are bantams even worth butchering?

[sdshoars]

we have a couple of banty roos we dont want. are they even worth the work to butcher? they are eight weeks old.

 

[menageriemama]

Maybe if you do a few and make them into soup? Not sure how many you would need to give you enough meat... I wouldnt bother plucking them, just skin them. Or you could post them on craigslist and maybe make a little $

 

[chickenannie]

I just cooked a very small stewing hen. It was not much meat, but enough to flavor a nice stew and had bits of meat and flavor throughout.

 

[skeeter]

we ate a lot of them when i was a kid they were yummmmmmy

 

[seedcorn]

depends on the breed. Even small breeds, I would dress for the breast meat. Wings and back aren't worth keeping. thighs and legs can be eaten as well but need to be close to full size rather than younger.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I would say if they are 8 wks old, maybe wait a little longer--(12 wks) and skin them. We are a hunting famly. we eat grouse, which is about the same size as a 12 wk old bantam. 2 will feed a family of 4. Iwould definitley say its worth it! just cook like its chicken breast (which it is) and I wouldn't bother with the legs for eating, but maybe making stock.

 

[aladatrot]

What kind of chickens are we eating at Buffalo Wing establishments? I always assumed they were banties given the size of the wings. They are tiny, and we pay lots of money for them when served with wing sauce, celery, and ranch!
M

 

[silkiechicken]

I'd say make soup and utalize as much as you can from the little guys. We butcher extra silkies and at dressed weights of 12-16 ounces. To buy these silkies at the asian market they are about 8 bucks.

 

[okiemommy]

What kind of chickens are we eating at Buffalo Wing establishments? I always assumed they were banties given the size of the wings. They are tiny, and we pay lots of money for them when served with wing sauce, celery, and ranch!
M

I'm curious about this as well if anyone knows the answer.

 

[KAKBucks]

I was thinking my extra silkie roos would make nice "cornish hens"

I actually have a friend who acquired about 15 silkie roos that are "hateful little creatures." I told him I might take them to butcher at some point, but I wanted to get through my first broiler butchering session first. Now those are some ugly birds!