When Should Culling Day Be for Meat Chickens?

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Getting your chickens to the perfect size means keeping an eye on how they're growing. Here's what I've learned about timing for the two most popular meat birds that farmers and homesteaders raise in chicken tractors​:​​​​​​​​​​

john suscovich pulling a chicken tractor full of cornish cross chickens

Cornish Cross

  • Optimal processing window: 6-8 weeks

  • Sweet spot: 7 weeks for most operations

  • Target weight: 4.5-6.5 lbs carcass weight

  • Key indicators: Birds should still be active and mobile

  • Warning signs: Waiting too long risks heart issues and leg problems

 
red ranger meat chickens in a chicken tractor

Freedom Rangers

  • Optimal processing window: 9-11 weeks

  • Common target: 10 weeks

  • Target weight: 4-5.5 lbs carcass weight

  • More consistent weight gain than Cornish Cross

  • Less prone to health issues if processing is delayed

 

How to Weigh Live Birds

weighing broilers with scale

  1. Use a hanging scale or luggage scale

  2. Subtract container weight (5 gallon bucket, feed sack, reusable shopping bag, rope around the legs)

  3. Place bird in the container and note the weight

  4. Weigh multiple birds to get average

  5. Watch this video for a tip from a Pro on how to weigh chickens

 

Understanding Carcass Yield

This is going to vary depending on your birds and your method of processing, but here are some starting benchmarks for you when estimating your meat chicken production.

chicken carcass weight yield

Typical carcass percentages of live weight:

  • Cornish Cross: 70-75% of live weight

  • Freedom Rangers: 65-70% of live weight

Example yields:

  • 6 lb Cornish Cross = 4.2-4.5 lb dressed weight

  • 5 lb Freedom Ranger = 3.25-3.5 lb dressed weight

Here’s a video of the fastest people in the US cutting up chickens.

 

Factors Affecting Processing Age

four cooked chickens

1. Market Preferences

  • Whole bird (3.5 - 4.5lbs) vs cut-up for parts (5 - 6lbs+)

  • Customer size preferences

  • Premium pricing for specific weights

2. Production Considerations

  • Feed costs and efficiency

  • Labor availability

  • Processing facility scheduling

  • Pasture rotation timing

 

Making the Decision

Watch these indicators as processing day approaches:

  • Regular weight checks (at least weekly)

    1. Are they gaining weight?

  • Bird mobility and activity levels

    1. Do they look and act healthy?

  • Feed consumption

    1. Are they eating through their food and not rejecting anything?

  • Weather forecast

    1. Avoid processing in extreme heat, or transporting in extreme weather

  • Processing facility availability

    1. Did you get a spot at the processor on time?

  • Overall flock health

For both breeds, processing slightly earlier is better than waiting too long. Early processing reduces risks of health issues and ensures optimal meat quality. Though bigger birds yield bigger parts, which fetch a higher price when cut up.[link to cut up video]

Remember to withhold feed 12 hours before processing while maintaining water access. This helps ensure a cleaner processing experience and better end product.

Find more broiler chicken and beginning farmer resources HERE