Tips for 1 year old hen

[KikiDeAnime]

I've decided that since we have 2 Black Australorp chicks being raised for meat, I'm going to let one lay eggs before it's butchered at 1 year. However, I'm not sure how to go about butchering a 1 year old hen.
I understand that letting it live longer than the original butcher date(18 weeks) is risky because the meat might not be as tender. That's why I'm hoping someone might be able to give me tips and advice on how to do this the right way.

I've butchered birds before so I'm not new to this, just the age part.

 

[Molpet]

Different cooking methods for different ages

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Different cooking methods for different ages
View attachment 2804266

Doesn't tell me how I'd cook it though.

 

[Molpet]

A roaster is roasted in the oven. https://heritagefoods.com/pages/simple-heritage-chicken-cooking-instructions

A fowl is soup, crock pot or what I do pressure cooker

Doesn't tell me how I'd cook it though.

 

[3KillerBs]

A retired laying hen makes the best chicken and dumplings ever.

I used the crockpot when I retired the in-town flock.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

A retired laying hen makes the best chicken and dumplings ever.

I used the crockpot when I retired the in-town flock.

Except this hen won't be a retired layer. Just an extended-living meat bird.

 

[3KillerBs]

An Australorp is not a meat breed type and she'll be a year or more so it will be necessary to treat her as fowl -- try the crockpot.

 

[aart]

Important how you cook a bird, also important is to let the cleaned carcass rest in fridge before freezing or cooking. Anything between 14 weeks and 12 months I'd rest for 3 days.
Older birds get 4-5 days.

 

[aart]

I've butchered birds before so I'm not new to this, just the age part.

What type of bird have you butchered...Cornish Cross meat birds or Red Ranger type meat birds or layer breeds?

 

[Brooks_]

Anything between 14 weeks and 12 months I'd rest for 3 days.
Older birds get 4-5 days.

Is that because of a rigor issue or just letting enzymes break down connective tissue on the older ones a little more?

What type of bird have you butchered...Cornish Cross meat birds or Red Ranger type meat birds or layer breeds?

Does the type of bird make much of a difference on harvesting?