Broad Breasted Bronze

I'm not sure if this is the forum to ask this but since they are meat birds I though I would try. I was wondering what people use to package them in to put in the freezer?

I use something called poultry shrink bags. They do make them in turkey size. They are basically the same bags that you buy whole chickens and turkeys in at the market. You start with a pot large enough to submerge a turkey. Put in enough water that when the turkey is placed in the pot it will submerge the bird but not overflow the pot. Practice with the amount of water you will need with cold water as you don't want to learn you have too much or too little water when it's boiling!
Next, slide the bird into the bag neck first. Then twist and twist and twist the tag end of the bag...you want to prevent air from gettin in once it's in the freezer. I seal the twist with a zip tie but you could just knot it if the tail of the bag is long enough. Once the bird is bagged and tightly sealed, with a sharp knife make about a 1/4" inch slit in the bag down where the ends of the drumsticks meet. This is to allow the air inside the bag to escape.
Next, hold the tail of the bag and slowly lower the bag into the pot of boiling water. I use silicone gloves but you don't have to use them if you are VERY careful. The bag will literally begin to shrink tight against the bird as the air rushes out the slit you cut. Push bird down until completely submerged but don't hold area where you made the slit under water...you don't want water in the bag. Whole time in the water is no more than 7-10 seconds from start to finish as you don't want to cook it! Pull it out, plop it on the counter and Mr. Turkey is ready for freezer camp! I also put a piece of freezer tape over the slit I cut to keep out the air. I love this method of packing and freezing! Here's a link to pages where these bags are discussed and companies that sell them. Or just google poultry shrink bags. Just make sure you order turkey sized! Good luck. https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Shrink+bags

Thanks so much! I didn't know these existed! I always package my chickens in freezer bags.

broomrider said:

Thanks so much! I didn't know these existed! I always package my chickens in freezer bags.

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I used these bags for my cornish cross chickens. The ones I ordered came with a heavier duty straw to put in the mouth of the bag when you zip tied it, and don't cinch it tight. Then once it shrinks you withdraw the straw and tighten the zip tie. That way you don't have to make a slit in the bag and worry about getting water into the bag. Here is where I got mine from www.texaspoultryshrinkbags.com/.