Fattening the cocks

[roitelet]

The first lot of chicks are 18weeks old and I want to fatten the cocks for the pot. A couple of questions:-

When do I start to feed for fattening?
Should I restrict their run to give them less space to run off the fat?
What is the best diet for fattening? They are on growers pellets at the moment.

Looking forward to advice,thanks.

[RichmondHens]

There is no need to change from growers pellet at the moment. As long as the feed does not contain a coccidiostat then you can feed this up to D day. If it does contain it they will need to be switched to a withdrawal feed (pellet without coccidiostat or other feed) for a week prior to killing. You can supplement the pellet with any grain but not too much otherwise it just goes down as fat and not meat. Cooked potatoes are also supposed to be a good fattener if you have plenty to spare.

Penning them in a smaller area will help them sit around and put weight on, but you will need to remove any girls first otherwise they will start to squabble over them. It is sometimes easiest to get the boys well away from any girls so they are not stimulated by them (out of sight and sound if possible). The girls can be added to the main flock and start having layers pellets with the other hens. You never know, they might start to lay before the winter sets in.

Expect the boys to be a good eating weight by about 26 weeks (sooner if you are happy with how they feel when you pick them up). After this they tend to not really put down much more weight as meat, it goes on as fat instead.

Hope you've got lots of lovely chicken recipes lined up. Bon appetit!

[OverWyreGrower]

Glad someone posted this!

I think we might have to eat 2 of our Welsummer boys

Can't seem to shift them, and now they are 20weeks (and still on growers) I think that I'd rather eat them, than just cull them.

On a fattening-up mission now!

[roitelet]

Thanks for the advice.

[lynda66]

give them assault courses to run and weights to lift .... they want to build up muscle rather than fat ...... and i fed mine cat biccies as well as their pellets, plenty of protein .... and they love them

[winstonwobble]

killed 3 of my cockrels last week just fed them on growers pellets and they have come out at around 41/2 lb not massive but big enough for 3 of us better than just culling them or shuffeling them off to the market RH whats that cocci... stuff you mentioned if the foods had that in it are they unsafe to eat?

[Suechooks]

killed 3 of my cockrels last week just fed them on growers pellets and they have come out at around 41/2 lb not massive but big enough for 3 of us better than just culling them or shuffeling them off to the market RH whats that cocci... stuff you mentioned if the foods had that in it are they unsafe to eat?

It's ACS - anticoccidiostat - put in some growers and chick crumb to help protect the young birds against coccidiosis. It would be stated on the bag if its been added. Its not safe to eat the meat for 7 days after its been fed and also shouldn't be given to laying hens as its carried through into the eggs. Its not present in Layers pellets

[Glutton4...]

We're in the process of making a small pen out of 'Heras' type panels, inside the large grass run. Mummy and Chicks will go in there later in the week, so they have room to grow, as they are already looking cramped in their little run - they grow so fast!

When the youngsters are big enough, the girls will go out in the main run, and the fellas will stay in, and be accompanied by Asbo (sorry Steve, feel free to come and get him, or the vicious b*st*rd goes in the pot!) and they will get fattened up for the freezer!

Am I turning into a heartless c*w, or what!?

[petal]

potatoes, porridge oats, greens, keep feeling those drumsticks until you think they are ready!!!!

[lynda66]

Asbo (sorry Steve, feel free to come and get him, or the vicious b*st*rd goes in the pot!) and they will get fattened up for the freezer!

Am I turning into a heartless c*w, or what!?

i'd have done it the first time he attacked me lol .... thats why buttercup ended up as dinner and the other 2 didn't

[jessmorris]

Anyone eaten a bantam? Half my broods are boys..............pekins and d'Uccles..........I wouldn't pluck them, just skin them, so no extra effort wasted there....and is there a thread on the whole resting / gutting / plucking process anywhere. I've not done it before. I noticed a grape referred to resting the carcase in the fridge. Is this when it is cooling down. Do you gut after this?.. There's lots to learn for a newbie...

[MaureenHall]

Anyone eaten a bantam? Half my broods are boys..............pekins and d'Uccles..........I wouldn't pluck them, just skin them, so no extra effort wasted there....and is there a thread on the whole resting / gutting / plucking process anywhere. I've not done it before. I noticed a grape referred to resting the carcase in the fridge. Is this when it is cooling down. Do you gut after this?.. There's lots to learn for a newbie...

I've not eaten a bantam, but I think Nicos has I'm going to have to either re-home or cull a couple of young cockerels very soon and I want lessons on how to do all the prep stuff! Preferably have someone there with me and we'll do 1 each

[Glutton4...]

I'll send you my Mum! She knows how to do them.

You can keep her if ya like, too! Pleeeeease!

[roitelet]

Bantams are just small chickens. They are easier to pluck if dunked in hot water for a minute or so. If you can get a copy of the old Readers digest 'The Cookery Year' there are the instructions for drawing in it.

Once ther are done leave them in the fridge for a couple of days before freezing.

Best of luck.

[Polly Fouracre]

We eat our bantam cockerels (Pekin and "Farmyard" types) There's not a lot of meat on them and wouldn't feed a family of five but in a casserole they are very tasty and go a bit further.
I don't like culling them as they are so pretty and gentle but what else to do with surplus males and I couldn't kill them then bury them.
As to finishing cockerels I separate them from the girls and give them finisher pellets, a bit of mixed corn and plenty of greens. Their space is restricted to a degree but at least they do have fresh air and a bit of freedom and they can scratch about and dust-bathe to their heart's content.
I also think that "the end" is as important to welfare and quality of meat. A quick, kind death in the dusk when they are less alert will make for a tastier bird and a clear conscience.