How long on ice in fridge?

[MKetter]

Air chilling just means in the fridge as compared to on ice, right? I didn’t really check the time, but I know I was done with everything (cleanup and all) around 11:15, so I’ll go wiggle its legs this evening to see if rigor has passed.

Before learning from people here, I always thought rigor was a permanent thing. Of course, that was an assumption from watching crime shows on TV.

 

[Molpet]

For me, older or larger birds seems to take longer for rigor mortis to pass.
Years ago I looked up and at that time USDA had 10 days refrigerated from slaughter to use or freeze by. I regularly go a week with older toms.

 

[iwltfum]

For me, older or larger birds seems to take longer for rigor mortis to pass.
Years ago I looked up and at that time USDA had 10 days refrigerated from slaughter to use or freeze by. I regularly go a week with older toms.

Wait, are we talking turkeys? Turkey meat ages a little more gracefully than chicken.

 

[MKetter]

For me, older or larger birds seems to take longer for rigor mortis to pass.
Years ago I looked up and at that time USDA had 10 days refrigerated from slaughter to use or freeze by. I regularly go a week with older toms.

It’s a 4 lb. chicken.

 

[Molpet]

Wait, are we talking turkeys? Turkey meat ages a little more gracefully than chicken.

I harvest both. Yes toms doesn't get tough like a rooster.

It’s a 4 lb. chicken.

I have kept roosters in the refrigerator longer than cockerels or hens.

USDA recommendations was for poultry in general.

 

[MKetter]

I harvest both. Yes toms doesn't get tough like a rooster.



I have kept roosters in the refrigerator longer than cockerels or hens.

USDA recommendations was for poultry in general.

At what age does a cockerel become a rooster? This guy was 20 weeks old, and his comb and wattles were definitely red. He wanted to mate with the pullets long before they were ready, so on the advice of people here, I separated him so as not to stress the pullets.

Wondering about when rigor has passed, will his legs move easily? A lot? They move a little now but are still pretty stiff.

 

[Molpet]

At what age does a cockerel become a rooster? This guy was 20 weeks old, and his comb and wattles were definitely red. He wanted to mate with the pullets long before they were ready, so on the advice of people here, I separated him so as not to stress the pullets.

Wondering about when rigor has passed, will his legs move easily? A lot? They move a little now but are still pretty stiff.

Yr old is an adult ..rooster or hen.
Before that they are hormonal teenagers. I had a 8 week mix breed cockerel mounting a CX pullet this year. She was not amused.
Age determines cooking method. Below from bramblewood link in my signature.

Grocery store chickens are 8 weeks or younger and are looser joints but similar to your bird out of rigor.

 

[Ridgerunner]

At what age does a cockerel become a rooster?

Technically a pullet becomes a hen and a cockerel becomes a rooster at 12 months of age. I look at that as a girl becomes a woman and a boy becomes a man at either 18 or 21 years old, depending in what laws you are looking at. I've known some people to act pretty mature before 18 years old and some to still be pretty childish in their 50's. That's behaviors but different people can physically mature at different ages also.

Most pullets start acting like a hen when they start laying. Their body still has some developing to do but their behaviors become more like a hen.

The boys are generally less definitive. They go through puberty at different ages and at different rates. Some start very young and some start pretty late, 5 or 6 months even. You are talking about physical maturity more than behavioral maturity.

The hormones of puberty affect the flavor and texture of the meat. As they go through puberty (whatever age they start) the hormones add to the flavor of the meat. Some call that a gamey flavor. Some of us like that but many do not. Same type of thing happens to the texture. The hormones can change it from meat that you can fry or grill to something that requires a different cooking method. There are ways to turn an old rooster into a gourmet meal but you do not need those methods with young cockerels.

The main point of this is that each one goes through puberty at different times and at different rates. I cannot give you a specific time for a 4 month old or a 6 month old cockerel to get through rigor. Too many variables. But a 4 month old should get through rigor faster.