Eating older chickens

[Morrighann]

Someone told me you can’t eat chickens that are more than 1-2 years old because they smell really bad and don’t taste good. So what’s the skinny on that? I have some 3 and 4 year old hens and some roosters I’d like to butcher.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Cook low and slow or use in soups and stews. They are fine. Best chicken noodle soup i have ever tasted came from my 4yr old rooster

 

[aart]

Someone told me you can’t eat chickens that are more than 1-2 years old because they smell really bad and don’t taste good.

Probably a bad gutting...broke intestines and/or gall bladder and contaminated the carcass.

 

[Molpet]

just butchered and ate a 3 yr injured hen, smells fine, just have to cook slow and moist... or in a pressure cooker

 

[MysteryChicken]

I eat old Hens, & Roosters alot. Most are 4yrs of age when we slaughter. I never had a stinky old chicken.

The only stinky chicken you want to avoid is a dead one in the chicken yard. [Never Had This Happen, Threw It In As an Example]

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll suggest they may be talking about a "gamey" taste and smell. As an intact male (rooster, bull, deer, whatever) ages they build up a lot of flavor. Females also develop some flavor as they age but nothing like an intact male. Some people find this gamey flavor objectional, some of us like it. I think that is a big reason that an old rooster makes the best tasting chicken broth available.

 

[aart]

I'll suggest they may be talking about a "gamey" taste and smell. As an intact male (rooster, bull, deer, whatever) ages they build up a lot of flavor. Females also develop some flavor as they age but nothing like an intact male. Some people find this gamey flavor objectional, some of us like it. I think that is a big reason that an old rooster makes the best tasting chicken broth available.

Good possibility....
...plus even young home grown chickens taste and chew way different that grocery birds.

I remember the first one I ate, CX from a neighbor, wasn't sure at all at first bite, got better as I ate the rest of the bird over a few days. Wasn't until I had a grocery bird again that I went.....Oooohhhh, that's soft and bland and 'watered down' flavor-wise.

 

[Rose Quartz]

Uhh, my response to that is: What?

I've heard of them being tough and chewy, but not smelling bad. I've butchered 2 year old birds and eaten them and they were fine. I've also butchered chickens that were housed with rabbits that smelled and tasted nasty. I think it has more to do with what they're eating than how old they are.

 

[archeryrob]

If you got a grinder there is always chicken sausage.

 

[Morrighann]

Thank you so much for the advice and tips everyone! You’ve definitely put my mind at ease.