Stock made from Stewing Hens

[blueridgewoman]

A couple months ago, I got and froze four stewing hens from a pastured farm here (Polyface) to make stock. They're basically egg layers who have stopped laying.

I made my first stock with it recently and noticed that it didn't gel at ALL. There wasn't even much fat on the top.

I didn't add chicken feet or anything to the stock because, well, I'm a wimp and because I didn't happen to have any. The thing is, I've made stock before from chickens (broilers, not stewing) and haven't had a problem with everything gelling.

I'm wondering if there's just too little connective tissue in these older hens to make a nutritious stock. They were a great deal, but I really want good, healthy stock, and I'm not sure that I want to continue using them if they're not going to give up the amount of gelatin that the broilers do.

Any thoughts? Should I do chicken feet as well and see if that works, or what?

[Theloose]

There are still a lot of minerals in the broth, even if there's no gel. I definitely would keep using it if that's your goal. If you mostly make stock for the gelatin, and get plenty of minerals elsewhere then it might not be worth the effort.

[blueridgewoman]

I'm always about getting more minerals.

Any thoughts about adding some commercial gelatin, just to get that extra and not waste these chickens?

[Theloose]

I wouldn't think twice, and do it all the time

[kangaroomum25]

Chicken feet are so cool, I love peeling them They're not that gross after you've had to clean the whole chicken.

[blueridgewoman]

Oh god, PEELING THEM? That's it, I'm out.

But I will add some gelatin. Perhaps I will replace the stuff in my pantry that I got from my mom. I've never used it because I think it's like older than me.

[Bensmommy]

Well, I don't peel mine... just clean them really well!!! The reason there's not much fat is that most hens are busy using all their resources for the eggs, so they don't get fat like broilers. I think it's wonderful to use the hens for stock-- their bones are definitely full of minerals and it really helps bring them full circle for their usefulness (they made beautiful eggs, now they make stock!!!). I don't like adding gelatin but prefer chicken feet instead.

[kangaroomum25]

Originally Posted by blueridgewoman

Oh god, PEELING THEM? That's it, I'm out.

But I will add some gelatin. Perhaps I will replace the stuff in my pantry that I got from my mom. I've never used it because I think it's like older than me.

Don't knock it till you try it Really, it's fun and addicting, but if they clean well you really don't have to.