That tough young bird

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:
Well that works great for you but not my roos. They were tougher than shoe leather all 6 of them and they were about 5 to 6 months old.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Did you let them free range about? The more they use their muscles, the leaner & stringer they will be.

How did you prepare it?

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:
Nope they were in a pen and were well fed, had fresh air...left them to cure for 3 days in the frig etc.

I roasted one and crock potted the others and even then were still chewy.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
Nope they were in a pen and were well fed, had fresh air...left them to cure for 3 days in the frig etc.

I roasted one and crock potted the others and even then were still chewy.

Then I'd say you didn't crock pot them long enough!

They have to get past the chewy part...what did you use in the pots with them? I usually do lemon juice in all of my recipes because the acid helps break down the meat better...

 

[dancingbear]

I leave mine in the crock pot until they GET tender, however long it takes. If it isn't tender yet, it isn't done!

Buttermilk is another good thing to tenderize meat, (you can marinate the bird for 24 hours before cooking, and add the buttermilk to the crock pot, too, if you want) so's pineapple, (and papaya) if you want do do a sweet/sour type sauce. In fact, the enzymes in meat tenderizer, bromelain and papain, come from those two fruits.

I usually just season them, and add about 2 or 3 cups of water, and crock pot on high until tender.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I cook mine on low for 12 hours.

 

[dancingbear]

That works, too!

 

[MissPrissy]

Extra roosters are best before 12 weeks. They need to rest in the fridge 24 - 48 hours. Brining helps but if you want fried chicken soak him in buttermilk. Mmmm Mmmm.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

That's what I should have used...papaya, pineapple and buttermilk!

My next hatch will most likely be sometime next summer as we will be moving as soon as we find a mini-farm and sell our present house. I should have a load of roos by next winter to experiment with. Winter is a devil of a time to be house hunting and selling but I've been told by the city that I must get rid of my chickens as they are so trying to be like the BIG city even tho we have close to an acre of very private land. One neighbor complained to the city that one of my young pullets flew over my 5' fence and over the 15 foot hedge and landed on his land for 2 minutes before returning.

Ooops I'm not really in the right place to bring this up so sorry! my bad.