Not sure I like to eat my chickens???

[Ridgerunner]

As far as I’m concerned there is nothing edible on the feet, though as you can see a lot of people disagree with me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_feet

The feet add a tremendous amount of gelatin to the broth. However, I fully understand if people don’t want to use them. When you try to peel them you may decide it’s more work than it’s worth. If you over-scald them they can be a pain to peel.

I’ve never done it but some versions of Cog au Vin (Cock with wine) include marinating the old rooster overnight in the wine, that supposedly tenderizes it even more. I’ve cooked old rooster in a crock pot on low with water and seasonings for around 8 to 9 hours. It was tender but if you are not used to anything other than the store-bought Cornish X, it can be a little different.

June, do you add any flavorings or seasonings? I’ll be replacing my rooster this fall and just might try this. It sure sounds good.

 

[junebuggena]

As far as I’m concerned there is nothing edible on the feet, though as you can see a lot of people disagree with me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_feet

The feet add a tremendous amount of gelatin to the broth. However, I fully understand if people don’t want to use them. When you try to peel them you may decide it’s more work than it’s worth. If you over-scald them they can be a pain to peel.

I’ve never done it but some versions of Cog au Vin (Cock with wine) include marinating the old rooster overnight in the wine, that supposedly tenderizes it even more. I’ve cooked old rooster in a crock pot on low with water and seasonings for around 8 to 9 hours. It was tender but if you are not used to anything other than the store-bought Cornish X, it can be a little different.

June, do you add any flavorings or seasonings? I’ll be replacing my rooster this fall and just might try this. It sure sounds good.

Just a few sprigs of sage, rosemary, and thyme from the herb garden. I was not expecting such a meaty flavor.

 

[randr ranch]

We ate our first old rooster cooked on low overnight with all the additions suggested. I know I should have waited longer after butchering, but we ran out of room. Good flavor, but a bit tough and chewy. Not surprising since it did not rest before cooking. Our friend told us that his mother used to roughly chop old rooster meat up in food processor and add it to meals in place of cooked ground beef. We gave it a chop and added it to nachos. My family thought it tasted like turkey and ate it up. A few whirls of the food processor and nobody said anything about it being tough.

 

[wingedshade]

Gutting mature roosters is not fun. Last time I accidentally busted it's nut while trying to remove the intestines, I nearly puked.

 

[donrae]

We ate our first old rooster cooked on low overnight with all the additions suggested. I know I should have waited longer after butchering, but we ran out of room. Good flavor, but a bit tough and chewy. Not surprising since it did not rest before cooking. Our friend told us that his mother used to roughly chop old rooster meat up in food processor and add it to meals in place of cooked ground beef. We gave it a chop and added it to nachos. My family thought it tasted like turkey and ate it up. A few whirls of the food processor and nobody said anything about it being tough.

That's good to know. although, around here, if I put it on tortilla chips with cheese, they'd probably eat....well, use your imagination. Pretty much anything

When I had an older rooster (3 or 4 years), I put them in the pressure cooker. I didn't rest those birds, they went from live to in the cooker in half an hour or so. Pressure cooked with veggies like making stock for about 40 minutes. Cooled and shredded, it made great enchiladas or other casserole type meals.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Gutting mature roosters is not fun. Last time I accidentally busted it's nut while trying to remove the intestines, I nearly puked.

They have those!?

 

[ShrekDawg]

That's good to know. although, around here, if I put it on tortilla chips with cheese, they'd probably eat....well, use your imagination. Pretty much anything 

When I had an older rooster (3 or 4 years), I put them in the pressure cooker. I didn't rest those birds, they went from live to in the cooker in half an hour or so. Pressure cooked with veggies like making stock for about 40 minutes. Cooled and shredded, it made great enchiladas or other casserole type meals. 

Sounds delicious!

 

[junebuggena]

They have those!?

Yep. And they can be very difficult to get out. It is not easy to remove the innards of adult roosters.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yep. And they can be very difficult to get out. It is not easy to remove the innards of adult roosters.

I mean, I guess I must have known they had them but i thought theywere like inside hah but anyway, oh wow, I bet it is! I don't think i could do that. I couldn't even gut a normal animal let alone seeing that

 

[hershy5252]

Thanks for all the good ideas everyone ... I will definitely be trying them!!