I am determined to make these birds edible- not gonna happen update

[Javamama]

But I need help. I was given a freezer full of frozen chickens that are best for stewing as they have been in the freezer for a couple years. This is my first experience with a non-grocery store chicken and the first attempt at cooking one in the crock pot could have been better. I cooked it whole, just threw in some veggies and salt and pepper. It is still tough after 5 hours - so should I just keep cooking it? Or would cooking in a pot of water be better?
Also, the skin is really thick and rubbery - is that how it is supposed to be?
I am going to give it a few more attempts before I give up and call them organic dog food. They were free after all.
Did I post this in the right section? I just was not sure where to go with it.

 

[coffeemama]

Did you put it in any liquid? It needs to be submerged in broth, water, wine, or mushroom soup with milk or something. I always have good results with this.

 

[MissPrissy]

I think you now know why you were given the chickens. LOL

Try a pressure cooker.

If that doesn't tender them up see my first sentence.

 

[coffeemama]

Quote:

 

[Frogdogtimestwo]

You could try brining the meat first, not sure if it will help with chicken that old.

 

[dancingbear]

Did you thaw the bird before you put it in the crock pot? If not, try thawing one first. Cut it into pieces, and soak overnight in a brine solution. Then soak another 4-8 hours in buttermilk. Then put the bird in the crockpot, (include the buttermilk if you want, it won't hurt anything) salt, pepper, and a little poultry seasoning. (the green powdered herb mix, not the reddish orange seasoned-salt type chicken seasoning) Cover and set on high, let it cook until the meat comes easly off the bones. This will take anywhere from 3-4 hrs. to overnight, depending on how old the bird was when butchered, and what breed(s).

If you have a pressure cooker, Miss Prissy is right, that should do the trick.

You could thaw one, cut the meat off the bones, (you wont get all of it, but you could crock pot or pressure could the rest) and run it through a meat grinder with the finer grind plate. There are good recipes for chicken sausages, or you could make patties and fry them. I use ground turkey that way, I make patties, dredge in flour, salt and pepper and fry them up. They're very good. You could mix it with ground beef to extend the burger, I'd use maybe 1 part chicken to 2 parts beef.

If all this fails, I guess you've got dog food.

Good luck, please tell us how it turns out!

 

[Javamama]

I think you now know why you were given the chickens. LOL

Actually, the person is moving and just couldn't ship them across the country.

But, yeah I figured what the heck, give it a try.
The bird was thawed, but I didn't brine it. Think I'll try that on one tomorrow as well as submerging it.
I did not add any water to the crock pot so that was the mistake. I cut it up and threw it back in with more water and seasoning and what little meat is on it is now more tender and tasted pretty good.
I am surprised at how little meat they have on them. I don't know what breed they are.

This is so stupid, but I have never dealt with cooking a whole chicken before. I usually get them already cut up. I'm learning.​

 

[Javamama]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Now I know what to do next time. I think these birds are going to be dog food. There is hardly any meat on them and it's not worth my time. I couldn't tell how scrawny they were before I cooked them and removed the skin. Turns out they were expired laying hens. Miss P - you were right!