Is there a "smell" to home grown chicken meat ??

[Ariel301]

I have noticed that home processed meat smells different from storebought meat. Storebought meat smells like...well, I guess raw meat. When we have butchered a cow (18 month heifer) and goats (yearling wethers or bucks), even after careful butchering, salting, and rinsing of the meat, it smells like a dead animal, it reminded me of the necropsy lab when I was in college. With the beef, it even smells different after being frozen and then thawed to eat, it still has a slight lingering odor of dead cow. After cooking, it smells and tastes wonderful though. The rooster we butchered a couple of months ago smelled like wet feathers and had a bit of an off taste even after cooking, but I expect that with older rooster.

 

[silkiechicken]

Another thing with home butchering and smell is I think when you are there doing it, smells associated with the process get imparted in memory and then with the meat. I think this happens much more so than a bird that went through a processing plant, then through a brine, handled here and there, and wrapped in plastic on a shelf for a week or so. Even if that store bird has a hint of wet feather smell on it, it was probably long lost in the after slaughter processing and what is left won't trigger that memory of processing smell as much as that same degree of smell from a home processed bird.

That said, that is probably a small portion of the smell thing. Older hens do have a very rich soup taste to it, with the meat having a real texture. It's not like eating medium tofu store bird. The actual process of butchering may also change the scent, depending on how it is done. I personally don't think my home birds smell any different than store birds after you finish up and pull them out of the fridge raw a few days later. The smell of wet feathers though will stick on fingers for a day or so, which doesn't happen when you trade cash for a bag of soggy flesh.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I've only butchered one roo, but there was a smell. Not a bad smell, but... well it was a yard bird 30 minutes before. I dunno if I'd say it was stinky, but it was definately different. I don't think it would be an issue for you. Smells REALLY get to me, and I was okay with it.

My FIL won't eat a turkey because he says they taste like he remembers the wet feathers smelling. He also won't eat deer IF he knows it is deer. The mind can do funny things without our consent

I guess it depends on whether your mind can handle the fact that the bird is running around one minute being a chicken, and then laying around being dinner the next. The smell is really not ALL that different than other meat...it is ALL dead animals after all.

 

[jaku]

The only smell is during processing. I shrink wrap all my birds, so they look professional, and I think mine are a lot LESS gross when preparing than ones from the store.

 

[natrgatr]

Yes...yummy! Especially with dumplings!

 

[Jeeper1540]

ive only butchered 1 chicken. i dont remember any smell. i do remember the awesome taste though! it was the best dang chicken i'd ever had. im not gunna butcher any of my 'pet' hens (lol) but i'd like to build a second coop for meat birds. you know, birds im not going to give treats too, or hold, etc. just feed them and not get attached to them.

 

[Ibicella]

Hunh. I don't know of any particular odor other than chicken when it cooks. There are the usual chicken odors when you care for them/butcher them, but nothing that sticks around to my experience. Maybe it was something in the feed? Or perhaps your mother has a particularly sensitive nose?

 

[nivtup]

Our just smell like chicken.

 

[Baymule]

For the butchering smell on your hands, rinse your hands in vinegar/water.

 

[Charles07]

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