My dear husband could not wait to eat him so we took the plunge and ate him last night. He was rather smaller than the regular store bought bird but you could taste the differance. He had much more flavor. A little chewier but not tough per say. I will be making the plunge and buying some meaties in a larger batch soon. Will feed them out a whole lot better this time around. I was able to save the gizzard and hearts which are eaten here or stored for giblet gravy. I think when I pulled the liver out and was looking at it I busted the bile duct. So just threw it out. The gizzard was much more flavorful than the store bought and the hearts were about the same. I will have to work on the ICK factor more because even thought I knew he was well fed and happy I still had some issues eating it. My kids on the other hand had NO issues. Even my daughter who threw such a fit. I also have the same ick factor on the fresh eggs. My mother always said they were nasty and fresh meat was even nastier. So I am working off more her beliefs than my own. It will soon become old news to all of us when we want to eat chicken it will be home grown.