will 9 month old white rock roosters be tough or good to fry?

[trunkman]

I have 3 white rock roosters I want to process. They're 9 months old, fairly large birds and have been mostly free range, what can I expect as far as tenderness, how to cook? Should I soak them for a day or two, if so in what? Are they a good baking bird or crock pot bird?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

If I'm not mistaken that is beyond frying age and should be considered roasters. You'll want to cook them long and slow to get good meat, but they will make excellent broth! There was a thread about this last night with a link...I'll see if I can find it

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Ah....read this!

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/cookingwheritagechicken.pdf

 

[trunkman]

Thank you very much Cindiloohoo!

 

[Smokin Silkies]

I'd put him in a brine solution for about 2 days. I had a roo, just a little younger than yours and we put him brine solution for 3 days then put him in the rotisserie. he was VERY tender....the legs werent as tender, but still tender enough. Ive had store bought chicken not as tender as him. I think the brine really really helped get him tender. He was in the rotisserie for about an hour or hour & a half. BEST tasting chicken ever and my first 'homegrown' one.

Edit to add: I don't remember exactly what my ratios were...but I put about 1 gallon of water, 1/8 cup or less of salt, about 1/8 cup of molasses, couple tsp of pepper, stirred it up good and added the chicken. He was a small silkie roo.....a very mean roo and thats why he had to go

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
You are welcome. Someone else found it last night and I saved it. I can't take credit for that. VERY good info though! LOVE IT! Gotta keep it handy now

 

[trunkman]

I've heard of brine, may I asked what ingredients it is made of?

 

[Smokin Silkies]

You can do a search on here "brine" it will bring up some recipes. I've edited my last post with what I put in mine, but you could add any seasoning...as long as you have water and salt...my opinion

 

[trunkman]

Thank you too browneyebuttafly!!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
It's just salt water. I'v not heard of adding other spices..may try that!