How old are broiler chickens when are slaughtered?

Answer 1

Most broilers are processed between 4 and 6 weeks of age depending on the body weight desired. 4.5 lbs is a targetweight but some processors prefer a higher finishing weight and will go to 2 months or longer. The problem with higher weight is the birds gain weight so rapidly they cannot move around and often actually lose weight and dehydrate because they cannot get to the feeder/water dispensers.

Answer 2

Chickens are very fast growing and sexually mature by the age of 6 months. Most chickens are slaughtered for consumption at between 30 days and 6 months of age. The chickens are usually between 4 and 5 pounds by this age and marketed as a "Fryer" or "Broiler". This is when the meat is the most tender.

Exceptions to this are chickens marketed as "Cornish Game Hens" which may be as young as 25 days old, "Roasting" chickens which are slightly over 6 months, and "spent layers" which are usually slaughtered at one or two years of age.

"Spent Layers" are hens that have been laying eggs for consumption. They are slaughtered usually at the end of their first egg laying cycle when their production slows down. Occasionally such birds are kept for a second laying cycle but they will produce fewer eggs in the second cycle. The meat of a "spent layer" is marketed in such ready made items as chicken noodle soup and chicken pot pies.

If a chicken is privately owned they can continue to lay eggs for many years.

Occasionally a diseased or poor quality chicken is slaughtered. This process is called culling.

Answer 3

Chickens can live to as much as twelve years old and beyond with proper care and nutrition. The productive egg laying life of a chicken is only about two years however and since the average chicken lives from four to six years, anything over six would be OLD age.

Answer 4

Type your answer here... anywhere between 6-12 months old. Depends on personal preference.

Answer 5

a chicken can be any age to get killed but farmers wait till they can't lay any more eggs

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Answer 6

Rule of thumb: After it reaches three months of age, or after your rooster weighs at least 2 kilograms (4.4 lb), which ever comes first.

Answer 7

When raising meat birds it is weight not age that determines the slaughter date. Average meat hens will reach the desired weight of 4.5 to 6 pounds in about 8 to 10 weeks.