Eating an injured chicken/excessive fat?

[Figaro]

Yesterday one of our 2 year old Barred Rock ladies broke her hip. After determining there was no reasonable way to address the injury we killed and plucked her. Once she was defeathered it was obvious there had been a great deal of internal bleeding on the break site, giving that leg a very dark colour. Her skin was never punctured, is it likely safe to eat her? I would hate to waste her.

It has been quite a while since I have butchered a non game bird, I was amazed at the amount of fat she had, particularly to the rear of the carcass. I felt like my hands had been soaked in butter. Is that usual? Our chickens have free access to organic layer crumble and are fed table scraps.

Thanks in advance for any insite!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

It should be fine to eat. So was the skin greasy? Could the oil gland at the base of the tail ruptured and caused that?

 

[Amina]

I had a similar experience with a buff orpington that a fox beheaded... Got her back right after the fox did that, and I processed her. There was a lot of fat and it was super greasy. I'm not sure what's normal either as that was the only chicken I have ever processed.

 

[Amina]

Mine was also a 2 year old layer

 

[Ridgerunner]

That fat is normal in a laying hen. Before she starts to lay a hen builds up a lot of extra fat, mainly in the pelvic region called a fat pad but you can see fat other places too. That fat is a reserve in case she goes broody. A hen does not come off the nest to eat and drink much so she needs something to live off of. A broody hen will lose a lot of weight while she is setting on the nest but practically all of that is fat specifically stored for that purpose.

I recently had a young cockerel that dislocated the joint between the drumstick and thigh. I processed it the next day and that joint area was all bruised and already turning greenish from the bruise. I threw that leg away but ate the unbruised rest of the bird. I don’t know that it was dangerous, just unappetizing to me.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Thanks for clarifying Ridgerunner. I have yet to process any of my laying hens so have not come across this issue. Good to know, cause that would freak me out a bit too!

So to answer OP's question, the meat is fine to eat?