Friday, April 20th is the day that I butcher chickens for the first time. I have done plenty of necropsy's on egg layers that have died but I don't know how I will be when it comes to taking their life. Don't get me wrong, I'm not attached to these birds at all because they stink to high heaven and are pushy, noisy, and barely able to walk anymore. I have recruited my whole family in the process to make it go faster. I think I have talked my bear-grizzly brother into slicing the throats, dad for operating the plucker, me for gutting, and mom from packaging. My brother has been doing a lot of research on how to slit the throat properly, so that puts my mind at more ease. My biggest question is- how do you feel while setting up the equipment and bringing that first bird over to the station to be butchered? Do you do anything to calm yourself? Does it get easier with time? I'm getting a little nervous over here....