How old is too old?

[bheila]

I have a couple of RIR hens who are 3 years old and I have an EE who is 9 years old. I'm thinking that the EE is even too old to feed to my dogs. What about the 3 year old RIR's. Would they be too tough even if I put them in the crock pot and made soup out of them? I'm used to processing the Cornish Crosses.

 

[Opa]

Pressure cooker. Even that 9 year old bird will melt in your mouth.

 

[greyfields]

They'll be very skinny and possibly have vericose veins. Beyond that, they are fine boiled, stewed, pressure cooked, etc. I wouldn't roast one, though. Worn out hens don't yield much meat.