Too much fat?

[Island Roo]

I sold some of the meaties I butchered last week. First time meaties for me. Most comments I got back were very (very) positive.

But I had one customer complain that there was too much fat on the bird.


Quote:
I told him that I was trying for that - corn heavy feed and lower activity for the last couple weeks. He said the chicken was delicious but he wouldn't be buying another.

I'm not too worried about what he said (or maybe I am since I'm writing this) but I'm curious what everyone would consider an "ideal" amount of fat - more or less.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I think fat on a bird even though I hate fat on meat just means to me it's a healthy bird.

 

[MamaRudey]

X2

 

[WinklerFarms]

I wouldn't worry about it. Some customers will always find something to complain about. Those birds should have some fat on them. I have customers that want them fattier than I do because they say they make better roasters.

 

[ChickenJerk]

He said the chicken was delicious but he wouldn't be buying another.

Sounds like he didn't like the price.

 

[galanie]

I wouldn't worry about it. Some customers will always find something to complain about. Those birds should have some fat on them. I have customers that want them fattier than I do because they say they make better roasters.

That's just dealing with the public. You can't please everyone.

 

[kizanne]

To answer the original post.

I don't like fat on my birds as we try to eat lean. I did in a DP roo that got to 24 weeks and he had actual fat pockets at the vent and a few by the wings. I didn't like that, of course I just cut it off before cooking and he was delicious. But we skin and I like it when we skin it is all meat with very little hunks of white/yellow fat. Different birds have had different amounts of dark meat with the breast becoming darker. I like all the dark meat including the breast becoming dark that I can get I know it is probably not as lean but it isn't in hunks either. I also doesn't taste fatty.

I don't like duck cause they taste fatty even their meat.

That being said. You can't please everyone. I sell my eggs for more than many other fresh egg sellers around here for various reasons but until I have a frig full of unsold eggs I won't worry about it. If you are selling all the chicken you want to sell then don't worry about the one ney sayer. He can go buy icky store chicken. My hubby personally never wants to go back to the store, because our chicken tastes that much better. (ours is in no way cheaper either).

 

[Sundown_Farmer]

I have a number of Chinese customers who don't want any fat on the bird. More specifically, they don't want any fat in the broth. To this point we haven't had a problem. I never know how many birds they will buy so I can't dress birds differently for Chinese customers. They'll just have to remove the fat. Fat or not, they appreciate how clean our birds are. One told me when they boil a store-bought bird they have to pour off the broth once or twice before it is clean enough to use. They just use mine the first time.
A number of vitamins are fat-soluble and it tastes so dang good we try to keep as much fat in the bird as we can. Plus it weighs something.
You are producing the best product you can. Your birds are healthy, fresh and tasty. They also carry a bit of fat. Nothing to apologize for.

 

[Island Roo]

Thanks for all the feedback.
I've asked a couple of other customers about the fat - they could not understand why I would ask. "Don't change a thing"
Quote:
That's something I noticed myself. My dressed.chicken smell great - that is almost no smell. The dressed chickens I have purchased recently have a weird artificial/chemical smell.