Meat birds

[Redeemed98]

Quick question that I have not really thought of. Do I want males or females or does it matter for raising meat birds l Ike Cornish x or freedom rangers?



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[shanzone2001]

Never mattered much to me. The males do end up weighing a little more, but not a big difference when you butcher at 10-12 weeks.

[MilkAholic]

I like getting strait run because of the variety in sizes of finished birds, I butcher at 8-9 weeks. I raise CornishX. I do have to add though that you'd better have enough feeder space if you get st run because the big males will push the females out of the way and you can get runty girls. Feeder space is one of the most important things IMO. I have no experience with Rangers, I'm very satisfied with my cornishXs.

[farmerDale]

Yup the males grow faster and finish bigger, but they have more pronounced legs and thighs, and a more "bony" or "gangly" shaped carcass. The hens offer a more rounded, plumper, but smaller and lighter carcass. Some like the hens based on pure and simple physical shape. They look more, "butterballish".

As far as taste and such, it really doesn't matter though..

[gavin]

With the Cornish X there is not a big difference, the roosters will be a bit bigger. After processing them I couldn’t tell you which was a rooster or a hen. I did notice a difference with the Freedom Rangers which I raised for the first time this year. The roosters were almost 2 pounds bigger than the Freedom Ranger hens. I won’t be doing the Freedom rangers again this year. They didn’t act like normal chickens like I’d hoped, they just took longer, had more feathers and left me with a smaller end product. My favorite meat bird is the Cornish Roaster. Don’t seem to have the health problems the Jumbo Cornish X’s have and still yield a big delicious bird.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by gavin

I won’t be doing the Freedom rangers again this year. They didn’t act like normal chickens like I’d hoped,

My Freedom Rangers act like normal chickens (other than having the "broiler waddle"). How were yours acting? What kind of set up did you have for them?

[mzgarden]

We did straight run Cornish. We processed in waves which was ok since we were skinning, rather than plucking (less set up to do a few at a time). We started at 7 weeks with the 5 biggest birds. Did 3 every other night and then last stretch was 11. Birds averaged nearly 5 pounds and most likely we caught the roos in the early stages but I don't think it made any difference.

[fixer1958]

I liked males the most. They grew bigger faster and could do them in 6-7 weeks and still had a 6+ bird. I like them big and meaty. 8 weeks with females.

I look at it to get it over with the quicker the better.
Feed costs kept me from doing it this year amongst other things. I miss my own chicken.