How old is too old to slaughter?

[goatropper]

I slaughtered my first birds last summer...have a few roos too many, can they be eaten? or is it too late? Thanks:/

 

[daisychick]

I think an older roo would be fine if you stewed it or stuck it in the crock pot.

 

[goatropper]

Thanks, they are starting to fight and too much for the girls.

 

[4boysmom]

In the past month, we've enjoyed a 20 mo old roo and 3 9mo old roos..... just slow cooked them in the crock pot & then put them in a chicken pie...... the oldest one was just as good as the younger ones by doing it so slowly....10-12 hours....

 

[scooter147]

They will also make great chicken-n-dumlings or chicken noodle soup.

My chicken noodle soup is more of a chicken vegetable.

I cook two roosters until the meat is falling off the bone.

Remove roosters from pot and remove the meat once cooled.

I then cook my noodles until almost done.

I then add

carrots
celery
onion to your taste
a little cabbage
and I have been known to add corn, peas and green beans.
salt and pepper to taste
You can always add a little chicken base (can be bought in the soup aisle at the store) if you do not get the chicken flavor you want. Generally my extra rooster are fat enough I don't need to.

Serve with cornbread or rolls with real butter.

Then for dessert how about apple pie with a little Bryers Natural vanilla ice cream on the side?

ENJOY, good eating.

 

[katrinag]

You are making me hungry. That sounds soooo good.

 

[Kim_NC]

They also can well. I prefer to cut the meat from the bones - but some people can chicken on the bone. No worries with tough meat from the pressure canner.

The chicken makes a great broth in the jars. Very convenient to pop open for casseroles, chicken & dumplins, soup or stew, chicken & rice, chicken & gravy, etc.

 

[Linda B central Ar]

My mother always said older chickens had the most flavor, sometimes they are tough so cook a long time.

 

[ShadyGlade]

The French dish Coq Au Vin is only made from older chickens

 

[Mrs MIA]

You can always eat them, it just depends on how you want to prepare them. I carefully mark older hens/roos when I put them in the freezer so I know to let them slow cook. Crock pots are great for that.