Is 8 months too old?

[Pineywoods Peepers]

I have two 8 month old EE cockerels that were supposed to be pullets that I decided to keep after I put one of my other cockerels down for being cantankerous. Now I have a Welsummer cockerel that I'm going to replace these two with. I've tried selling them but no luck. Are they too old to be butchered?

Thanks!

 

[TigerLilly]

I think these would fall in the "crockpot" category. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (or more) to make it tender.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

No 8 months is not too old - yummy. I roast mine at 350 degrees for 20 minutes per pound. We like to stuff them with stuffing.


Great article about home grown chicken - not cornish crosses.

www.albc-usa.org/documents/cookingwheritagechicken.pdf

 

[minnesota birds]

They Don't Get Younger, He Will Taste Wonderful

 

[donrae]

Really, a bird is never too old to be butchered. Cook low and slow, crock pot or simmer for chicken and dumplings or soup. They CAN be too old to grill or fry, and I think yours are.

 

[booker81]

Quote:
Yup! I love some good "aged" rooster meat....makes the best stock in the world too!

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Thanks for the input, and the link Horsefeathers. I'm a little gun shy. I turned a 5 month old cockerel into chicken and dumplings a few months ago, and the results were less than spectacular. My dumplings turned brown! blech! Of course, seeing as it was my first time to make dumplings, I guess the blame can't all lie with the cockerel...