Our chicken tasted 'odd'...is this normal?

[Southwellski]

We have just cooked and eaten our first cockerel. This may sound like a REALLY stupid question but whilst the breast tasted liek chicken as I know it, the brown meat smelt and tasted "strange" - maybe gamey, but then I eat game and generally like it. I am not sure if I am over thinking eating our first chick (as he was last August) or whether we did something wrong in the despatching/storing process.

My husband said it smelt and tasted great...

A friend killed our birds for us (there were 3), my husband said it was very quick (break the neck) then we hung them for a few days before dressing them (as advised by UK Poultry Club). I haven't just poisoned my family have I??!?

 

[Darin115]

We always kill, pluck and gut before we put it in the fridge to chill for a few days. I think it is a UK thing to hang with the guts intact. I don't think it is a common practice in the US to hang any animal with the guts stil in it. The guts hold heat and does not let the carcas cool off as quick.

I am sure it won't kill you but I prefer to take them out right after slaughter.


Darin

 

[bigredfeather]

So did you remove the guts/feathers before hanging it for a few days?

 

[Southwellski]

Feathers yes, guts no.

 

[HandLoad]

That'll Do it! Next time, Take out the guts!

 

[Southwellski]

http://www.poultryclub.org/poultry/keeping-birds-for-meat/ says not to. That's what we followed...wouldn't it all have tasted "off"??

 

[bigredfeather]

http://www.poultryclub.org/poultry/keeping-birds-for-meat/ says not to. That's what we followed...wouldn't it all have tasted "off"??

Maybe that's a UK thang, but I couldn't imagine not gutting any animal promptly after killing it. I'd say that could cause it to have an "off" taste.

 

[Southwellski]

It wasn't "off" just...strong and "different"...and just the brown meat!

 

[wyoDreamer]

It wasn't "off" just...strong and "different"...and just the brown meat!

Your chickens used their legs - those muscles were worked.
It will taste different than a bird that sits at the feeder eating all day.

I bet the color was a little darker than you were used to also.

 

[Southwellski]

Do home reared birds always have "gamier" tasting legs?