jasper65 6 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 my Rhode Isalnd Red x Light Sussex cockerels was 6 1/2 months yesterday, I picked the largest of the three before finally preparing him for the pot and should be ready in the next half hour . what I can't understand is they have had good food on tap aswell as being free range around the garden, nearly everytime I look at them they have a crop on them. the strange thing is none are what I would call fat? I can't say they're thin either but definitely lean compared to one from the super market .. am I doing anything wrong? should i leave them longer before culling them for the oven? this bird weighed a tad under 6.5LB gutted.... Jasp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carraghs Gem 1,675 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 nothing wrong at all, thats what free range look like, you could get away with leaving them a few more weeks maybe a month, maybe feed a bit of corn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 my light sussex are the same, i think you need to confine them for a while with only a small run to get them to put more weight on but i`ve never tryed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eddie3 9 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 is that not a more natural looking bird ? rather than what you see in supermarkets 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leegreen 2,182 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Light Sussex are no longer dual purpose birds I afraid. Try bending the legs up towards the chest and by this I mean bending at the leg where it meets the thigh, it plump's them up a treat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leegreen 2,182 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 ??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryhope toma 42 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 alreet jasper , the thing about the supermarket birds they full of roids and from being hatched to 37 days later they on the shelves , a know fecking terrible , but high demands for meat , that cock looks healthy to me good amount of meat and healthy looking comb ! atb ryhope toma Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leegreen 2,182 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 You can still get big plump slow grown birds, you just need a different type. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jasper65 6 Posted January 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Nice one Guys cheers .. Nice to know I'm doing nowt wrong, I'll do one of the other two for next weekend now. I'm used to the super market birds and seeing how fat they are which is really the reason I thought this bird looked so lean... Just tucked the bird away after a late dinner and have to say what a cracking tasteing bird, the legs was the Darkest meat I have seen for a long while and the flavour is going to take some beating .... Jasp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patterdalejoel 669 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 confining them for the final few weeks works and if a bird isnt going to get fat, ie strain breed selection it wont Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paddybarr 77 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Your not doing anything wrong just the breed if you want bigger birds buy an indian game cock to put over the RIR's or get some day old cobbs them feckers grow like crazy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 518 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I bet it tastes lovely mate, he looks a great bird. You will be able to eat that knowing he had a great life, something that sadly very few of the supermarket chickens have. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Millet 4,497 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) A free range bird is getting more excercise than a cooped up one mate..i done a couple for Moll a few week's back they where a bit fatter than that one but know where near the stamp of a shop bought one..the one's i done where kept in a 8ft x 6ft run and let out to range now and a gain..the ones that are supplied to supermarket's have very little room to move about in as they are over crowded for maximum yield..and pumped full of shite no doubt.. I did find the meat more rubbery though on a fresh culled bird..i wonder if it would be more tender once frozen for a while.. Either way i hope you enjoyed it.. Edited to add Moll's where a different X breed. Edited January 23, 2012 by Millet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patterdalejoel 669 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 let him hang with guts in for about 5 days, iv found they taste better than cooking straight away Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moll. 1,770 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I also noticed the legs where much bigger on my home grown than on any shop bought ones. Perhaps because they get exercise whereas shop birds have been confined to get fat? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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