Well, that's different...

[Dave Z]

Had a couple extra roosters and they were being pretty hard on the hens, so they met their maker the other day. My first time. I just chopped the heads off then hung them for a while to bleed out. Went OK (for a rookie) but I was surprised to see the difference in meat from a supermarket bird.

First, there just wasn't as much meat. One bird was a "purebred" Easter Egger and the other was half Orpington and half Easter Egger. They were about 5 months old and both dressed out at about 3.5 pounds. Roasted the half-breed and was quite surprised to see how dark most of the meat was. The thighs and legs were as dark as turkey. Reminded me of a game bird. So now I'm wondering if the meat was dark because he didn't bleed out well enough or because he was free range and got to use those muscles more than a supermarket bird. or maybe because of the breed. Any thoughts?

BTW, been boiling the carcass all day and the house is smelling great. Good thing, because I think I'm getting sick. I can use some chicken soup!

 

[erner]

Ooooh... may have to butcher my sister's buff orps, I love dark meat! Get well soon! ooh, im the 1st to post, im so special!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

The supermarket birds are FAT!!! They are fed Super grower for 5 weeks & then butchered. They are basically a HUGE chick.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
FYI on making bone broth with the carcass. Do not boil it. Let it lightly simmer for 24 hours, so as to not ruin all the good stuff, and to make sure the calcium is allowed to leach out into the broth.

By the way, awesome job with the first time butchering.
And yes, normal birds have lots more dark meat.
Yummy!

 

[protodon]

My buff orpington crosses have all had really dark meat in the legs and they are also free range. So it could be the breed but I think the free ranging plays a bigger part in how the leg meat ends up.

 

[the simple life]

The supermarket birds are the cornish x, the same many of us here grow. They are bred to grow quickly, I don't feed superfeed and I get a 6 lb bird in a few short weeks.