs. Next couple will be a little bigger and I'll update with the weights on those.