How long to chill/rest before freezing?

[AgnesGray]

What is the perfect length of time to chill and rest heritage chickens in the refrigerator before freezing to be tender, but still very fresh tasting?

 

[Molpet]

Until the leg joins are loose. 1 to 5 days depending on how old, size, temperature

 

[AgnesGray]

Until the leg joins are loose. 1 to 5 days depending on how old, size, temperature

These are mostly 3-5 year old laying hens. RIR, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, etc.

 

[aart]

These are mostly 3-5 year old laying hens. RIR, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, etc.

I'd leave them to rest for 4-5 days.
That's what I did then pressure cooked the meat for about 40 minutes, it was very tender.

 

[Molpet]

These are mostly 3-5 year old laying hens. RIR, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, etc.

I would rest a week.
They will need to be pressure cooked to get tender. Makes great enchiladas, chicken salad ect. Bones makes great stock.

 

[AgnesGray]

I'd leave them to rest for 4-5 days.
That's what I did then pressure cooked the meat for about 40 minutes, it was very tender.

Thanks! I didn't expect they'd be good to eat at all and have them listed for sale as soup/stock birds. I appreciate the tip!

 

[AgnesGray]

I would rest a week.
They will need to be pressure cooked to get tender. Makes great enchiladas, chicken salad ect. Bones makes great stock.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've never processed birds this old so this will be the first go around with this. I'm really looking forward to making stock and will try the other things as well!

 

[aart]

Thanks! I didn't expect they'd be good to eat at all and have them listed for sale as soup/stock birds. I appreciate the tip!

I take all the meat out after about 40 minutes,
then everything goes back in for another couple of hours for stock.

 

[AgnesGray]

I take all the meat out after about 40 minutes,
then everything goes back in for another couple of hours for stock.

Nice, thanks!

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks! I didn't expect they'd be good to eat at all and have them listed for sale as soup/stock birds. I appreciate the tip!

NOTHING makes better chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice, or chicken soup than a retired laying hen.