4pmEST just"did cockerel-----

[chooniecat]

had the neighbor come over for moral support for my son(son was having panick attack) because neighbor hunts/eats his prey. son held legs and neighbor killed just to show son how he might do it. we all did OK and 6 mo cockerel will be simmered in pot of water(I believe I have been told that can work for making meat edible) we have 8 older hens to do soon and they may just be buried given as they are at LEAST 5 years old(some are 6+) and very hard to skin. before anyone complains about my son being "made" to do it-it was our agreement since he is 18 now and not working that to earn his keep one of his duties could be the processing of chickens and he reaqdily agreed and once Mom was out of the way he calmed down and is currently skinning Kazoo very nicely. hope this meat turns out better than 5 yo roo's did. (breath.....) thanks!!!!

 

[misspennyloise]

Hi
Have you considered canning the chicken???

this works awesome for me. Here is what I do.

The bird is already cleaned....then have your canning jars ready I use pints. cut the meat off and par boil/ some do / some don't .....place in pint jars leave 1'2 " of space ......fill w/ boiling H2O and season how you like.....salt, pepper, garlic. slide thin knife to burp the air ...adjust lids ....do not overly tighten the rings..... then I place in my PRESSURE canner/not water bath and process at 10lbs for 75mins.... turn off heat and leave to cool till cool to the touch of your hand. do not rush the cooling down put.

I use the meat for salads, sandwiches, cassaroles ect.

being in the pressure cooker tenderizer the meat.

if you need more inform Please just PM

good luck

 

[chooniecat]

canning sounds great but would have to buy the initial equipment and $ is issue now(son going into college) I am terrified of the unknown and would worry the meat would spoil if not done EXACTLY right. I ended up cooking in big pan with water and although it looked wonderful I have not eaten chicken in a long time and found it nausiating so will strip off bone tomorrow(already basically falling off! yeah) and make soup and bbq sandwichs. this will be our FIRST to be eaten. thanks

 

[Jenski]

Congrats to you and your son for learning about how to process your own meat. Coming from a hunting family, I know it is difficult for folks to participate when you have not done it before.

Welcome to the wonderful world of humanely raising and eating your own animals. For those who choose to eat meat, it is so much more natural, clean, safe and in keeping with the rhythm of the earth than buying pre-packaged meat from the store. Good for you!

There are lots of delicious Old World ways to enjoy chickens, even older ones. Try Googling traditional Chicken Cacciatore ("Hunter's Chicken") for a good Italian way to slow-cook tougher chickens. Coq au Vin is the French way, and is a delicious old French farm recipe for preparing old tough roosters. You will know you have an authentic recipe if it requires over an hour of cooking.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Good luck with your chicken processing - - and all the nice dishes you will enjoy.

 

[chooniecat]

I shredded the chicken breast and made bbq sandwiches and although I got thru the eating(and I will eat ANYTHING) and thought it tasted good I was STILL somehow repulsed and am SERIOUSLY concerned that after purchasing the broilers soon I will not want to eat them. I know ya'll want to smack me(as I do) but maybe the nausea was due to the cockerel having had a name(6 month old, scratched me,my son and my dogs) and will NOT name broilers. I am REALLY concerned because I do NOT have food isuues(til now) my husband will eat it but thats not cost effective(whole other issue)