Green-Tinged Fat (Not Muscle)

[k.bee]

We just processed our first group of Freedom Rangers yesterday and had 3 birds that had green-tinged fat in their abdomen (muscle tissue is of normal color). The off-colored fat was discovered on the first cut through the skin in the abdomen and the gallbladder was not nicked in any of these birds.

The chickens were 10.5 weeks old and had access to pasture and woods (they preferred the woods) and were fed Nutrena Meatbird 12 hrs on and 12 off.

We have processed numerous Freedom Rangers over the past 3 years and have not experienced this before. Does anyone have any advice or ideas what this could be from and if the chicken is still safe to eat? I'm really on the fence about consuming these birds and would like to prevent this from happening in the future if possible.

 

[Molpet]

The guts looked normal?
I have had fighting bruising that was green, but that would be a werid spot.

 

[k.bee]

All organs appeared normal. We did have far more roosters in this group than usual so there was some fighting, but I agree, it would be an odd location for bruising. I appreciate your response!

 

[Parront]

I would blame all the spring greens they have been eating. Pasture raised beef can have a greenish cast to the fat, too. As long as it smells good and the birds are healthy, I would eat them!

 

[iwltfum]

I've seen FRs with grayish/greenish fat just under the skin. If I remember correctly freedom Ranger hatchery told me that it is a normal genetic disposition and that they are perfectly healthy to eat. As long as the birds seemed healthy otherwise, I wouldn't think twice about eating them.