How expensive is an organic chicken really?

The other day when I got my Riverford delivery Alan commented on how expensive the whole chicken was that I'd ordered. I'll admit that it wasn't cheap but was it really that expensive when you consider how far it went?

This is what I did with it and how many people it fed:

• Meal 1: Roast chicken with all the trimmings for 2 adults and a toddler
• Meal 2: Coronation chicken for 2 adults
• Meal 3: Chicken pie for 5 adults and a toddler
• Meal 4: Chicken and root vegetable soup (3 large portions)

So without the soup that one chicken fed 9 adults and 2 toddlers good hearty meals. And I have to say if we hadn't had the relatively expensive and high meat roast dinner at the start of that the number would have been nearer 12 adults and 3 toddlers. 

So can you forgive me for buying an expensive chicken that was ethically and organically reared rather than a supermarket cage reared one? I know that I'd rather have one expensive joint that I need to make go a long way. If nothing else I love the challenge.

I've already posted a recipe for leftovers pie. I'll post the other recipes later this week and you can see what I've been cooking and how so little meat can serve so many people.