Old hens make the best soup and trying to find a stewing hen in your local mega-mart any more is close to impossible.
Thankfully I have friends who raise chickens. They sell me fresh eggs, young fryers, older broilers and stewing hens.
Chickens are nasty vile birds, but they taste good!
Chickens are so stupid, I doubt if they notice when you kill them. It’s almost like you’re doing them a favor.
Old varieties aren't. Look up Dominiques and Javas. They're known as "heritage" birds.