how old is too tough?

[Beer can]

Doesn't matter how old they are, 20 minutes in a pressure cooker and they're about falling apart. Don't go over 15-20 mins or let it set too long cooling down, or that tough old bird will be a mess of meat and little bitty bone soup...
I go 20mins and rip the weight off. Remove the meat to use in whatever.
Add the bones back to the pot after chopping them up a bit, chopped celery, carrots, onion, garlic, tablespoon of vinegar. Cook for a few hrs, let it cool down refrigerate. Take the fat off the top next day, strain, yummy healthy bone stock.
Nice thing about the pressure cooker once the weight starts hopping you can turn the burner down on low and it holds steady 250+ degrees.

 

[Maeschak]

I second canning! Canned meat is so convenient so I think we'll try it with older roosters, too! I never thought about doing that - thanks!

Yeah and one great thing about canning the meat is that you don't have to let the bird rest after butchering. Just cut the meat off the bone and pack into jars immediately after butchering!

 

[Redhead Rae]

Yeah and one great thing about canning the meat is that you don't have to let the bird rest after butchering. Just cut the meat off the bone and pack into jars immediately after butchering!

But that means butchering and canning in the same day.

 

[mpoland33]

You can also raw pack pressure can older birds. The canned meat is great for just about anything- soups, enchiladas, even chicken salad- but it does look gnarley.
And hello from Frederick County!

Thanks! Where abouts are you? Don't come across us too often haha

 

[mpoland33]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I am going to have duual purpose hens only this year- first timer. I'm going to buy them started so I've got a while to go.

one more question that came up. Let's say our hen ends up with something that I am forced to cull her early- prolapse is what came up in conversation- is there any reason I can't eat the meat from that?

 

[Birdinhand]

i don't mean to sound like a wet blanket but my experience so far with dual purpose has been kind of dismal to the point where I have given up on eating them. instead I rotate them out based on laying performance and temperament, a few a year, in part because my kids always seem to want more chicks in the spring. The extra birds go to friends who free range and frankly, need a steady supply because they always lose some to predation. our dual purpose birds have always ended up on the light side, at least compared to our CX, I think I've become spoiled a bit by CX but it's also a practical matter, it's a lot of work to process birds that don't amount to much. once I realized how light dual purpose are, I changed my approach and decided to grow fryers and focus on making their life a good one, albeit short, and reducing the stink and manage their health in a variety of ways that result in a decent experience for me as the keeper as well as a decent tasking bird. I produce about 70 meat birds a year, resulting in roughly 300+ lbs of meat for our family of 4. I can't even imagine how many chickens I'd have to grow to net that kind of meat production.

 

[mpoland33]

i don't mean to sound like a wet blanket but my experience so far with dual purpose has been kind of dismal to the point where I have given up on eating them. instead I rotate them out based on laying performance and temperament, a few a year, in part because my kids always seem to want more chicks in the spring. The extra birds go to friends who free range and frankly, need a steady supply because they always lose some to predation. our dual purpose birds have always ended up on the light side, at least compared to our CX, I think I've become spoiled a bit by CX but it's also a practical matter, it's a lot of work to process birds that don't amount to much. once I realized how light dual purpose are, I changed my approach and decided to grow fryers and focus on making their life a good one, albeit short, and reducing the stink and manage their health in a variety of ways that result in a decent experience for me as the keeper as well as a decent tasking bird. I produce about 70 meat birds a year, resulting in roughly 300+ lbs of meat for our family of 4. I can't even imagine how many chickens I'd have to grow to net that kind of meat production.

good feedback. We are going primarily for the egg factor but because of production, I want to cycle out too. I may end up taking the same road you did as far as not eating them in the end and just cycle out. I definitely want to try it first

 

[Birdinhand]

good feedback. We are going primarily for the egg factor but because of production, I want to cycle out too. I may end up taking the same road you did as far as not eating them in the end and just cycle out. I definitely want to try it first

It's a noble cause and I didn't want to sound too discouraging but I consider myself to be that kind of person who would go the extra mile if it were worth it as a good homesteader but I was shocked at how light they are, even after 24/7 open access to store bought layer formula. good luck with your efforts, if you find an exceptional dual purpose breed you are happy, and that doesn't eat you out of house and home, please report back down the line, I would really like to know if there is an efficient yet satisfying alternative to fryers for folks!

 

[Maeschak]

Thanks! Where abouts are you? Don't come across us too often haha

I PM'd you OP!

 

[wyoDreamer]

I really like the Sagitta that I get from the local Ace Hardware. You fill out the order form, the hatchery delivers the chicks to the store 2 weeks later and you pick them up there - no mail service for those babies. My roosters were about 5 pounds each after butchering. Alot of meat on the thighs and legs, decent breast.
There is no way that a dual purpose will ever match broilers for meat and speed of putting on weight.
My broilers were raised with the layer chicks so they were active and healthy. I had one that could fly - for about 2 feet and about 4" off the ground, so more of a wing assisted leap, but hey, she tried.