What is the best way to cook your older birds?

[Chook Daddy]

Hi chickeners after recently processing our first rooster (18 months) we were looking forward to a nice chicken pie to thank him.
We used the carcass for stock which was great but we were pre cooking the meat in oven in shallow water and it went quite rubbery.
Are there any secrets or are older tougher birds only good for soup etc.
Would be glad to hear any suggestions.

 

[FarmGirl01]

Just let the meat rest in the fridge for a few days. Then cook it low and slow. JMO--- we never soak meats of any kind in water.

 

[PatS]

I've roasted mine at that age at 325, with water in the bottom of the roaster. Not as tender as Cornish Cross, but still quite good and very flavorful.

 

[jessicayarno]

I used an old laying hen for chicken noodle soup the other day and yummy.. You really do have to cook it low and slow though, i simmered it all day to get the meat to fall off of the bone.. You can also cook it all day in the crockpot and shred the meat for whatever recipe you want to use it in..

 

[smitty652]

Can them in the pressure cooker, great for anything you use chicken for, fall off the bone.

 

[DenverBird]

Here's an article on cooking heritage and mature birds .