The "have you ever actually eaten a fresh chicken?" question.

[Beekissed]

I would let the not so smart people of the world eat CAFO chicken and I would enjoy my taste like chicken is supposed to taste, healthy chicken.

I don't soak any of mine in brine, as this would leach out the good flavor of the meat. I BBQd several roos and a few older hens on the grill last year for a party I had and everyone went crazy over the chicken, took plates home for their spouses and I only got one piece of that "horrible" chicken. And they couldn't tell which chicken was the older hens or the younger roos.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Maran's are my fav to. I get a chuckle with all the hoopla over the breed everytime I toss one on the grill.

We don't brine ours either just age in the fridge

Steve

 

[jaku]

Wow, I've never heard anyone say that before, and the ONLY differences I've noticed between my birds and store birds is that mine are much bigger, and slightly firmer.

 

[Rillion]

Quote:
I agree, and my nieces are the same way. We once gave the five year old real apple juice instead of that boxed stuff, and she hated it. And she expressed her dislike in the way that kids do-- they can't just put the food down and say "Hmm, I don't much care for that." They have to treat it as if they were handed a bucket of toxic waste to eat-- "EEEEEEEW! Gross gross gross gross! Pleah!"

Which is sort of the way some people react to the idea of eating fresh chickens/eggs....hmmmm....

 

[cassie]

I solved the problem with EWWW kids once. After they pulled that stunt on me, I refused to feed them. They got water from the tap, no juice, no milk, no soda, nothing else to drink, and plain corn corn flakes straight from the box to eat. No milk because ours was EWWW (home grown). I explained to them, after they got good and hungry, what their options were. I told them that they could eat what they were served, they could bring their own food next time (as long as they didn't expect me to cook it), or they could stay home. I told them in no uncertain terms that I didn't care which they did, but that I was not putting up with any more EWWWW. I told them it was rude, it annoyed me, and that I was not listening to EWWWW in my house ever again. I never did, either. The kids just needed someone to speak to them in language that they could understand.

 

[mxpres]

 

[UncleHoot]

I agree with everyone that says store-bought chicken is not as tasty. If you butcher your cornish cross (if that's what you get) at 6 weeks, the only difference between your chicken and a store-bought chicken will be that yours probably tastes better and had a better life (though just as short).

I've normally always raised the cornish cross, and I get them processed at about 8 1/2 weeks old. They normally dress between 4.5 and 6.5 pounds. Because they are a couple weeks older, yes, they are a little bit firmer than store-bought, especially noticeable in the legs. But does anyone really notice or complain? Heck no! We sell most of what we raise, and folks are happy to pay much more than they would at the store.

I've also raised a few of the Colored Range Broilers / Freedom Ranger types. Processed at 12 weeks, they are about the same size as a cornish cross at 7 or 7 1/2 weeks, but because they are older, the flavor is even better, but yes, they're are also a bit tougher, but I really don't notice or care. I don't understand why anyone would want mushy chicken. I prefer the firmer texture. It's like eating a good steak, as opposed to eating hamburger.

 

[georgialee]

For some reason people like to defend their poor food choices and hate being reminded that there's a chance they're not eating healthy.

Just tell them you know the proper way to process (i.e. letting the chicken rest and brining it) to make it juicy and delicious.

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
Good for you! That's pretty close to what I plan to do if I get any guff over food from visiting kids.

I'm afraid a child who didn't want to eat food that was homegrown, or at least home prepared, would starve at my house. There will be no McNuggets in this house.

 

[2boxers]

I was amazed at the difference in the taste of homegrown over the taste of store bought. Now, when I eat store bought, it tastes bland and almost medicinal to me.

To each his own, I reckon. I'll take my own butchered chickens over store bought any day.