I'm not a huge fan of chicken hearts, or liver so I tossed them.  I have eaten them plenty of times, but I just don't care for them.  I ended up just breading one of the breasts and making a chicken cutlet sandwich.  It was a bit tough, and not as delicious as I had hoped. 

I think I will make soup with the other bird. 

Ya I was expecting it to be tough.  You're going to have to slow cook them some how.  A soup is a good idea.  How was the taste of the meat?

I agree with you on those parts.  I just give them to the dog, not my taste. 

Maybe a Coq au Vin with one of them?   

mitt

My sister suggested coq au vin also... said that is what they do with the "old" birds or coq (rooster). 

The meat tasted fine, it was juicy and well...tasted like chicken.  It could have been psychosomatic, but it tasted fresh.  Another observation I had was that the skin was much thicker and tougher than store bought bird's skin.  I would imagine that delicious skin is something commercial chickens have been bred for.     

Might also be the breed -- if they were a laying breed (looked like maybe a Rhode Island White?) or a mixed laying/meat breed, then they're not going to have the same build as a pure meat breed.

And since they made it this long, I'm going to assume they're not meat birds - friends who've raised those tell me they know it's time to start slaughtering and processing chickens when the birds can hardly walk anymore, after just six months or so.

I'll second the coq au vin or a good chicken soup - soup made with a six-month old meat bird will never taste as good as one from a tough old rooster or hen.

Quote from: triangleforge on October 25, 2010, 10:07:41 AM
Might also be the breed -- if they were a laying breed (looked like maybe a Rhode Island White?) or a mixed laying/meat breed, then they're not going to have the same build as a pure meat breed.

And since they made it this long, I'm going to assume they're not meat birds - friends who've raised those tell me they know it's time to start slaughtering and processing chickens when the birds can hardly walk anymore, after just six months or so.

I'll second the coq au vin or a good chicken soup - soup made with a six-month old meat bird will never taste as good as one from a tough old rooster or hen.

Finishing off the old layers...or any bird or meat critter for that matter on some corn for a few weeks will help that some.

My old dairy farmer neighbor always says "There's no better 'color' in the barn than fat".

An interesting read

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Resident%3a+Chickens+can+make+a+city+comeback&articleId=57d63ac2-65b4-4ab6-b9d6-e8494f77b4bf

This farmer thing is awesome!

A few weeks ago I traded a rooster and a hen for a 50lb. bag of feed.

Thursday I got a 1/2 dozen freshly killed and butched venison sausages and about a pound of ground venison for a dozen eggs.

Today, three freshly caught black sea bass for another dozen eggs.  

I feel like I am making out like a bandit, but so far everyone has been really happy with their dozen brown eggs too!  
 

That's awesome.

I'm gonna try to barter  eggs for live crab tomorrow. Thanks for the idea!

Sac

We've got a standing deal with a friend who's trying to get a commercial micro brewery off the ground -- a dozen eggs for a growler of whatever he's got ready for bottling.  Unfortunately, our girls are slacking way off on egg production for the winter, so when Ann-Marie got into a baking spree last week, we (gasp) had to buy eggs for the first time in a year...

Quote from: IZ on April 25, 2010, 08:43:09 PM
I was at my dad's house in Tucson this weekend and snapped a pic of his chickens and the coop he made.  




He has a good looking bunch of chicks.  The coop is pretty cool too!  It's made of steel 2x4's, has 3 levels and approx. 10'x10'x10'.  He has me thinking about getting my own chickens now!  That might be too difficult though to keep up with moving every 12 months with a 1/2 dozen chicks in tow!      

Down at dad's again today for Thanksgiving and took a couple more pics.  


Check out the water system he made


Another view from the north side of the coop.


The South side has a door he flips open to get to the eggs.


Going into the supply shed, I noticed dad's lil' kegerator that he also made.  

Your dad is Dog the Bounty Hunter?!?!

Who took the pics for ya IZ..

Quote from: cokey on November 26, 2010, 09:50:56 AM
Who took the pics for ya IZ..

   

Seriously though IZ, looks like you Dad is a cool dude.  Anyone with chickens and a keg fridge would be welcome at my house 

mitt

Quote from: cokey on November 26, 2010, 09:50:56 AM
Who took the pics for ya IZ..

Someone figured out on the current phone that one must press and hold..wait for the camera to focus and then shoot.   

Quote from: Monsterlover on November 26, 2010, 03:17:54 AM
Your dad is Dog the Bounty Hunter?!?! 

You think?!  Dog without the leather and feathers?  I could see it.   

Quote from: mitt on November 26, 2010, 10:22:46 AM
   
Seriously though IZ, looks like you Dad is a cool dude.  Anyone with chickens and a keg fridge would be welcome at my house 
mitt

Thanks M..Dad is pretty cool!  Like I've said in the past, he's a regular McGyver.  He's done it all!  I wish I had a fraction of the knowledge he's acquired over the years.  Someday I'm going to inherit his "estate" and I'm not going to know what the h*ll to do with it!  Well, except for the kegerator!!