Pete and chickens don't mix

[trudy]

Wasn't sure where to put this one, here or in canine companions. I have been letting my chickens out to free range for a few days now cause my dog had ran off. He's been back only for like overnight and would take off again. So this time I hadn't seen him for a couple days so thats why I let my chickens out to roam. Figured I'm home and outside most the day anyway and I could keep an eye on them. Then late yesterday afternoon DH wanted me to take him to a deer stand and drop him off which I did, I was gone less than 10 min.

I get home and DD wanted me to ride her on the 4 wheeler up the road and back an as I was headed to the ATV I saw feathers all over the yard, 1 hen laying down and the rooster. My first thought was Pete's back!! But I didn't see him anywhere. I put the hen in one of the nesting boxes and she didn't seem to be fairing to good. I walked over to the rooster which apparently was playing possum and he got up, a little unbalanced but ok. He walked around to the back of the hen house and into the edge of the wooded area.

Then I heard Pete tearing through the woods and the rooster making this god aweful noise. Well I told DD to go get DSIL to help me contain Pete. Pete had the rooster down but hadn't hurt him. So we got the roo back in the pen, caught Pete.

I couldn't find the other hens nowhere, so I left the door open for the others as it was getting close to the time for them to go to the roost and more gradually started showing up. I checked on the dominicer that I had placed in the box and she didnt make it. I still have 4 missing I am hoping have settled down from their scare and will return today if something didn't get them during the night.

We took the one that died and dressed her out, wasn't really anything torn up on her but you could see where Petes teeth had come down into her thigh and back side. I hadn't never cleaned a chicken before but SIL had. I noticed the skin was very thin, lots of fat. I know its not the same as a store bought bird, but why would the skin be so thin? Is this normal for a this time of year or is it because of diet or just cuz they are allowed to roam and not just sit idel all day with no exercise? I think she was less than 2 yrs old, so would it be her age? Educate me please. trudy

[nnbreeder]

Most store bought birds are Cornish crosses that have been bred for fast growth. Now elsewhere a Cornish is known as an Indian Game and the game breeds have tougher skins then the Medeteranian or Continental classes of poultry. I think mainly it is due to the climate they originally came from. The store bought birds are also about 8 wks. old at slaughter so they are tender. What I would do with this bird is to boil it up to use as soup stock, I've tried many tricks to tenderize older birds but have yet to find one that works. Hopefully someone here has a foolproof trick that will make an older bird tender.

[lilsparrow]

I haven't tried it on an older chicken, but I have noticed since I switched to Kosher salt my meats cook up more tender than they ever were before...

[crazy1]

We use grey salt here, adds a real good flavor. But have you tried a pressure cooker or a crock pot for a long slow cook?
Not sure about the pressure cooker _{never tried it} but I know a crock pot will make a shoe tender.

[lilsparrow]

Very good point there, crazy1. And yes, the pressure cooker will make it very tender too. I have used the pressure cooker with tough cuts of meat and it really turns out nice!

[crazy1]

We love our pressure cooker use it real often here. Best roast you could ever get.

[lilsparrow]

trudy, did the other 4 hens make it home??? And so sorry to hear of the incident...

[crazy1]

What kind of chickens were they T? I remember all of grandmas having a thin skin on em. But that was years ago. I sure hope they come back for ya. Hows the roo?

[trudy]

The roo seems fine, haven't heard him crow still. So that may have gotten damaged. 1 hen returned yesterday, so still have 3 missing. I haven't thought about cooking with the pressure cooker or crock pot, good idea. If nothing else I may try and make chicken an dumplings with her. I use Koster salt, it has really cut my sodium intake down over the last couple years which is what the doc wanted.

The roo is donmincker, a couple hens were also. The ones missing are 2 RIR and a bantam. 4 Wyandots, 1 Aracanas, 4 black crest. Thanx yawl. T

[crazy1]

Grandma raised Wyandots, they were good eatin.

Glad to hear 1 more came home. They could be OK as long as they rosted high enough in a tree.

[Deleted]

Think i'd put Pete on a short chain.

[trudy]

Already done, he's not happy either. We tried putting him in the pen thats got an electric fence around it but he figure out a way to get out. He's never had to be chained up b4 so u can image how he's pouting. T

[Deleted]

Sorry bout his luck, but he had it commin.

[trudy]

Yeah he did, kinda my fault for lettin um out and leaving. But ole well whats done is done. Fixin to have to turn him loose, DH doesn't want him chained up, plus with the "land mines" so close to his parking spot and him leaving before dark you can only imagine.

Got home and the house was smellin so good from me putting the chicken in the crock pot this morning, fallin off the bone. Thanks for the suggestion. Finishing up the dumplings now. Will be my first Organic grown chicken. Can't wait to have supper. trudy

[crazy1]

Well T we all have our own ideas bout chainin dogs up _{personally I don't} They all gotta learn to get along.
Hmmmm What times supper? LUB them chicken and dumplings.

[trudy]

Well I don't likeum chained up either, it was only gonna be temporary til the chickens came home anyway. We let him loose along with his sidekick and they headed straight for the road again. So we put them in the pen with the electric fence. He first got out then we watered down the ground a bit and that stopped that. As far as I know they are still in there.

Oh the chicken and dumplings were delicious. I ate a helping for you C. trudy

[Deleted]

When i was growin up, if we had an egg suckin dog......it was dead........no, if's ands or buts about it.............a chicken killin dog.......well, we'd tie the dead chicken to the dogs coller and make it wear it till the chicken rotted off.......they did'nt chase chickens anymore.

[trudy]

Pete would probably just figure out a way to eat it. T

[Deleted]

persistant ain't he.