[UrbanG]

Hi All,

Last Sat I had to dispatch one of our hens, it was the 1st time I have done it but it all went well by using the head dislocation method.

My girlfriend was away on holiday at the time and she really wanted to be a part of our 1st dispatch so instead of plucking and gutting the chicken on Monday I froze the whole chicken (feathers / guts and all)

The idea being, when the OH gets back off holiday we can defrost the whole bird and carry on with the plucking and gutting together as a team.

Thing is, since then my mother has told me I should NOT of froze the bird without preping it first? she could not give me a reason why, its just something she could remember from her early years when grandad used to keep chickens.

So,
Have I done wrong by freezing the whole bird without prepping?
What are the conciquenses?
Can I just defrost and carry on with the plucking and gutting as if it has never been froze?

Many thanks
Scott

[Casey76]

Chickens are normally plucked while still warm as the feathers "set" into the skin when allowed to cool - especially the large flight feathers.

I guess if you are using this chicken for educational purposes only I guess it would be OK, but I would be wary of eating a bird which had been frozen with it's insides still in, in case of spoilage (leaching of intestinal contents during defrosting).