BackYard Chickens

Advanced Search

BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Meat Birds ETC › Processing cornish game hens

Recent Reviews

Nankin Bantams
Reviewed by Cambium29

We love our Nankin hen. She's very sweet and good natured, excellent bird for beginners or kids. She comes when called, she's an excellent bug hunter, likes to sit on your lap (or head, or...

Full Review
Barnevelder
Reviewed by scwheeler24

I have 6 Barnies, they did start laying at about 28 weeks, but that is not an issue with me. Most of my poultry did. They don't lay the really dark eggs, but they are large, dark brown and some...

Full Review
2 Gallon Double Wall Fount
Reviewed by awaxt2003

don't buy

Full Review
Leghorn
Reviewed by Chicken Goddess

Leghorns are great egg laying chickens. They are friendly to other Leghorns and can easily fly. The only problems is that they are bad in the pecking order and they can make a mess of the yard....

Full Review
Australorp
Reviewed by chickenman98

I will start by saying that I love Australorps. In fact, my very favorite hen is an Australorp. She is such a sweet chicken and just let's you walk right up to her to pick her up. She doesn't run...

Full Review

New Posts All Forums:Forum Nav:

Processing cornish game hens

Subscribe Search This Thread

« Previous
1
2
Next »

Start a New Thread

post #1 of 13

3/7/12 at 8:44am

Thread Starter

BBUTTER

Location: Louisiana
Joined: 8/2011
Posts: 63
offline

Select All Posts By This User

I'm processing my first batch of Cornish game hens this Friday. 2 questions:

Shoukd I plan to pluck them by hand, or can I use the Whizbang? If I can use the Whizbang, how many should I put in at a time?

Is the water temp the same as broilers? I use Joel Salatin's suggestion of 145° for about 1 minute.

Okay, that was 3 questions!

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?

The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101

Join Our 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long

post #2 of 13

3/7/12 at 2:45pm

Mac in Wisco
Antagonist

Location: SW Wisconsin
Joined: 5/2007
Posts: 3,418
offline

Select All Posts By This User

I'd use the plucker. It's hard to say how many to put in. I have an EZplucker and load it up with enough birds that it slows the motor a bit, but not too much. Without enough birds in there they whiz around too fast and get banged up. 145 degs is fine. I don't time it though, but rather test by pulling a wing feather or tail feather. When the feathers slip with little resistance the birds are ready to go for a spin.

post #3 of 13

3/8/12 at 1:44pm

Oregon Blues

Location: Central Oregon
Joined: 4/2011
Posts: 5,532
offline

Select All Posts By This User

3 in the plucker at the same time seems to work really well. I haven't processed any small birds, so you might try a batch with 3 and then do a batch with 4 in the plucker and see which works better.

It's going to be affected by how fast you kill and bleed, because you definitely do not want them in the plucker after rigor starts to set in.

Exhibition quality Blue Swedish Ducks and Gray Saddleback Pomeranian Geese, Hatching eggs available in late winter and spring. NPIP

post #4 of 13

3/10/12 at 12:47pm

Thread Starter

BBUTTER

Location: Louisiana
Joined: 8/2011
Posts: 63
offline

Select All Posts By This User

4 worked great. I had heard of someone putting huge amounts in at a time, so that was my concern. They actually weren't all that much different than broilers! Scald temp was the same and everything. I'd venture to say they were actually easier than broilers.

post #5 of 13

3/10/12 at 2:31pm

kjxoxo1

Joined: 10/2011
Posts: 112
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Just curious....at what week were they when you butchered? How much did they weigh? Thanks!!

post #6 of 13

3/10/12 at 4:57pm

Thread Starter

BBUTTER

Location: Louisiana
Joined: 8/2011
Posts: 63
offline

Select All Posts By This User

4 weeks-ish and around 1 1/2 lbs. I didn't pay much attention to the weight. I only weighed some of the bigger ones out of curiosity.

post #7 of 13

3/10/12 at 4:59pm

Thread Starter

BBUTTER

Location: Louisiana
Joined: 8/2011
Posts: 63
offline

Select All Posts By This User

1 1/2 lbs was the carcass weight. I didn't check live weight. I just went on the assurance of my husband: "I'm telling you, they're big enough. Quit worrying about it!" lol!

post #8 of 13

3/10/12 at 5:37pm

jdywntr

Location: Somerville, AL
Joined: 10/2009
Posts: 3,020
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBUTTER

1 1/2 lbs was the carcass weight. I didn't check live weight. I just went on the assurance of my husband: "I'm telling you, they're big enough. Quit worrying about it!" lol!

Good to know. I have some growing out now. I'm thinking next week I may process some game hens. A few days ago I refered to them as grapefruits with legs. (they're bigger than that now)

DOGS: 4 Shih Tzu, 1 Papillon, 1 Great Pyrenees

CHICKENS: 1 BO, 2 EE, 2 WLH, 10 blue and splash JG, plus various aged JG, BO, JG/BO and JG/EE chicks, and 8 meaties.

DUCKS: Muscovy ducks: Adults, juveniles and ducklings. 6 Pekin ducks

Some threads started with basic info.

Picking a duck breed, where to buy, what genders to get

Raising and caring for ducklings

DOGS: 4 Shih Tzu, 1 Papillon, 1 Great Pyrenees

CHICKENS: 1 BO, 2 EE, 2 WLH, 10 blue and splash JG, plus various aged JG, BO, JG/BO and JG/EE chicks, and 8 meaties.

DUCKS: Muscovy ducks: Adults, juveniles and ducklings. 6 Pekin ducks

Some threads started with basic info.

Picking a duck breed, where to buy, what genders to get

Raising and caring for ducklings

post #9 of 13

3/10/12 at 6:29pm

Thread Starter

BBUTTER

Location: Louisiana
Joined: 8/2011
Posts: 63
offline

Select All Posts By This User

I JUST ate some! I halved them and cooked over indirect heat on a charcoal grill with just a little Tony Chachere's. SOOOO YUMMY!

post #10 of 13

3/11/12 at 8:19am

kjxoxo1

Joined: 10/2011
Posts: 112
offline

Select All Posts By This User

WOW!! I think I am going to do the same this week. I ordered 50 and believe i receied them the week of February 3rd. They do look like grapefurit size some of them. Looks like most are roosters so I definitely dont want them too big. You have inspired me. Thanks!!