Backyard Poultry Info Centre

I'm a bit proud of tonight's dinner

1. Knock off an Australorp cockerel on the Sunday.
2. Let it rest until Friday.
3. Grab two previously-cooked (home) carcasses and start boiling into stock.
4. Strip cockerel of meat and put bones into stock as well.
5. Cook meat and add pumpkin (home-grown, of course. OK, mine wasn't but it COULD have been).
6. Add rice and wine.
7. Start adding stock from stuff simmering away on backburner.
8. Cook until ready.
9. Add home-grown herbs and cheese made by one's Bloke.
10. Eat and feel so virtuous you could burst

Note: I'm just at step 7 right now

I am sooooooooooo impressed! That's sounds awesome!

It feels so good to have home grown everything!

That sounds delicious. I wish I was a better gardener. I seem to be able to manage a fairly wild herb garden and that's about it. Fortunately, my animals grow better than my plants.

Enjoy your meal.

We are at step 10 now. I feel so DAMN good it's quite scary.

I forgot to put the home-grown rocket in cos we got hungry and wanted to eat it. But I always make about 4x as much as needed, for leftovers, and the rocket can go on the next serve.

Mind you, we have about 19 more cockerels to go, which is the only reason I'm permitting myself to experiment with not-roasting (which, to me, is the ultimate test for any quality meat).

Cathy, my gardens at this time of year are almost completely what's self-seeded. The rocket, for eg, is from something I planted about two years back and have never needed to replant since ...

You forgot Step 9.5: Invite Mrs and Mr 70%Cocoa

Congrats on a wonderful home-grown dinner!

Slightly ashamed to say that my dinner is beer and cheese Twisties. Not home grown Twisties either.

There are LOTS of leftovers, and we're only 60mins away ... start driving!!

LOL - I would for sure if only I hadn't drunk those beers

mmmmmmm, nothing else to say, really, except, mmmmmmmm

Info addict...I was just thinking about the "knocking off" bit...regarding what to do when chooks are too old too lay...I gather its better to eat young birds..but what do you all do with the birds that are aged...

I have a Plymouth rock hen who I inherited...right now she's cute to have around...however I have 5 chooks...2 eggs a day...eating lots of food..(of course waiting till its warmer to see who else may lay)...and yet wondering what do you do with non laying chooks..???

I am completely new to chooks is there a thread anywhere on how to slaughtering chooks and do it gently and effectively...and the how to de feather and clean the birds...

Hi Sr Hayhoe
At ther top of this section you will see some stickies on how to kill and prepare a bird for eating. they sould hep you with getting readly to do it.

As far as old hens beyond laying go, mine get a comfortable retirement till they fall off the perch. I realise this isn't practical for everyone, but really they are not good eating. They do make good stock and soups though.

NellyG

Sounds yummy. Can I do it without the rice. I'm on a low carb diet.
I have all the other ingredients. Maybe just add more wine? LOL

No - BUT if you drink enough you just don't care! ROFLOL