How many whole chicken to feed 50 people?

The number of whole chickens needed to feed 50 people depends on several factors such as the size of the chickens and the desired serving size per person. To estimate the number of whole chickens required, consider the following:

1. Average Chicken Size: Assume an average whole chicken weighs around 3 to 4 pounds (1.36 to 1.81 kilograms).

2. Serving Size: A typical serving size for chicken is about 1/2 to 3/4 pound (0.23 to 0.34 kilograms) of cooked meat per person.

3. Allow for Bone Weight: Approximately 25-30% of the weight of a whole chicken consists of bones. Deduct this percentage to determine the amount of edible meat.

Using these assumptions, here's a rough calculation:

1. Assuming an average chicken weight of 3.5 pounds (1.59 kilograms) and a serving size of 1/2 pound (0.23 kilograms) of cooked meat per person:

- Edible Meat per Chicken: 3.5 pounds * (1 - 0.25) = 2.63 pounds (1.19 kilograms) of meat

- Number of Servings per Chicken: 2.63 / 0.5 = 5.26 servings

- Number of Whole Chickens for 50 People: 50 people / 5.26 servings per chicken = 9.51 chickens

Since you can't have a fractional chicken, it's best to round up to 10 whole chickens.

2. For a larger serving size of 3/4 pounds per person:

- Edible Meat per Chicken: 3.5 pounds * (1 - 0.25) = 2.63 pounds (1.19 kilograms) of meat

- Number of Servings per Chicken: 2.63 / 0.75 = 3.5 servings

- Number of Whole Chickens for 50 People: 50 people / 3.5 servings per chicken = 14.29 chickens

Round up to 15 whole chickens for this scenario.

Remember, this calculation provides an estimate based on average values. The actual number of chickens needed may vary depending on the specific circumstances and preferences. It's always better to have a few extra servings or make adjustments based on your group's preferences and portion sizes.