Getting rid of my rooster! :(

[SD Bird Lady]

I don't know what your plan is after he is dispatched but I found this link very useful:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/730323/how-to-butcher-skinning-method-graphic-pics

 

[gg706]

Yes it was Thank You! I am going to skin him. I am assuming I will have to put him in the crockpot since he is a year old. Has anyone cooked up a 1 year old rooster? How does it taste and what did you do?

 

[PandoraChick]

We also skinned Fred... The plan was to cook him, but he was almost a year old and my husband tried cooking a little but it was nasty....so we took the rest of the cavity/parts and fed it to Milly.
I would think to make it really palatable, it would need to be seasoned well and cooked very slowly.

 

[gg706]

So it was not good for human consumption but the dog could eat it? I may try to locate some recipes and try it...but if everything fails my dogs will be fed by him so I guess it is not a complete waste.

 

[bobbi-j]

He's still edible for people. Crockpot is a good idea, or low and slow in the oven. Or, you can bone him out and make soup or stew. If the only chicken you eat has come from the grocery store, you may find that he has more flavor and texture than those things you buy at the store. You may find that you like it enough to start raising birds specifically for meat. It's a great way to thin excess roosters from your flock.

 

[gg706]

I have only had chicken from the grocery. I have never tasted home grown chicken before. I think I will plan to crockpot him all day and hope for the best! I am assuming I should still rest him in the refrigerator for a few days after the butcher before putting him in the crock pot? I am very nervous about killing him, he has been my favorite from day one. I hope I can get up the courage to do it.

 

[Judy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...rom-historic-chicken-breeds/0_20#post_3473262

This is a very good article about eating these birds. I'd encourage you to try it; it is quite different from store bought. People accustomed to eating heritage breeds often refuse to eat store bought, and people accustomed to store bought may find heritage difficult or impossible to eat -- or they might be converted. They do make a uniquely rich, flavorful broth for things like chicken and dumplings.

Coq au vin is an old French recipe that originally called for a 2 year old rooster. It cooks the chicken in a whole bottle of wine. Or you can simply throw him in the crock pot or roasting pan (low heat) with a few herbs and check out the flavor for yourself.

 

[bobbi-j]

It's a choice only you can make. You need to decide if the risk of keeping him outweighs the benefit of getting rid of him. You don't need to let him rest if you're going to crockpot him all day. You can cook him with seasoning and veggies until the meat falls off the bones and also end up with some delicious soup stock. I admire you for being willing to do this yourself. I'm blessed with a husband who will kill my chickens for me. All I have to do is let him know which ones I want gone. I then hold them, he lops heads, and depending on how many there are, either I butcher hem or we work together.

 

[gg706]

Lucky You! Mine would never think of it...I think if everything collapsed and we all had to kill pets and hunt for food. It would be me out there killing/hunting! I have done 2 mercy kills and it was a terrible experience. I did not eat the meat because I was concerned they were septic and the meat was not healthy. I got over it and moved on...I still miss them when I see pics of them but it was the best for them given the circumstances. I think culling him is the best for my family....It would haunt me if I chose not do anything and someone got hurt. If my dog bit someone it would be the death sentence as well, so the rooster really shouldnt be any different.

 

[gg706]

Thank You Flockwatcher for the info. I will check it out and get a good plan together. Cooking him in wine sounds wonderful!