Hi everyone, just thought I would let you know that I just butchered the broiler/cross chickens that I ordered from Murray McMurray. Not only did I only lose one chick in transport from hatchery to home, (they gave extra anyway, so it really doesn't count) but, they have grown wonderfully and butchered out spectacularly! I plucked all but two. Both of my boys are gone for the month, so it was just me and the dogs today! Dogs didn't mind a bit!! I have 3 in the smoker and the rest in the freezer. Sissy

-- sissy sylvester (jerreleene@hotmail.com), May 28, 2000

Answers

You've sure been busy this morning. Good for you. Never had smoked chicken, how do you do it? Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 28, 2000.

Gerbil, we smoke ducks and chicken in our Luhr Jensen smoker. We use cherry chips. The ducks especially are really a treat. I await sissy's response to see how she does it.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), May 28, 2000.

Gerbil, I coat the chicken with peanut oil, sprinkle with spices; sometimes just poultry spice and salt/pepper and other times with sage and salt/pepper and a little lemon pepper. I use soaked corn cobs for smoking. You can also soak the cobs in beer for a little added zing! After smoking the chickens today, I took off all the meat and processed it with celery, onions and a little parsley and mayo for chicken salad. It is wonderful and my boys favorite!

-- sissy sylvester (jerreleene@hotmail.com), May 28, 2000.

Sissy - I'm curious about the 2 you didn't pluck. Don't the feathers get caught in your teeth ever worse than corn-on-the-cob? GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), May 29, 2000.

Oh Brad, you had me laughing today!! Uh, no, I don't have to worry about the feathers catching in my teeth, because I "undress" the hen before I cook it!!

-- sissy sylvester (jerreleene@hotmail.com), May 29, 2000.

We figured out a way to avoid those flare ups from the grease dripping on the fire. We use charcoal for the fire but wrap tin foil around the wood & poke tiny holes in the foil. Smokes like crazy & the wood doesn't catch fire.

-- Okie-Dokie (www.tommycflinstone@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

Brad, I'm a vegetarain from haveing to pick all those feathers out of my teeth when I was young!(ha) Always hated knowing what was for supper, by when I got home from school, what pet was missing! Also when I lost my immune system --I quit meat & it helped me!!! My family still eats meat---but about half as much as they did! I laughed out loud this morning when I read your post!!! Thanks! Sissy, enjoy your fresh grown chickens! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), June 03, 2000.