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Processing my first chicken ~Pictures added~

post #1 of 35
3/16/12 at 12:21pm
Thread Starter 

I'm thinking of processing my first rooster. I've tried over and over to sell him on craigslist.. and no buyers.

 

I feel bad about killing him.. and I am nervous. Was it that way for you too? Do you start getting use to it after a while? 

 

Pictures will be added-if I do decide to kill him.


Edited by The Red Rooster - 3/18/12 at 11:01am

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

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  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

Reply

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post #2 of 35
3/16/12 at 12:26pm

See what I had to say here:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/638934/looking-for-advice-on-being-able-to-process-the-birds#post_8599558

 

It really does get easier.  Whatever you do, if the first job goes bad don't quit.  I can't tell you how badly I botched one and almost quit.  Don't.  Learn and go on.

http://www.voiceofthehive.com - Stories of beekeeping, honeybees and the beekeepers who love them.

http://www.chickendreams.com - In pursuit of the egg

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http://www.voiceofthehive.com - Stories of beekeeping, honeybees and the beekeepers who love them.

http://www.chickendreams.com - In pursuit of the egg

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post #3 of 35
3/16/12 at 12:35pm
Thread Starter 

Very good post! Thanks.

 

I want to raise some cornish crosses so I can have some organic chicken meat. I'm hoping to get use to the killing part. 

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

Reply

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #4 of 35
3/16/12 at 12:54pm

It gets easier in the purely technical sense, as you learn to be more efficient at it... as to whether it gets easier in the psychological sense... I don't know... it is still as hard for me to do it now as it was the first time... I don't believe ending another creatures life should ever be easy... I still do it, but I always feel a mixture of guilt over the deed, and gratitude for what the animal has given us... 

That this universe, in all it's infinite wonder, simply is, that it exists at all, is good enough for me. In my eyes, to say that something had to "create" it, to make it what it is, only succeeds to cheapen the experience, to make it less special. 

 

 

 

Reply

That this universe, in all it's infinite wonder, simply is, that it exists at all, is good enough for me. In my eyes, to say that something had to "create" it, to make it what it is, only succeeds to cheapen the experience, to make it less special. 

 

 

 

Reply
post #5 of 35
3/16/12 at 3:24pm

The first few are hard, then it becomes routine. I've seen young kids go from crying their eyes out to wanting to help kill within a matter of a dozen birds. It was always the first job for the kids in our family to do the killing. We then "graduated" to other chores, such as scalding, plucking, gutting, etc.

 

My least favorite part is processing gizzards. Not because it's gross but because I've never found an easy way to do it.

Lifelong chicken nut planning on starting a new flock this year
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Lifelong chicken nut planning on starting a new flock this year
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post #6 of 35
3/18/12 at 6:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xC0000005 View Post

See what I had to say here:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/638934/looking-for-advice-on-being-able-to-process-the-birds#post_8599558

 

It really does get easier.  Whatever you do, if the first job goes bad don't quit.  I can't tell you how badly I botched one and almost quit.  Don't.  Learn and go on.


I agree....it does get easier and unfortunately, the first one that we kill is probably not going to go as well as we had hoped. As xC000005 said....Don't quit, learn and go on.

 

~~Cathy~~
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~~Cathy~~
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post #7 of 35
3/18/12 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 

Thank you for the reply's.

 

We have already done the deed. The ending was fast and he didn't suffer. I didn't like it at all.. but it's over. 

 

This guy isn't a meat bird... but he does have some meat.

 

butchered rooster 004.JPG

 

 

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

Reply

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #8 of 35
3/18/12 at 11:09am

Good job! big_smile.png Sometimes the worst part is the planning of it and once it's done it's such a relief.

~~Cathy~~
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~~Cathy~~
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post #9 of 35
3/18/12 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by goldnchocolate View Post

Good job! big_smile.png Sometimes the worst part is the planning of it and once it's done it's such a relief.

Yes it is. I feel better now that it's done. He lived a very good life. smile.png

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

Reply

  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #10 of 35
3/18/12 at 11:33am

Congratulations! If you liked doing it I'd be a little worried.  You did a great job, and with some low and slow cooking will have a great meal.  Take pride in a job well done, and relax.  Enjoy your meal, one you have earned.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Red Rooster View Post


 

Yes it is. I feel better now that it's done. He lived a very good life. smile.png



 

http://www.voiceofthehive.com - Stories of beekeeping, honeybees and the beekeepers who love them.

http://www.chickendreams.com - In pursuit of the egg

Reply

http://www.voiceofthehive.com - Stories of beekeeping, honeybees and the beekeepers who love them.

http://www.chickendreams.com - In pursuit of the egg

Reply
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