The dastardly deed!

[Hilary B]

Do you want 'quarters' or just 'pieces'? Wuld boneless breast suit your cooking methods?
If I was not after 'whole' birds, I wouldn't take the innards out at all, just cut off legs and wings to use, and take the breasts off the carcase.
A bit wasteful, but saves a lot of time and hassle!
If you DO take the insides out, I wouldn't give the dog or cat the actual 'guts', because it will probably make them smell! Gizzard (without contents), lungs and any other 'bits' are OK, but NOT anything with bones in, unless you cook the bones until they go softish/crumbly (yes it does happen, eventually. I use the slow-cooker for at least 12 hours or pressure cooker for 1 hour, and that is for the remains of a roast chicken).

[Scottishnewbie]

does anyone know of a youtube video that shows how to kill and butcher a chicken please? It'll be somehting we need to do next year i think so would be good to know what we are letting ourselves in for i think!

[Eco-Chic]

My friend and her partner kept chickens for meat on a commerical basis in Jamaica. They chopped their heads off. P didn't get involved in killing, gutting or defeathering.

I've read on this forum that the bird can be laid breastdown and a broom handle placed across the back of its neck. Hold chicken feet, put weight on broom handle and sharp yank of chicken feet up.

[Glutton4...]

.... but NOT anything with bones in, unless you cook the bones until they go softish/crumbly ....

I hate to disagree Hilary, but if you study the BARF/RAW feeding method, they say that raw chicken bones are soft and cooked ones are brittle, and you should not feed cooked chicken bones under any circumstances!

[Hilary B]

I hate to disagree Hilary, but if you study the BARF/RAW feeding method, they say that raw chicken bones are soft and cooked ones are brittle, and you should not feed cooked chicken bones under any circumstances!

I would NEVER feed 'ordinary cooked' chicken bones (I would tend not to give raw ones either, but that is another matter) but I cook the bones until a fork can be stuck in the limb bones and the ribs are bendy. I've been using up leftover bones this way for about 20 years, and the 4 dogs we've owned in that time (2 at present) have never shown any sign of a problem from it.
I really don't get much choice these days. The 2 we have now are expert bin-raiders, so if bones are put in the bin, however careful we are, one of them is sure to 'retrieve' the parcel, and since we never have uncooked poultry bones to dispose of, they have to be cooked beyond the hazard point.....

[Glutton4...]

LOL at your bin-raiders! My Sister had one that would raid the fridge too - butter/marg/cheese - whatever he could get at!

[Eco-Chic]

I will probably draw down the wrath of Odin on my head but our family of dogs and cats ranging from 13 years old down to four years old have always been given cooked chicken bones AFTER they have filled their boots on dog/cat food.

I have the approval of my vet, a very old fashioned no-nonsense man, as long as no bones of any type are ever given to hungry dogs/cats and the animals are always watched in case they choke on a piece of bone.

[Eco-Chic]

Glutton,

My ex-boss had two cats who would raid the fridge. She gaffer taped it to keep them out. I bought her child locks which didn't look quite as naff.

Funnily enough I adopted them when she emigrated but didn't have any independent 'I'll help myself ta' nonsense from them.

[CoraxAurata]

I hate to disagree Hilary, but if you study the BARF/RAW feeding method, they say that raw chicken bones are soft and cooked ones are brittle, and you should not feed cooked chicken bones under any circumstances!

Raw chook bones is ok, though if pet isn't used to it careful introduction is recommended.

[CoraxAurata]

Well- I'm getting some Marans- not just for the chocolate eggs- but also the gals are almost as meaty as the lads.
However- someone asked me if I'd ever eaten Maran meat before cos not everyone likes it....I wonder what on earth THAT means??????

Sorry- no other ability to help...although, I suggest you get ones with short legs so they'll be easier to catch

My marans hens are not exceptionally meaty (though I haven't plucked one to see..), The meat off the cockerals is tasty though!