To halve your chicken, set it on its butt, facing away from you. Using kitchen shears or a sharp chef’s knife, cut along each side of the backbone to remove it from the chicken. Lay the chicken on a work surface breast side up. Using the heel of your hand, press down firmly to flatten the breast bone. Using a sharp chef’s knife, split the chicken in half along the breastbone. Alternatively, you can ask your butcher to do this for you.