Rookie mistake coming up, so maybe all you experienced allium-growers can give me some advice.

I planted some leeks WAY too late last year--they were about as big as pencils by fall, so I just left them sit over winter. They overwintered just fine and were coming on like gangbusters this spring, fattening up nicely; then lo and behold, one day I saw that they were starting to send out seed stalks! I quick grabbed my scissors and hacked them all off (except a couple; I'd like some seeds). First of all, the stalk was kind of woody and difficult to cut, and secondly, they CRIED! Lots of water/juice started seeping from the cut. Well, I say lots... I kept getting my hands "wet," but it wasn't like it was dripping excessively.

So, a couple questions. Will my leek harvest be basically ruined for the bolting, or did I catch it (none of the flowers were anywhere near opening up) before it makes them woody and no good? If no, then will they fatten up any more? The fattest ones right now are about as big as your thumb, and I was kind of hoping for a little bit more crop than what is out there right now.

BTW, I split the seed heads open with my fingers, and the chickens really went to town on those forming flower heads!