So, time to make a post about the weights and some pictures of some of the cockerels taken to the abattoir on October 17, 2013. Nice to have accounts of what I have been up to. These cockerels totalled 12 in number – cochins. Also, my 2.5 year old buff Orpington rooster went, he has a replacement that will hopefully be of a better quality than he was. He was a good rooster. Gentle to the ladies, gentle to me, took good care of things, but time to move him on, he has sired some very nice offspring this year, so has done a beautiful job. When we enjoy him for a huge chicken dinner, I will be grateful for his life. These are givens. As are all the males we grow here for our own table.
There was a total of 13 cochin cockerels, as I said. These boys were processed about a week before I would like to have, but a week, in the realm of things, is not really a long time. Now if it was 4 weeks, there would have been a huge difference in size. I was OK with the weights of the dressed birds, not thrilled, but for the most part pretty OK. There were two that were absolutely lighter, I could tell that when I packed them up. Those were 2 birds that really did not look very typey at all either, the chest and backs were far too narrow, as was the head. Not impressed with either of those boys anyways, the just were not good.
If we had more time before the abattoir closed down for the winter, I would have grown these boys out for another 4 weeks. I generally have used the 24 week age for processing. But I believe that the cochin breed just takes a little longer to achieve a better weight, than for instance, the buff Orpington that I have. Anyways, next year will be an interesting experiment, because.....I WILL grow the cockerels of this breed until 28 weeks of age, at least and see if there is a difference in how the bird looks and weighs. Although this really will not be a fair expectation, as I have two new breeder boys that should bring in some very nice genetics as far as size and many other things. So, differences in how they turn out will be certainly governed as well by this new line being bred. It is what it is.
I have only two breeds currently to compare to with maturity visibility. I do know that the buff Orpington, at the age of 24 weeks is a finely mature looking bird, there is no gangliness, which I absolutely see with the cochin breed. At 24 weeks old (or even 23 as the birds in the topic are discussed), the cochin breed has not even yet fully feathered out, they are still lacking that full hackle, which I see in the buff at the same age and body filling out is much less in the cochins. So in all fairness to the breed, I would deem absolutely that the cochins require at least 4 more weeks to attain even close to what the buff Orpington body filled out look like. It will be full swing season at the abattoir next year when I perform the “test” of body size with growing cochins out a further month, or more, than the buff Orpington breed.
These weights of processed birds did not include the giblets, nor the neck, so add a little onto the finished weight to take care of this factor. There is an extra charge for these, the neck and giblets, no clue why, but guess it is extra to package that up. On the other hand, the other abattoir I use in Pritchard, the necks are still attached. Go figure. No clue what or why, both abattoirs are government inspected, so who knows. I do like the necks, but am a bit OK not getting them back, but it is meat, right???? Oh well, moot at this point.
I’m not sure if I have ever noticed this before, but it seems that the size of the carcass at final of this processing of most of these cockerels of the cochin breed seemed a bit smaller than I remember in the last processings. But the fullness I see in the meat covering the body appears to be better. But then, sometimes memory does not serve me well. Perhaps just my mind doing odd things, smiling. So following, you will see the weights and pictures with narration will accompany. I am pleased with what I am growing and I know I am going to be even more pleased when we are served our fowl for our dinner table. Have a most awesome day, CynthiaM.
We will start with the big dude, October 19, 2013 processing. All the birds had a dollar value of $1 per pound, as that was the most simple thing to put on the packaging label I would presume. Of course, that is not what should be charged, but just for ease I would presume.
1 Buff Orpington rooster, 2.5 years old
6.5 pounds
Cochin cockerels, 23 weeks old
3.0
3.12
3.42
3.47
3.5
3.52
3.55
3.73
3.91
4.06
4.32
4.14
These weights are acceptable to me. Certainly not where the breed should be I am sure, but good enough for a lovely table fowl, and that they shall be.
While I am at it, I should post the results of the cochins, at 24 weeks of age, processed on September 19, 2013. These boys were not free ranged, but fed good food and greens that I picked every day. Only difference was that they did not get a chance to get out in the wild blue yonder to forage. There was only five of these cockerels, but very similar in weight to the cockerels mentioned above that free ranged from the time they were hatched. These former fellows were hatchlings from broody buff orpingtons, so lived in that coop area, free ranged from sunup to sundown.
Cochins processed on September 19, 2013, not free ranged
3.83
3.86
4.03
4.30
4.38
OK. Enough of that, it is time for a picture or two.
This picture is a comparison of two birds. The one on the left is the 2.5 year old buff Orpington rooster, 6.5 pounds. To the right is one of the cochin cockerels at 23 weeks old, 4.32 pounds
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This is a picture of one of the two light weight cochin cockerels, two in the 12 were of a much lighter weight and frame looked boney. Not impressed, but still, the taste will be wonderful, smiling. Cochin about 3 pounds
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Oops, forgot to add....after the birds have rested in the fridge for about 5 days, I then repackage using my foodsaver system and cut out the packaging information, and attach that inside the foodsaver bag. I know that this system, with virtually no air in the bag keeps food fresh in the freezer, much, much longer than if there is air present in the bag. I love the foodsaver vacuum sealing process and know full well that products will last much longer in this manner. This is why there is the birds unpackaged with the label beside them. A big job, but worth every moment.
There was a total of 13 cochin cockerels, as I said. These boys were processed about a week before I would like to have, but a week, in the realm of things, is not really a long time. Now if it was 4 weeks, there would have been a huge difference in size. I was OK with the weights of the dressed birds, not thrilled, but for the most part pretty OK. There were two that were absolutely lighter, I could tell that when I packed them up. Those were 2 birds that really did not look very typey at all either, the chest and backs were far too narrow, as was the head. Not impressed with either of those boys anyways, the just were not good.
If we had more time before the abattoir closed down for the winter, I would have grown these boys out for another 4 weeks. I generally have used the 24 week age for processing. But I believe that the cochin breed just takes a little longer to achieve a better weight, than for instance, the buff Orpington that I have. Anyways, next year will be an interesting experiment, because.....I WILL grow the cockerels of this breed until 28 weeks of age, at least and see if there is a difference in how the bird looks and weighs. Although this really will not be a fair expectation, as I have two new breeder boys that should bring in some very nice genetics as far as size and many other things. So, differences in how they turn out will be certainly governed as well by this new line being bred. It is what it is.
I have only two breeds currently to compare to with maturity visibility. I do know that the buff Orpington, at the age of 24 weeks is a finely mature looking bird, there is no gangliness, which I absolutely see with the cochin breed. At 24 weeks old (or even 23 as the birds in the topic are discussed), the cochin breed has not even yet fully feathered out, they are still lacking that full hackle, which I see in the buff at the same age and body filling out is much less in the cochins. So in all fairness to the breed, I would deem absolutely that the cochins require at least 4 more weeks to attain even close to what the buff Orpington body filled out look like. It will be full swing season at the abattoir next year when I perform the “test” of body size with growing cochins out a further month, or more, than the buff Orpington breed.
These weights of processed birds did not include the giblets, nor the neck, so add a little onto the finished weight to take care of this factor. There is an extra charge for these, the neck and giblets, no clue why, but guess it is extra to package that up. On the other hand, the other abattoir I use in Pritchard, the necks are still attached. Go figure. No clue what or why, both abattoirs are government inspected, so who knows. I do like the necks, but am a bit OK not getting them back, but it is meat, right???? Oh well, moot at this point.
I’m not sure if I have ever noticed this before, but it seems that the size of the carcass at final of this processing of most of these cockerels of the cochin breed seemed a bit smaller than I remember in the last processings. But the fullness I see in the meat covering the body appears to be better. But then, sometimes memory does not serve me well. Perhaps just my mind doing odd things, smiling. So following, you will see the weights and pictures with narration will accompany. I am pleased with what I am growing and I know I am going to be even more pleased when we are served our fowl for our dinner table. Have a most awesome day, CynthiaM.
We will start with the big dude, October 19, 2013 processing. All the birds had a dollar value of $1 per pound, as that was the most simple thing to put on the packaging label I would presume. Of course, that is not what should be charged, but just for ease I would presume.
1 Buff Orpington rooster, 2.5 years old
6.5 pounds
Cochin cockerels, 23 weeks old
3.0
3.12
3.42
3.47
3.5
3.52
3.55
3.73
3.91
4.06
4.32
4.14
These weights are acceptable to me. Certainly not where the breed should be I am sure, but good enough for a lovely table fowl, and that they shall be.
While I am at it, I should post the results of the cochins, at 24 weeks of age, processed on September 19, 2013. These boys were not free ranged, but fed good food and greens that I picked every day. Only difference was that they did not get a chance to get out in the wild blue yonder to forage. There was only five of these cockerels, but very similar in weight to the cockerels mentioned above that free ranged from the time they were hatched. These former fellows were hatchlings from broody buff orpingtons, so lived in that coop area, free ranged from sunup to sundown.
Cochins processed on September 19, 2013, not free ranged
3.83
3.86
4.03
4.30
4.38
OK. Enough of that, it is time for a picture or two.
This picture is a comparison of two birds. The one on the left is the 2.5 year old buff Orpington rooster, 6.5 pounds. To the right is one of the cochin cockerels at 23 weeks old, 4.32 pounds
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
This is a picture of one of the two light weight cochin cockerels, two in the 12 were of a much lighter weight and frame looked boney. Not impressed, but still, the taste will be wonderful, smiling. Cochin about 3 pounds
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Oops, forgot to add....after the birds have rested in the fridge for about 5 days, I then repackage using my foodsaver system and cut out the packaging information, and attach that inside the foodsaver bag. I know that this system, with virtually no air in the bag keeps food fresh in the freezer, much, much longer than if there is air present in the bag. I love the foodsaver vacuum sealing process and know full well that products will last much longer in this manner. This is why there is the birds unpackaged with the label beside them. A big job, but worth every moment.
Last edited by CynthiaM on Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:13 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Added a paragraph at the end of the post)
. Beautiful days for us all. CynthiaM.
