[shrekfeet]

I have two cocks that hatched at Easter. I'm now fancying showing them the inside of my oven and wanted some feedback on hanging chicken. As they are no longer really young birds will they benefiot from hanging? and like game birds, do you hang them with feathers? Head down or up?

Thanks

[Birdie Wife]

They would probably benefit from a day or two hanging, it's down to personal preference really and some people hang their birds up to a week.  Many people find it easier to pluck immediately after killing, as the feather are easier to pull when the bird is still warm, but I tend to pluck after hanging.  The bird is hung upside down in a cool place (I put mine inside an old pillowcase to make sure no flies get in there), guts in, and the blood will run into the cavity created when the neck is dislocated and coagulate there.

[harry]

i purchased an old tall fridge.... you dont normally hang chickens as its reckoned there is no benifit , hanging chickens is said to be 1 day max but i cant say as ive never hung a chicken, but i hang ducks , geese in the fridge these can be hung  for 2-3 weeks and more at 2 degrees, possibly in a vacumn bag to stop drying out, beef can be green mildew on the outside and its ok , the butcher will scrape the mildew off before you see it. pluck first , leave guts in while hanging..... my ducks are so tender after about a week.  ive found the £10 fridge a bargain as it has ducks etc in all summer hanging from the top rack, no flies no heat etc

[chickenfeed]

  we kill & pluck then hang downwards for 24 hours prior to drawing this in our opinion add to the flavour.
but as usual ask 100 people and get 100 different answers.
good luck and enjoy your roasts