Chickens ... what happens to their heads?

Question

Having recently slaughtered my very own chicken, and beheaded it to make roast chicken, I got to thinking.

What happens to chicken heads?

The body we know. 

The feet, necks, wings, etc. are usually sold as is (esp. in ethnic markets).

But what of the heads?

I have never seen a bag of heads for sale the way I have seen bags of chicken feet for sale.

So does anyone know what happens to their heads?

Answer

no clue, but congratulations on seeing a chicken through from death to dinner! i'm sure i couldn't do that.

Answer

The heads, along with other chicken parts deemed not fit for human consumption for various reasons, are processed into pet food, labeled as chicken by-products or by-product meal.

Answer

Funny -- this thread has me thinking that there MUST be some punk band that is buying up all the chicken heads they can find.

Answer

I'm almost positive that the heads come off when slaughtered. Read that in Omnivore's Dilemma. But I don't believe they mentioned what was done with them. I've had a helluva time up here in NE CA even finding chicken feet. When I finally did, my joy was disproportionate (in some people's minds) to the event.

Answer

It goes into chicken feed. The next food scare? Mad Chicken disease.

Answer

I just listened to a Good Food podcast out of LA's KCRW with one of the subjects being the rendering industry (pork, beef, poultry, etc..) We process 6 billion chickens (or pounds of chicken?) a year in the US, unless I'm recalling that wrongly. (I want to say it was 59 billion pounds including all animals.) In addition to going to pet food, rendered product goes to livestock feed., and renderings from product graded human food go to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, as well. Some of it goes to fertilizer, as well.

Answer

They get fried up, of course. At least in Thailand: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11037087@N02/3618201490/in/set-72157619833647972/

: )

Answer

I am currently in Ukraine. Last night, I saw—in the meat department of a market—a tray full of chicken heads. I found this thread looking for what these heads are used for—culinarily speaking. I suspected broth generation, but I don’t know this for sure. Any thoughts?

Answer

I buy 3 to 6 kilos of chicken heads at a time. I remove the beaks and pressure cook them to soften the bone. I then blend it and upon cooling it turns into a brown gelatin. I mix it with cooked whole corn or rice and feed it to out dogs and cats. They love it and seem to do well on it.

Answer

I don't want to know.

Answer

"Chickens ... what happens to their heads?"

They become Senators and Congressmen.

Answer

Chickenheads are always eager to be in rap videos. Rappers love them. 
Do a quick search on the "derogatory" name and you'll understand why.

Answer

i've seen the combs at stores.

never a vat of chicken heads..but at my butcher, i buy the bird with the head. i chop it off and toss it into the green bin. i should put it in the recycling bin to mess with the fool stealing my aluminum cans :)

Answer

I got one in the bag of giblets once. Wasn't happy about it either.

Answer

i split the had in half with a cleaver and freeze if with the feet and back for chicken stock

Answer

It all depends on the types of chicken! Here in Toronto, all free range chicken comes with the head attached to the neck! Makes for better looking presentation by Asian/Chinese restaurants.

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Chickens ... what happens to their heads?

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