Butchered 7 roosters, have a question

[OHMYCHICKIES]

Today we butchered 7 roosters, took us 4 hours but it was our first time, just my husband and I. I've been hearing to let them sit in ice water for a while. I let it sit for about 4 hours, then seasoned and froze them. Is that too short of a time frame for sitting in ice water? Should I take them out of the freezer and into the fridge?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Yay for you & your first time! And really, not a bad amount of time to begin with. Each time I bet you'll learn things to make your next session easier & faster. The time to beat is just under 35 minutes per bird.

I sometimes let my birds sit in the ice water overnight -- just because I'm too tired to bag them until the next day. Then I let them rest in the refrigerator for another day or two. I cook mine, simmering slowly on the stovetop, and pull the meat to freeze. I just don't have space in the freezer for whole birds. But I think they should rest in the refrigerator at least a day before freezing raw, it makes them more tender that way.

Enjoy your well-earned meals!

 

[OHMYCHICKIES]

Thanks, I've sure learned alot since my last bird. Not anxious to do any more right now. The smell did me in for awhile. I looked in my freezer and the chickens are frozen solid, so I probably can't thaw now. But I did put one down in the refrigerator so we can eat it in a few days. Next time I'll keep it down for a few days. If anything I'll have it in a stew or soup, so it's not so tough.

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
I have ZERO problems with the smell - the twitching headless bodies kind of got to me, though...

I never knew that a headless chicken could still SQUAWK!!!

 

[FarmGirl01]

I always let the meat rest for a day, and then freeze them. The meat was very good. The only meat we put in water is fish. Everyone does things different. Conjrats on you first time. Sounds like you did a good job.

 

[buglit]

How did you cull them? What was the hard and easy part of it. Have you ever killed game before? Just curious as a first timer

 

[jaku]

That's a pretty short rest time. I go 48 hours before freezing or eating. I definitely wouldn't take them out of the freezer at this point though. Not only would the results not be the same, you then couldn't re-freeze them. If you're concerned, just take them out of the freezer a couple of days before you want to cook them, although, again, I'm not sure what the results would be on rigor, as opposed to a rest right after killing.

 

[OHMYCHICKIES]

Quote:
We chopped the heads off. Actually my hubby did that dirty work. My stomach turned as I saw them hanging bleeding out. The easiest was plucking. Didn't realize how easy the feathers came off and it was actually relaxing. Hardest was when I was gutting, wish I had someone with me to tell me how to do the first one. It took forever for me to do the first one because I was very careful not to puncture anything. Afterwards, I knew what was inside and got a system down. We never killed any game before this. I thought I would have a problem with the feet but after they are chopped they amazingly looked just like the chicken at the store.

And now I know for next time, keep them in the fridge for a while. Thanks to you guys.

 

[saddina]

If you don't have the fridge space, you can use some 5 gal food buckets with lids, salt the water for a brine, and put the birds in ice water. The ice will lower freezing temps, so they'll stay colder longer, then set a digital thermometer to chirp at 38 deg. and go about your day, it beeps, add more ice and keep on with whatever, thay can both brine and rest at once, when the time is up (we go for about 20-28 hours here), take them out, dry them, wrap and freeze.

 

[buglit]

Impressive, you give the rest of us some courage. Thanks