Although I personally no longer eat meat, I still buy it for the carnivores in the family, including a couple canine members. When I go to our local butcher to stock up, I admit I am surprised to see how many people line up to buy the very expensive chicken breasts, when a whole chicken can be had for just a few pennies more.
Years ago, when I still ate meat, I got into the habit of buying the whole bird and either roasting it or jointing it myself. After a quick consult with the Internet, I found step-by-step instructions for cutting apart a chicken (like these here, provided by Delia), and have never returned to buying the bird by the piece.
We use every last bit, too. The carcasses are boiled down first to make stock, and then they are pressure-cooked into a powdered bone meal, which we give to the dogs as a supplement to their other home-cooked food (a posting in the near-future will detail more of their menu).
So hone those kitchen knives and save yourself a little cash. And if you're nervous, don't be. After a little practice you'll be cutting cleaner fillets than your butcher. :-)
