[nealeholl]

We have about nine hens, various breeds, some bantams, some large breeds. Sadly their laying life seems to be tailing off and the time has come to think about replenishing.

This is the first time we have got to this stage without escape, fox, or Act of God depleting the flock first.

Is there any sense in trying to plump up 4+ year old bantams or otherwise for the pot, or would they just be stringy and horrible?

Also - can someone point me towards instructions on preparing a bird for eating?

[HappyHippy]

I suspect they'd be very tough - maybe good for dog food, if you can be bothered with the hassle.
Here's instructions for a phesant, I think chickens are just the same
Good luck
http://community.rivercottage.net/users/twelveboar/forums/how-to/viewtopic/topic_id:5494

[Crofter]

We usually pluck and truss them, then boil them for 2-3 hours. The meat will be fine for pies or curries, the stock makes a lovely soup. (In fact there's one on the range now!)

Last time we had a batch of 12 to do I killed them and skinned rather than plucking them (quicker) then took the meat off the bones and put it through a fine mincer, added some minced beef suet, breadcrumbs, water and seasoning and made over 20lb of chicken sausages.  Boil up the carcasses and freeze the stock in bags. Waste not want not as my Mother used to say.

Dave

[Hilarysmum]

I can eat the pigs with no problems and the birds bred for eating, but my old layers, just cant do it.  Though I do admire people who can, as I now have 9 layers and 7 non layers in my flock.

[doganjo]

No, I can't either.  I had 20 birds before I moved and half of them were only laying sporadically - I re homed them to friends with the same attitude as me!  Now I have 9 hens and a cockerel but they are all under a year old, so they might last a good while before I need to worry about it.

[juliag]

umm not sure I could do it, although we do raise table birds, problem is you build up a relationship with your egg layers, saying thankyou every morning.............................. lol 

[teggy]

I couldnt eat my old layers either,they have bin good to us popping out eggs for a couple of years ... and when they do stop laying they will have a lovely retirement , or am i just going soft in my old age !!!!!!!! im sure they wouldnt taste that good anyway .


                  teggy :

[carole h]

We are the same! We will eat the spare cockerels when they are young (before they crow enough to really annoy the neighbours!) but the girls get to live their life out naturally with the rest of the flock.

[Crofter]

..................................But that was lovelysoup!...................

[Rosemary]

Our layers die of old age. We've a few pensioners. I don't have aproblem with the meat birds or cockerels but the layers are kind of pets. Although I don't knwo if I'll feel the same about the Black Rocks as I do about the pure breeds, who are more distinctive. The Black Rocks are more on an amorphous mass.

[Hilarysmum]

We have a group of meat birds who rush out every morning to greet and eat, they always rush up if I go out, and are even more friendly than Roger and the girls.  Its going to be very, very hard ....

[carole h]

...but oh so very tasty!

[Fluffywelshsheep]

lol

[Hilarysmum]

Oh yes they will have to be eaten, cant afford not to they are mostly cockerels. 

[carole h]

Four of the last 6 we hatched are cockerels ... the 3 remaining ones are getting to a good size now and, more to the point, have started to crow! Not good when you live in the middle of town!
Looks like it's Coq au Vin again next weekend (yes, I know, very 70's - but definitely the best way to eat them!).