***difference in taste between a cockerel/rooster and hen chickens***

[ukvs1]

i remember as a child having cockerel for christmas dinner one time, but can't remember much about it. is there any difference in taste or texture between a normal hen bird and the cockerel?

many thanks for answers

[NazNomad]

Not really. The taste depends on how the chickens are raised, rather than what sex they are. Slow growing free-rangers taste much better than the barn reared quick growing hybrids that are mass produced for the supermarkets.

[askyourgran]

Free range birds taste much better, the battery type are tasteless. I don't think the fact that it's a rooster makes much difference except they tend to be bigger.

[shaneystar2]

It was probaly a capon ,which you don't see much now .They are bred specially .
The meat is supposed to be more tender.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capon

[coccinelle]

There is a difference in texture between a capon and a cockerel or hen as the former can be roasted but the other two have to be boiled as they'd be too tough. The cockerel meat is stronger tasting than a hen and the reason why the french tend to cook it in red wine. Hen has more taste to it than chicken but like I say needs to be boiled.