Here at Jadeacres we don't use our chicks for meat, I buy my chicken at a store just like everyone else.
To answer your question though, here is industry standard for North America regarding
Processing age.
Chickens are harvested from most flocks on several occasions and is based on the weight of the bird not its age.
The first harvest might occur as early as 30-45 days (Rock cornish hen) for small birds used in specialized cooking.
The final harvest at 55-60 days when the bird reaches optimum weight of 3 to 6 lbs.
Some growers allow birds to grow to sizes of 4 to 8 lbs to be used as processed deboned chicken meat for Sandwiches and nuggets.
Today's commercial broilers are marketed for fast food restaurants (4.1 lb at about 6 weeks of age)
Once the chicks are able to manage adult food. I keep my chicks on chick grower for about three months at which time I start introducing laying MASH a small amount at a time. Once my hens have started thriving on the adult food and wandering out in the yard they are welcome to join the adults in the kitchen scrap bounty.
Younger birds should NEVER be put in with mature adult birds until they are the same size or close to it, so they can defend themselves.
I start to feed chicks after they are dry from hatching (after 1 day). They can really go without food/water for about 3 days, since they are got nourishment from the yolk.
Cornish Game Hens should be butchered at 2 to 2 1/2 pounds. This weight is achieved at 4 weeks of age if given proper care (21-22% meat producer feed) plenty water, and lighting.
7 weeks old, weighing 2.4-4.5 lbs
Cornish hens can be reheated in an oven on 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Just wrap the Cornish hens up in aluminum foil before putting in the oven
Cornish Hens
The Cornish hen, or Cornish Game Hen is actually a small chicken. The primary difference between a Cornish hen and a chicken is the age at which they are processed. Cornish hens are typically butchered around 5-6 weeks, and under 2 pounds in weight. Fryer chickens are processed around 13 weeks of age.
Cornish game hens are usually eaten whole. The Cornish hen is baked in a shallow pan, sometimes with vegetables. It is served on a plate and eaten with a fork. Cornish hens are usually too small to cut up before cooking.
Probably because they come from Cornwall.
America's Test Kitchen - 2000 Grilled Cornish Hens 8-21 was released on:USA: 24 May 2008America's Test Kitchen - 2000 Grilled Cornish Hens - 8.21 was released on:USA: 24 May 2008
cornish hens or miniature chickens.
You will use as many pieces of chicken that will fit into your pan without crowding. If using Cornish hens it will be 2-4 Cornish hens halved, depending on the size of your pan.
No he raised Rock Cornish hens.
It is best to thaw Cornish hens in the refrigerator which takes 24 to 48 hours. You can also soak them in cold water and they should defrost within a few hours.
Raising Cornish game hens can be profitable because of the short growth cycle. The main factor is finding an inexpensive feed source. Because of their rapid growth rate, they consume a large amount of food.
Secrets of a Restaurant Chef - 2008 The Secret to Pomegranate Cornish Game Hens 8-8 was released on: USA: 26 March 2011