Processing Chicken Feet || Keep Your Feet || Using Chicken Feet for Stock

#chickenfeet #processingchickenfeet #chickenfeetinstock
Hey friends!
I'm in the kitchen today processing 60 chicken feet from our meat birds that we processed last week! Ya'll keep your feet! Chicken feet have wonderful vitamins & minerals, they are nutrient dense & add amazing benefits to your homemade bone stock! They also increase that gelatinous texture that we all hope for in our stock.
I add anywhere from 2-4 feet per batch of stock. Processing the feet is actually really simple. In this video, I show you step by step just how easy it is to process & store your chicken feet!
I know it sounds crazy & might seem a little gross, but as homesteaders, we are resilient & like to leave nothing to waste, amen? And don't worry, the feet are boiled & peeled so they're good & clean before you add them to your stock...AND you strain the feet & veggies from that beautiful stock anyway right? See, nothing to fret over! :)
Trust me on this one ya'll. Keep your feet!
Thanks for hanging out with me today!
👍 Let’s Connect! Follow Home Free Alaska on your favorite social media:
Instagram ➡️ / homefreealaska
Facebook ➡️ / homefreealaska
Pinterest ➡️ / _created
👉 linktr.ee/homefreealaska
Email 📧 [e-mail]
🎙 Listen to the Podcast Show: "Life with Tina" anchor.fm/lifewithtina
SUPPORT OUR CHANNEL through our affiliate links:
1. TOUPS & CO. organic skin care & makeup! Use my link for 10% OFF your entire order!
👉 www.toupsandco.com/homefreealaska
🏷 USE COUPON CODE: "HOMEFREEALASKA10”
2. 🛍 You can also SHOP Amazon using our affiliate link: amzn.to/2Uy6sEW
3. To learn more about ESSENTIAL OILS & how YOU can get your oils 25% off: 🎁 Check out my Doterra wellness link here: www.doterra.com/US/en/site/ti...
4. 🛒 Check out our Amazon storefront to see ALL of our favorites: amazon.com/shop/homefreealaska
🥇Show us some love over on PayPal at: www.paypal.com/paypalme/homef...
Paypal username: @homefreealaska
AMAZON LINKS FOR KZbin EQUIPMENT I USE:
Camera equipment: Canon rebel EOS SL2 camera & video recorder: geni.us/Mn3W (Amazon)
Rode microphone: geni.us/lZcAP (Amazon) Microphone wind buff: geni.us/jG1on0 (Amazon)
Mini tripod stand with flexible legs: geni.us/aZYD4h (Amazon)
Easy clip on lapel microphone: geni.us/H5AQfMX (Amazon)
60" tripod stand: geni.us/J8Q54fO (Amazon)
USB battery charger with 2 extra batteries: geni.us/FeRh9x (Amazon)
128GB SD card: geni.us/9gsIszq (Amazon)
Apple mac book air 13.3": geni.us/Z2ZIj (Amazon)
Macbook air USB adapter: geni.us/zAlBZHx (Amazon)
Hard drive 4TB: geni.us/APR0HAA (Amazon)
700W professional soft box lights (2): geni.us/REMCOc (Amazon)
Ruko F11Gim drone with camera: geni.us/8NLa (Amazon)
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no additional cost to you). I ONLY endorse products that I personally use & love!

[@ienekevanhouten4559]

You are a woman after my heart. I moved away from my acreage and no longer keep chickens, but when I did I took great pride in being able to butcher and used every part. I managed to score some feet and was hoping for an easy fix to the peeling, but it looks like I was doing it right and it is work. I do like the dog nail trick!

[@laura-leemurphyuta78]

You go girl! I saved chicken feet and made wonderful stock.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Thanks! It’s so funny, 10 yrs ago if you would’ve told me I’d be saving chicken feet, I would’ve laughed! 😂 People are really missing out if they’re not saving their feet! Thanks for watching! 💗

[@laurencoutts3406]

Thanks so much! Super helpful for a first timer!

[@Cowtownmama1951]

Girl!!!!! This 71 yr old Yaya is SO impressed!! I just finished watching you process your birds! I subscribed after watching it. Love, love, love that you use as much of the bird as possible. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Best of everything to you and your family!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Susan! Thank you so much & thanks for subscribing! Happy to have you with us!😊

[@cumberlandquiltchic1]

Susan, im with you!

[@shirleyhenderson8623]

So glad I found this KZbinr...spent a lazy afternoon watching your videos...now I am a subscriber. Very informative and well down. TY for all you do.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Shirley thank you so much for your kind words! And thank you for subscribing, welcome to our channel! ♥️

[@tamaraandmichaelmayo4109]

Thank you so much for this video!! You're an excellent instructor!!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Aw thank you so much! ♥️♥️

[@amyharris7337]

I just processed my first batch and your instructions were perfect! Thanks for sharing.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Aw yay! That’s awesome Amy! Good for you! ♥️

[@Proudchristian1975]

I just happened upon your channel as I was Googling about some chicken feet and I just wanted to say that if anyone has an abundance of chicken feet they are also great nutritious snacks for your dogs which is actually what I do with mine that I buy they've got great nutrients in them for your dogs as well and they absolutely love them. Well it was nice to meet you guys and thank you for letting me put in my two cents❤

[@perhapsshellliveafterall]

Thank you for this video, ive managed to source some chicken feet from a local farm so i will be getting these regularly. I had no idea that they would need peeling first, so glad i came across this video now 😂 Looking forward to having some tasty, nutritious chicken stock soon 🙌

[@JohnZingerellaFLORIDAPETS]

Loved your video. And thank you!

[@DeBee26]

FANTASTIC video! You are so thorough! Looking forward to raising meat birds, and know this part is so important. Learning all I can, and I just subscribed to your channel. Thank you so much!!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Thank you for joining!

[@ceceliacampbell7838]

Love this! Watching from Alabama. God bless yall!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Thank you! 😊

[@eddyfuzzy5]

Thanks for the video

[@ceepark114]

Thanks for a great video explaining in detail how to process chicken feet. I have 30 feet to do today and love how it gives stock a gelatinous consistancy.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Thank you! Glad you liked it! :)

[@ramavalos]

Letssss gooo. Hell yes. Been looking for this

[@mammabearprovidenceacres7151]

Thank you! Easy to follow, thanks for the help.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Glad it helped!☺️

[@tiffanydevens2658]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I really appreciate you "going there" and showing us this lost skill. I'm getting a large bag of chicken feet in next week and now I know what to do with them!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Yaya Tiffany! So glad you enjoyed the video & found it helpful! I never throw my chicken feet away. Soooo many nutrients! 😉

[@kellycarlton7250]

Thank you so much! I processed my first batch of meat birds this morning (21) and your video helped me. My 42 feet are boiled, peeled and already in the Instant Pot so I can can the broth.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Fantastic Kelly! Yaya! What a great feeling right? A lot of work but totally worth it & so so so much better for your health! ♥️

[@Tonia.lynn2411]

Giiiirrrl!! I have some chicken feet in my freezer from processing and I make dim sum. Soooo good! But this gave me another option thanks.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Absolutely! You’re welcome. Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@rinkurakesh]

chicken feet are delicious and healthy i eat every day

[@kristinakay9558]

Haha I love ur attitude… I just take it out on the back porch 😂😂👍🏼👍🏼 my kind of stuff

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

LOL! Right?! Just keepin’ it real! 🤣

[@bydempsey]

thank you for the info! I've subscribed to you and looking forward to more ideas --this'll be our third butchering spring, but my first to also do the feet as well --thank you for making it look simple!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Awesome! Thank you so much for subscribing to our channel! Ever since I learned how to process feet, I never throw them away. And they can be added to any kind of stock to add collagen & essential vitamins/minerals. I add them to my beef stock too! 😊

[@vcie515]

Very interesting video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I didn't knew this way of processing and the use of chicken feet. But now I will give it a try. Greetings from France! :-)

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Yay France! Welcome! Thanks so much for watching! I hope you enjoy using your chicken feet this way! 😊 I’ve been doing it like this for yrs!

[@Claudia77Garcia]

Very good information 🎉 thank you 🙏

[@suesparkledimndart4309]

Thanks for your video just subscribed after watching the chicken feet stock . 🤗

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Thanks for subbing!☺️

[@ADHDWOOHOO]

Hey Tina, this was mega helpful. I was looking for how to make my stock jello-y. Btw, the feet are actually really good if you're looking to take the plunge. The texture reminds me of the end of a bbq rib.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hi friend! Aw thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed the video…and mayyyyyybe one day I’ll try those feet! 🤣😉

[@ryanfree9861]

Try a rolling boil for 30 seconds to 2 minutes then into ice water. Yours look like they cooked too much and why they're difficult to peel.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Peeling is always tedious regardless!🤣

[@lieblee3063]

I’m Asian, I love chicken feet.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Ohhh I bet you have some awesome chicken feet recipes don’t you?! 😊 Thanks for watching, I hope you’ll subscribe & hang out with us again! 😉

[@David_Griggs]

I used a pair of branch trimmers to take the toes off. It works great, and looks easier that the toenail trimmers.

[@CheckTheWiki]

I have similar pet nail trimmers. They didn't really work on my cats but I'm finding many other uses for them. The best I've found so far are as pill splitters. They split medications much cleaner than the pill splitters you buy in the pharmacy.

[@NotExactlyCarnivore]

i made a THICC chicken foot collagen broth last night. i just kept the toes on it was bomb. pressure cooked 2 hours with a lemon, 2 clove, 3 pepper, 1bayleaf, 1 single solid piece of onion, some vinegar. had a nice cup n salted it well. slept great feel great next day

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Love this! That sounds amazing! There’s nothing like it. They are so good for you! But you know that. 😉

[@user-xm2oe6wi8q]

Roasted them on 400 for 25-30 minutes. Bring yo a boil and skim the I cook low and slow for 3 hours. No pealing skin off but strain broth. Discard feet..broth is darker with more collage.

[@lolaholt6835]

Thank you for sharing!! We've had laying hens for a year now and want to add meat birds... I knew the feet were great in stock, but I had no idea how to go about cleaning them!!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Glad it was helpful!☺️

[@kape2470]

We used to play in the street with the chicken feet when I was a kid. Used to pull the tendons to make them move.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Oh my goodness! That is hilarious! Ok, that makes me feel better because Parker (our son) likes to run around with them in his hands making funny voices! 😂 Thx for joining us for this video! 😉

[@IndigoStargazer]

Respect your food

[@birchlover3377]

Thanks. I just bought "Nourishing Broth" and am trying chicken feet for the first time. My butcher gave me them for free.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Wonderful!👏🏻👏🏻

[@paulasalinas3]

Sounds like a lot of work to removing the skin. Hats off to you. Of course it is a preference but it does not decrease the quality of your broth if you leave them. You can leave your broth in the fridge and very easily remove the Hardened fat which accumulates at the top. I clean the chicken feet very well and then leave in a bowl with part vinegar/ water before blanching them.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Agreed! This is just the way I do it. And I also put mine in the fridge to allow the fat to form & then scrape it off before canning!😊

[@user-st6ql5vi8n]

❤❤❤

[@bridgetg5040]

I enjoyed the video and learned a lot. The feet look very clean in your bag when you're starting out. Did you wash or scrub them up first?

[@amyharris7337]

Thanks for the tutorial. We just ordered our first batch of meat birds, so we will be doing this in a few months. I'm wondering if the skin would be good to maybe blend up and feed to our dogs?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Yes, absolutely! I have read that a great way to process the chicken feet skin for dogs is to dehydrate it and then feed it to the dogs for easy digestion. :)

[@wanubijohari1]

NOTHING disgusting about chicken feet!!! We grew up on this and the necks as while. If you are a meat eater then you are consuming flesh so what is the difference from the feet.... I love your clippers,never thought to use one but I will definitely try to find me one to make my work with feet easier. Thanks for sharing, watching from Brasil.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hey friend! Thanks for watching! 💜

[@nasokas]

Is it ok to leave them in hot water for a longer time? When I did this, it was ok, till they got colder, then peeling got hard.

[@tbtc4776]

Do you soak and/or scrub the feet first before doing this? If so, do you make a certain solution or just use water? Love the video, so helpful!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hi there! Nope, I don’t soak or scrub because I cook them in boiling hot water (just water) for 10-13 minutes & then peel them completely & de-toe them…so all that yucky stuff that would be on their feet is gone anyway! 😊 Thanks so much for watching my channel!

[@tbtc4776]

@@HomeFreeAlaska Ok, thanks for letting me know! I’m excited to try this soon. 👍

[@torpilo]

There are some dedicated pliers for cutting cable, witch work much easier.

[@angelad1008]

Would the skin be a good source of collagen (gelatin) if you left it intact until you make broth? Also, do you save the combs for the collagen and hyaluronic acid?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

We’ve never used the combs. But now you’ve peaked my curiosity! 😂 Regarding the skins on the feet, the chicken feet alone even without the skin contain a lot of beneficial collagen. So for me, I like to peel the skin, because there’s a lot of crevices in the skin on the feet & I just feel like I could never get all the nastiness out of all those crevices & I don’t want that in my stock. The chickens walk in some pretty nasty poo etc., so I always peel the skins! 😉 Do you keep your skins on? Thanks for watching! 😊

[@angelad1008]

I haven't processed birds since I was a teen (urban life for my adult years), so I can't claim experience. I can definitely sympathize with the "icky" vibe, but different tissues have different types of collagen with different health benefits, so I was curious. You'll probably have youthful skin until your 100 years old with the various collagens you consume in your broth!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

@@angelad1008 haha I could only hope right?! 😜

[@homesteadrevivals]

Interesting. We peel the skin after we blanch for plucking. The toenails just pull right off with the skin.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hm! I’ve never done it like this. Maybe I’ll give this a try next time & knock out the extra step of clipping them! Thanks so much. 😊

[@brendathompson338]

Is it easier to peel them while still warm or can a person wait until completely cooled?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

I definitely feel like it’s easier to peel them when they’re hot. I’ve never tried to do them cold….but as they cool while I’m doing them, they do get harder to peel. In my opinion anyway. 😊

[@tovcovehomestead4694]

QUESTION: in some videos I see that others remove just the very thin layer of skin and leave then bottom layer on. Is there a benefit to removing all the skin?

[@serenityinside1]

Skin also high in collagen so a waste ?

[@AP-pk9gw]

She's throwing away most of the feet, just leaving the bone. If you want gelatin then you should let the most of it, the skin is just the outer yellow layer, not the tendonds

[@judybrathwaite124]

Right now I am eating some

[@ttschrock7126]

Thank you for this video. I just bought two bags of chicken feet this weekend and had no idea that I needed to peel the skin. Do you still add the bones from a chicken with veggies? Thanks!

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hey friend! If you’re making homemade stock/broth, you dont “have” to peel the feet. Because after the broth cooks, you strain all the solids out in the end anyway. I like to peel them because I think they’re disgusting lol & it helps to draw the marrow & nutrients out faster/easier if they’re peeled. Totally your choice.☺️

[@ttschrock7126]

Thank you!@@HomeFreeAlaska It does seem really gross, but I probably will peel them like you did. It makes sense. Thanks again for a great video.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

@@ttschrock7126 you’re welcome!☺️

[@robertmulhern2113]

My neighbour gave me some chicken feet to make bone broth, but I was pretty grossed out when I saw them… they had big black marks on the bottom of them and I tried to scrub them but the dirt would not come off, but I thought maybe it’s just callouses? How should I handle this? I thought I should take a butcher knife and cut off the callouses. They were nice big feet from meat kings and I would love to know how to process them properly

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hey there! Yep they’re calluses. I talk about this in the video & show you how I remove them. I just dig my thumb nail under it and rip it off. You could prob use a knife just the same! 😊

[@Pugmom76]

I just made a broth and my chicken feet are really cooked and the skin is coming off and flimsy. Are they still usable? And my marrow bones fell apart also.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Oh yeah absolutely! Just strain all the solids out into a T towel or cheese cloth in a strainer. Make sure you put a bowl or pan under the strainer to catch the liquid. And you’ll be left with a beautiful broth!☺️

[@coryart]

I love the "honoring the animal" aspect of this process, besides that, the work is worth it for the health benefits.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Absolutely! Totally agree with you. 😉

[@ebonymcallister724]

Hello, I am looking on your video for the chicken stock recipe. Do you just boil them for a certain amount of time with no recipe?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hi Ebony! Here is my recipe for stock! kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4XRi3aBjZKVoNE And I boil my chicken feet for about 10-12 min! 😊

[@ebonymcallister724]

@@HomeFreeAlaska thank you very much. We are getting our first chicks in a few days and excited to get started.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

@@ebonymcallister724 Oh! How exciting! Best wishes to you! 😊 Hope everything turns out wonderfully!

[@ncmountainmama7350]

Oh thanks for this-I felt so guilty for not using the feet last year...

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Happy to help! Haha...I know in the very beginning when we started raising & butchering meat birds, I felt SO guilty for not using the feet. After all, there are SO many of them right? Lol...I've been saving the chicken feet for stock now for about 3 yrs or so. It's a wonderful addition to homemade stock! :)

[@baral6747]

@@HomeFreeAlaska Hi Thanks for your video !!!!! Do you slaughtering your chickens yourself ?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

@@baral6747 yep we sure do! :) Here’s a video I did of our last meat bird processing day! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHjdeauEmZmJgK8

[@baral6747]

@@HomeFreeAlaska thanks dear Do it more please ❤

[@user-re6dy6fu4y]

👍👍🙏❤🌹🌹🌹

[@alamamayt]

First time raising chickens for meat. How do you clean the feet?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hi I’m not sure what you mean by your question. The whole video shows you how I process them. Boil them, clip the toe nails, peel the skin etc.😉 Were you referring to something else?

[@crazykalola3937]

When we moved to Spain I noticed you can buy them here in the supermarket, I thought wierd 🤔 but as it happens the Spanish use them as your doing.. we buy them for the dogs, for a treat, it's kind of creepy though when their chewing them as they looks like little hands in their mouths 🙈🤣... Not tried the stock method though .. 👍🥰

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Yes they do look creepy lol! Our son plays with them in the kitchen when we’re processing them like they’re his hands lol. Not funny but funny!🤷🏼‍♀️😂

[@crazykalola3937]

Now THAT is creepy 🙈🤣🤣.. loving your channel by the way, we moved to Spain 5 years ago from Wales in UK.. we don't watch TV through summer months as we love being able to be outside all the time, but winter months in the evenings the temps drop and it's Baltic believe it or not 😂.. prob would be for you but for us anyway 🤣🤣.. we watch the TV and have watched all your videos right up to date .. absolutely love them.. love to you all from me n the Mr aka Bob the builder ❤️

[@Dlowr7]

Can you do a video about how you make your stock?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Hello Jared! I actually already did :) Check this out -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4XRi3aBjZKVoNE So I use the same method whether Im making chicken or beef stock. Only difference is the bones you use. In this video, I'm using beef bones but if you want to do chicken stock, just use 1 chicken carcass and I usually throw 2-3 processed chicken fit in there. I hope this helps! Thanks for watching my channel. :)

[@joann3542]

Why do you remove the skin and is it necessary and why

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Totally optional. I do it as personal preference.

[@sherylowoeye6819]

GIRL some people will eat chicken feet with vegetables stew it up add some potatoes let it cook down and it taste the bomb like you said all you got to do is clean them right

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

LOL! I haven’t got to that point yet! 🤣

[@yvonnemclean7900]

OMG!! Nope after the first nail cut off..I was done lol

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

😂

[@kamrieriley6411]

Can I ask why you have to heal them?

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

You don’t, it’s just preference. You can absolutely just clean them & add them to your stock.

[@kamrieriley6411]

@@HomeFreeAlaska ok. Thank you! Was just thinking about that. Also we scaled the whole chicken when we do meat birds including the feed. And then the chicken plucker takes the skin off the feet really quickly! I tried to make sure the skin was off completely before freezing. I know a lot of people hold the chicken feed for a good grip. I have a large wooden stick I used to stir it. Just a thought on something I learned!

[@user-re6dy6fu4y]

Белорусь.

[@Onceadreamer]

What does “homestead” mean if you dont mind explaining to a non american

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

“Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of food, and may also involve the small scale production of textiles, clothing, and craft work for household use or sale.”☺️

[@Onceadreamer]

@@HomeFreeAlaska Is the term also used to describe living on a farm land instead of a residential area

[@LeMongolist]

100 litres d'eau pour enlever des peaux de pattes de poulet plutôt que de mettre 2 litres d'eau dans un saladier avec quelques glaçons !!!

[@jaycat99]

dont think you need to peel the skin off or clip the nails... let em simmer for a day or 2 and everything will come appart... you strain at the end anyways...

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

I prefer to remove them. Everyone is different, no right or wrong way to do it. Still getting plenty of benefits in my chicken stock from peeled & de-toed feet.😊

[@kristenmarie9248]

🤢🤮😵🤮 you feed chicken stock to chickens. 😳 Umm, 🤔🤮

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Why do you think that’s gross? It’s extremely good for them, especially if they get sick. If you don’t like that idea, you’ll prob hate the fact that I feed my hens the gizzards when we butcher our meat birds! 😂😂😂

[@baral6747]

@@HomeFreeAlaska thanks dear lady !!! Like your videos Make more please ❤

[@clkullu5643]

Cleaning is not good.

[@HomeFreeAlaska]

Cleaning is just fine. All the nutrients of the chicken feet are still in tact…minus the poop & dirt!😘