We did the deed, and I can now say I am no longer just a city girl, not yet a country woman. After much thought, we decided to put an end to Ed’s life. It’s possible I could have found a farm somewhere looking for a lone rooster, but I guess I wanted to save that rooster opening for another urban family that didn’t feel comfortable butchering a chicken in their backyard.
It wasn’t the most enjoyable way to spend a Saturday evening, but the whole process didn’t actually repulse either. My grandmother said it must be in our blood. She was referencing the fact that I am a direct descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers. My grandmother grew up raising and butchering chickens on their family farm in Oregon, and here I was providing food for the table the same way they did.
Ed’s life was pretty darn good. I nurtured the little guy from a chick, he spent a wonderful couple months in a clean and cozy coop with great flock members, and he got plenty of excess greens and goodies from the yard. When I came to collect him, I held him close to cuddle him so he calmed down. Then I gently held his feet, while I turned his body upside down. He half-heartily put out his wings, but gave up after about 2 seconds and just floated there. That made him passive enough to gently lay his head down on the stump, and Jay swung the ax.
We had read info online about how to butcher a chicken. The method we chose was cutting off the head. We then hung him upside down over a bucket to “bleed” him, which didn’t take more than a couple minutes for him to stop bleeding. We dunked the body in a big stock pot of boiling water that we brought outside, and shook the body gently for five seconds. Jay then proceeded to easily pluck off all the feathers.
Once the “outside work” was done, I took over for the “inside work”. It was a pretty scrawny carcase, but waste not. I brought the body inside and went to it. I cut off the feet. I made an incision under the breast, cut down to the tail, then cut around the tail. My hands felt around inside to loosen the inners from the body cavity. I pulled everything into a bucket. I also found the gizzard in the neck and cut that out. The process was a little smelly, but it went quick.
We prepared Ed into a French dish called Coq au Vin, which is traditionally made with rooster. (Thanks for the tip from Laura on a good rooster dish) I can see why it’s a good preparation. If you haven’t had rooster before, they are pretty chewy and tough. This dish gently simmers the meat in a pot of carrots, onions, mushrooms, and wine over a long period of time. We choose white wine since we seem to have an abundance of it right now.
Ed was delicious. Still a rooster, but the meat was falling off the bone and very flavorful from the recipe we used (there are a million recipes out there and you can use plain chicken in place 
of rooster).
The experience was interesting. I won’t say it was bad and it wasn’t something that was a real treat either. But we definitely savored our meal and appreciated knowing where it came from and that Ed had a humane, pleasant life prior to becoming dinner.
Way to go Renee! Glad that you didn’t find it too awful and that you were able to enjoy your meal. I think we’re going to wait a bit longer on our newest rooster – we’ve got plenty of room and no one to complain about crowing.
You didn’t waste any time. (That would be a warning to me that if we find out there’s a rooster in our flock…be prepared to act quickly to not upset our neighbors.)
Good for you! I think it’s something every chicken girl should do at least once. I think your experience sounds better than mine. It took forever to get the insides out!!! Gah!
Thanks for the encouragement ladies. It will certainly be a little harder if our favorite rooster turns out to be a boy.
Michaela, it really only took a week before the short, single “crows” turned into full bellied “cockle doodle-doo’s”. Definitely audible to all the neighbors!
I too am very proud of you guys Renee. I feel like such a hypocrite eating meat when I don’t believe I have it in me to actually slaughter an animal.
Well done !
I know that killing for your own meat is real emotional roller coaster.
Once you start eating the chicken you’ve killed, you realise that every other chicken dish you’ve ever eaten deserved the same respect.
Irene x
Wow, that was kind of hard to read and imagine. I had mixed emotions and felt a little sad for you. I know he was a pet, but I totally get it on the other hand. If you are gonna eat meat, that is the way to do it. What an experience. Would you do it again if you have another rooster?
If I had to do it again, I would. I think the hardest part was just swinging the ax, but Ed was really calm through the whole ordeal, which made it easier.
If Stella turns out to be a rooster, which I am 98% sure about, that will be harder. I guess I’m kind of avoiding thinking about that right now…
And Irene, you are so right. After appreciating our meal of Ed so much, it did make me realize I eat meat about 3 times a week and should be that conscious of those meals as well.
I would have to be close to starving before I could eat something that I have seen walking about and have petted. And yet I have no problem eating any other meat. That’s just me though and I’m glad you didn’t waste him.
Which brings me to the memory of a friend I had. She grew up with chickens and instead of using an ax, they would simply break their necks. She had the strongest hands and you did not want a neck massage from her. I think she could break human necks too. Augg!
yo. You are a rock star. That post almost made me tear up. I have been seriously considering hunting this season (my whole Montana family hunts) because I feel like it is the conscientious and honest thing to do as a meat consumer….but I am thoroughly impressed with your Head Cutting Off abilities. Congrats. I heart Coq au Vin.
When do you for sure know they are roosters?
Thanks for the props DTC. I would say you only know for sure they are roosters when they crow. Stella has some tail feathers slightly curling, and she appeared to have gotten in a cock fight with Ed, but I still won’t consider my options until I hear that crow.
And there is no mistaking a rooster crow, even before they get to the full “cockle doodle doo”.
Wow, that is awesome.
Congrats on making it through and the food looks wonderful, a thoughtful tribute.