i dont really think of my chickens as food but,

[mopinko]

4. yeah, the taste of a stewing hen is etched in my memory.

coming from a big family with little money, stewing hens were a regular thing.
have been thinking about that flavor for 3 years now.

the roosters i have eaten were tough but tasty, when i managed to cook them right. made a batch of jambalaya that was one for the books.
these cockerels were nice and tender. not a whole lot of meat, but not that bad. made them pot roast style w carrots, beets and tomatoes from the garden.

been telling myself that it is best to make as many mistakes as possible now before i start to really depend on the farm for money or for food.

next year def stepping up my game. row covers and hot caps for me. this is the second freezing freaking spring in a row. last year i knew it was coming because i am close to lake michigan. when the lake froze all the way over, i knew i was in for it. this year it kinda caught me by surprise.
as in so many things, my tendency not to panic gets me into trouble. might be too old to learn about that bit, but.....