Gentle Rooster Turned Aggressive Turned Chicken Dinner

[Hens_And_Chicks]

I had a wonderful Barred Rock Rooster - hatched him in November 2008 and he had been the most wonderful boy up until the past couple of weeks - he started randomly attacking my son while he would feed, water and collect eggs. I thought he was doing something to provoke the Roo but hubby said he got attacked too. My son said he stepped on one of the girl's feet while trying to get a waterer last week and she squawked. I thought it was a freak thing.

Until this morning. I went in and got the eggs and was leaving and he came after me and would not back off. I had told my son I would not keep an aggressive rooster but he had never attacked me. I can't believe I processed my rooster into a chicken dinner.

Thanks to the internet and photo tutorials, I was able to find all the information I needed to pluck and clean my bird. I am still sort of in shock that I did it - it was the last thing I have time to do today - we have our house listed and a showing for 3:30 pm.

Yikes - so much to do and no time to do it!

And now, a chicken dinner!

Anyone else process their very first bird via an internet tutorial? I had helped my Amish lady neighbor butcher my broiler cornish cross chickens last fall but never did the entire process on my own before. Now I know I can.

 

[yotetrapper]

Cool. You might want to soak him in brine water overnight though, and make your dinner tomorrow if you haven't started already. He's a little older, so might be tough if you dont soak him awhile.

 

[AHappychick]

yep he is a bit old to be a broiler but CONGRATS I would say a chicken and dumpling meal would suite him

 

[Hens_And_Chicks]

Thanks guys - I'm still in shock that I did it! If you would have told me, even a year ago, that I would do this today, I would have told you how crazy you are.

I had a talk with the rooster last week after he attacked my son and I told him he would be a chicken dinner if he attacked again. He cocked his head sideways and clicked his beak - I thought he understood what I was saying...

Guess not.

Thanks for the suggestion about the brine - I will do that!

Is there a ratio of salt to water?

 

[yotetrapper]

I just dump in a bunch of salt. I dont measure... maybe 1/4 cup to enough water to cover him.... I just read again that he is a year in a half, was thinking only 8 months... Even brined he might be tough roasted.... if you do roast him do it real slow, like 250 degrees. Or make stew, or dumplings or soup or bbq in crockpot, or potpie, etc.

After you butcher the first few, it gets easier. I just butchered 4 this morning myself. 3 extra roos (one aggressive towards DH but not me) and a hurt hen. Have em brining now.