Resting question!!

[Eckielady]

Yeah, red rangers grow slower.
But I did 50 freedom rangers that are similar. I couldn't have done them all myself so I taught 2 classes for our chicken meetup group. We did 20+ at about 4-5 weeks, then did the rest in the next class at about 9+ weeks and some were too big for the vacuum seal bags.

We've never done this before but our plans are to divide the chickens before they go in the freezer. Breasts, legs, wings...etc.

 

[Birdinhand]

my last bunch of 37 were done in two rounds. I used two ice baths, one for final rinse and the other for dropping the core temp. then they were vacuum sealed and rested in the fridge for a couple of days before going to the freezer. If you don't have running water, I would seriously consider skinning them. the filth is intense and being able to get them nice and clean before butchering/evicerating is pretty important. I'm assuming that if you are off grid that you try and avoid chemicals as well, but this may be the one place you give in and use a bleach solution to disinfect prep areas before and after. I don't mean to sound preachy but do take the microbes seriously, chickens, organic especially, are teaming with them. freezing kills some of them, thoroughly cooking should take care of the rest.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A study I read said that leaving the bone in while resting will dissipate the rigor mortis more rapidly so you may want to consider that when parting out the the breasts.

 

[Eckielady]

my last bunch of 37 were done in two rounds. I used two ice baths, one for final rinse and the other for dropping the core temp. then they were vacuum sealed and rested in the fridge for a couple of days before going to the freezer. If you don't have running water, I would seriously consider skinning them. the filth is intense and being able to get them nice and clean before butchering/evicerating is pretty important. I'm assuming that if you are off grid that you try and avoid chemicals as well, but this may be the one place you give in and use a bleach solution to disinfect prep areas before and after. I don't mean to sound preachy but do take the microbes seriously, chickens, organic especially, are teaming with them. freezing kills some of them, thoroughly cooking should take care of the rest.

We have discussed skinning them as we don't eat the skin anyway. Most likely that's what we'll do.

I do know about all the germs with chickens and we'll take that seriously. I don't mind using bleach to clean things outside as long as it doesn't touch the skin.