How old is too old??

[possumblossum]

The best part about BYC is no matter how ridiculous a "New Egg" question, the answers are always insightful and polite.

That being said, here's my "You've got to be kidding me" question of the day. Background: I "inherited" my flock from my papaw about two months ago. This is my first chicken experience, so I have only mastered the basics of feeding, watering, and hygiene at this point.


About two weeks ago, a local mutt worked her way into my chicken lot and grabbed one of my EE hens. Fabio, my EE roo, flogged the crap out of her before she could get back out. (I plinked her with a .22 about 10 yards later...she's now fertilizer for my barnyard.)

The hen ended up with an apparently broken back, right at her tail. I treated the wounds with peroxide and Neosporin and the bite marks have fully healed with minimal scarring. She can move around, but her posture resembles a bird of prey like a hawk or eagle rather than a chicken. She hasn't laid an egg since. I tried to reintroduce her earlier this week, but she was immediately attacked. Because she is 1) permenantly disabled and 2) no longer capable of serving her purpose, it appears that it's time to cull.

She's somewhere between 18 and 24 months old. I hate to waste anything, so is that too old for processing?

Thanks,
Justin

 

[alicefelldown]

Processing can be done at any age - that's what crock-pots and Coc Au Vin are for!

With processing an injured animal though - I'd be wary of whatever the dog was carrying.

 

[possumblossum]

Excellent point.....

 

[SteveH]

Personally I would give her another week in isolation to make sure she's not carrying anything [ like rabies ] and process her if she's still healthy . I've used old hens that quit laying for noodle or stew meat after fattening them on cracked corn and they were delicious .

 

[schmism]

we have a layer who will be 4 this year. She hasnt layed all winter and now that spring has come around if she doesnt start laying some eggs she is going to wind up in the chicken plucker with the nuggets in 3 weeks.

She will make a nice chicken n dumplings or chicken noodle soup etc.

 

[dancingbear]

If it's been two weeks, and her wounds are healed, and she doesn't appear to be ill, I'd say odds are very good that she didn't catch anything from the dog. If she'd been infected with anything, the wounds would most likely have become infected. You're probably safe.

Old hens crock-pot or pressure cook just fine. The meat makes wonderful tacos, enchiladas, and burritos, not to mention chicken salad, BBQ sandwiches, casseroles, pot pie, etc. Anything you'd use cooked chicken meat for.

Be sure you let the carcass age after you get her plucked and cleaned. Just keep it in the fridge in a brine solution for a few days before either cooking or freezing for later.

 

[alicefelldown]

Brine or Buttermilk will do it!

 

[possumblossum]

Great Info from everyone....I really appreciate all of the feedback.