Maybe @Beekissed will chime in as she cans chicken a lot. I ended up selling my last 4 cockerels as I just don't have time and space right now as we're in the midst of a major remodel and living in a tiny kitchen with an apartment sized stove. I do believe she said if you can the bones to only can the bigger ones otherwise they crumble afterward and it is difficult to separate meat from bones. I think she also makes schmaltz and she certainly uses everything, but she does skin them first. Hope that helps...