We do let our chickens free range during the day. That makes for healthy, happy chickens and delicious, nutrious eggs. It also makes for chicken poo EVERYWHERE! Every railing, path, picnic table... Oi vey! Now that summer is approaching, Farmer Jake has heeded my pleas and culled the flock.
We now have 15 chickens resting peacefully in our freezer. Since they are egg layers, they don't make for especially plump, juicy eating. We will be making a lot of chicken noodle soup! Anyone have other good recipes for me?
Like most Americans, I too have the inclination to prefer 6 degrees of separation from my meat. I do not kill, pluck, gut or otherwise prepare any animal brought home by Farmer Jake/ Great White Hunter Jake. However, I recognize the folly of my thinking and I strive to overcome my initial reaction.
Last week a sweet 5-year-old boy was visiting and he commented that there are less chickens in my yard. He was NOT happy about this. I told him that we prepared some of the chickens and that they are now in my freezer.
"YOU EAT CHICKEN?" was his alarmed reply.
"Yes, and so do you." (I'm all about teaching kids from an early age about the food chain so that they don't have the food issues that I've had to overcome).
"NO I DON'T!" he adamantly argued.
"What about chicken nuggets? I know you love chicken nuggets!"
"Those are NOT made from REAL chickens!"
hmmm... I think he had a point there....
Anyway, it is funny how far (in the wrong direction) we've come in the past 100 years. How many of us do not know how to process an animal in preparation for a meal? How many of us refuse any uncooked meat not wrapped in plastic? Have you ever killed, prepared &/or cooked anything wild? Do tell!