Wow! these meats are really... meaty!

[ohiofarmgirl]

ok talk about overstating the obvious..

we dressed our red broilers a couple days ago and they have been chilling in the extra cold fridge. i'm cutting them up now and WOW they are really meaty!!! i mean wow!

the only thing is - that the quarters (legs and thighs) seem huge and the breasts seem just ok. is that the breed or should i have let them go a little longer? we dressed the roosters at just under 12 weeks.

we free ranged ours and fed broiler mix, then finished on corn and milk. i think i read that i could have used a higher protein for more meat - is that it?

but honestly i was sick of feeding them the most expensive food in the barnyard. and in an ironic twist - a couple of them had started to peck me meanly when i went in to feed them.. but look who is getting the last bite.. i mean laugh!

suppers ready in a few... the taste test is next!

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

 

[jaku]

Yeah, it's nuts how much meat is on them when you raise your own! I totally understand wanting to get rid of them as the cost of feeding them adds up, especially when they hit "meat" weight!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

also - i was afraid they would flop over dead if we waited too long! all i could think of was how much effort it was to keep them separate from the rest of the flock etc.....

we still have a couple of roosters and a bunch of the hens. the hens seem really small and we keep thinking that we'd keep a few of the hens and mix them with the 'regular' flock to see what we'd get with our wyandotte rooster.

oh the house smells heavenly.....

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Where are the pics?????? and where is my piece???? you do know you can email chicken don't you

Steve

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i wish i had smell-o-internet.. the house is HOT but oh the smells! heavenly!!!

and in honor of our southern friends - i'm soaking some of the pieces in buttermilk.. now where is my corn meal.....



ps the pork lard goes without saying....

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

update:

WOW they passed the taste test!!! ok fine i'm sold on the meaties....as weird as they are...

 

[spook]

I've never heard of the Red Broilers, we have...er...had Cornish X and it is crazy how much meat is on them. Unbelievable.
I did 48 birds this spring/summer and the freezer (7.5 size) is full to the top, Unbelievable!!!
My family is getting chicken for christmas for their freezers.

Congrats on feeding your family healthy and awsome job on growing your own food! Its so rewarding when you get the job finished!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Congrats on feeding your family healthy and awsome job on growing your own food! Its so rewarding when you get the job finished!

I will agree with that 1000% there is nothing better than sitting down to meal you have produced yourself. Wonder what the "other" people eat? never mind don't answer that, I don't want to know.

Steve in NC​

 

[vermontgal]

I just recently tried one of my colored rangers. I had cut some up for the grill. We had the breast meat off of one of them. To give a true taste test, I only put on salt, pepper, and olive oil (no marinade). Great flavor.

These guys were 10 weeks. We will see how the rest of the eating goes.