Why did the chicken stand on its head?

@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
December 8, 2017 7:07am CST
I have something embarrassing to admit - I find it difficult to determine the proper orientation of naked, headless chickens. No, this isn't some weird, naughty, chicken obsession. I mean the kind you cook. I cook whole chickens less often than a few times per year. I cook a turkey once a year, sometimes twice. I am used to getting chicken parts - which are clearly labeled - for everyday cooking. I am not an expert in chicken anatomy. I roasted a whole chicken yesterday. When it's time to roast a whole chicken or a Thanksgiving turkey, I seriously spend a crazy amount of time trying to decide which side is up. I mean, I want the breast to be on top and I have difficulty figuring out which side is the breast. If they still had feathers and heads, the task would be simple. But these naked, headless birds confuse me. Usually, I end up standing the bird up, on its legs, imagining how it stood in life. This helps me visualize which side is the breast. But in extreme cases, I have been known to search the net for images of roasted birds in order to see which way the wings lay and whether the legs point up or down. I almost always figure this out without outside intervention, but once I did roast a chicken upside down and was completely aghast at how little meat there was on what I had supposed was the breast. Am I the only one who finds naked chickens to be confusing?
16 people like this
11 responses
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
8 Dec 17
That was really funny. Thank you for sharing.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
8 Dec 17
Glad you enjoyed it. It's embarrassingly true.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
8 Dec 17
@Rollo1 It was still funny Anja.
1 person likes this
@sw8sincere (5204)
• Philippines
8 Dec 17
I love eating chickens but I am not very good of its anatomy.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Dec 17
I find it quite obvious when looking at a chicken and cannot understand your problem. Maybe you should buy chickens with feathers.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
10 Dec 17
@Rollo1 Who cares what the chickens want?
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Dec 17
I don't think chickens want to be thought of as obvious.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec 17
I guess I've seen (and dressed) enough chickens that this doesn't worry me. I know which way is up - as it were.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Dec 17
But it's not really up, is it? It's front. IT only goes up if you kill the chicken.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Dec 17
@Rollo1 That's true. Now you're getting me all confused. I'm trying to think of a foolproof way to help you get your chicken upfront - so to speak. Nope - no can do. You'll just have to keep turning it over and over till you work it out.
@paigea (35691)
• Canada
9 Dec 17
I have to think about it for a moment.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Dec 17
Don't bother telling me how easy it is and that you always know. I realize now that I have a chicken disability.
1 person likes this
21 Jan 18
How did your roast turn out? I find marinated golden roasted headless whole chicken mouth-watering. With veggies on the side.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
23 Jan 18
I did manage to roast it and it was pretty tasty.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
9 Dec 17
I rely on the pop up thermometer on the turkey. I do not remember the last time I roasted a chicken, but I do remember the same confusion.
1 person likes this
• Midland, Michigan
20 Apr 18
Squawk... Not quite sure whether or not you're joking, but you painted a funny picture. I don't remember ever questioning what side of the bird is up. Although, I don't know that I worry about which side is up when baking it either. I don't remember being taught about these birds, but they've not given me grief either.
@Poppylicious (11133)
8 Dec 17
I'll be completely honest and say that despite having roasted a fair number of whole chickens, I've never really thought about it. :)
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Dec 17
You have an innate chicken sense that I lack.
1 person likes this
@tzwrites (4835)
• Romania
10 Dec 17
It's interesting, I haven't heard anyone mention this before. I have no problem figuring it out because there is a big hole where the bum once was...
1 person likes this
@peachpurple (13884)
• Malaysia
8 Dec 17
I had never chop a whole chicken, usually the butcher does it
1 person likes this