Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

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Did a processing demonstration last weekend and one little lady wanted to learn how to do it but stated she was afraid she'll cry when she does it. My response? "Go ahead and cry. Then grit your teeth, pull up yer panties and get the job done. Crying isn't wrong, it's a natural human reaction to killing another creature and especially for us women, who are instinctively nurturers and tender-hearted. Nothing wrong in crying, just something wrong in not trying."

That little girl was timid, but fearless in the end, and she got her hands dirty, did the hard stuff and walked away with some confidence in her skills and fortitude. I was so very proud of her. Funny thing, her husband refused to kill and seemed very smug about "paying other people to do that" for him...weird pairing.
 
Bee, I think you knew I needed a shove today. I'm all set up, water's hot, but I'm shaking like a leaf - have had a truly bad couple of weeks capped by a completely rotten evening last night. But I just got some great health news about a best friend and I'm so emotional I almost dumped the water out. Grabbing my panties and a knife and walking out the door now. :)
 
Good job! The work is dirty and must be done by someone, might as well be you! Good luck on your processing and let us know how it all works out.
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Wax Myrtle said:
Bee, I think you knew I needed a shove today. I'm all set up, water's hot, but I'm shaking like a leaf - have had a truly bad couple of weeks capped by a completely rotten evening last night. But I just got some great health news about a best friend and I'm so emotional I almost dumped the water out. Grabbing my panties and a knife and walking out the door now.
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Yes! You can do it.

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Sorry you had a bad couple of weeks.
 
All done. Just too emotional over non-chicken stuff to keep on keepin on today. I must have put my big girl panties on inside out or backwards, or both. Ever have a day where nothing goes right? Yeah, that's today for me. I doubt I've ever had a more b____s-up time of processing. Missed the mark with my knife, not once, but twice - once on each side. Didn't notice til like a minute later (was swatting other birds with a broom trying to jump in the bucket after the blood) so had to make a third cut into a gory scene, using my fingers to "see" where to cut. Then had decided to try a 140* scald. Yeah, that didn't work for me. Quit after about two minutes of dunking and noticed I had begun to cook the meat. Will be going back to my 150-155* scald and just peel off the top skin layer. I've never had a harder time plucking, gave up after nearly pulling the bird off the table. Decided to skin him out, and did a hack job. Ended up just settling for harvesting the leg quarters and some terribly mangled boneless, skinless breasts. Still, two and a half pounds of meat in the fridge.

I thought I was over the learning curve - I've been doing my own birds for about 18 months now, but ugh.

Gonna go feed the remaining broilers and call it a day.
 
Wax Myrtle said:
All done. Just too emotional over non-chicken stuff to keep on keepin on today. I must have put my big girl panties on inside out or backwards, or both. Ever have a day where nothing goes right? Yeah, that's today for me. I doubt I've ever had a more b____s-up time of processing. Missed the mark with my knife, not once, but twice - once on each side. Didn't notice til like a minute later (was swatting other birds with a broom trying to jump in the bucket after the blood) so had to make a third cut into a gory scene, using my fingers to "see" where to cut. Then had decided to try a 140* scald. Yeah, that didn't work for me. Quit after about two minutes of dunking and noticed I had begun to cook the meat. Will be going back to my 150-155* scald and just peel off the top skin layer. I've never had a harder time plucking, gave up after nearly pulling the bird off the table. Decided to skin him out, and did a hack job. Ended up just settling for harvesting the leg quarters and some terribly mangled boneless, skinless breasts. Still, two and a half pounds of meat in the fridge.

I thought I was over the learning curve - I've been doing my own birds for about 18 months now, but ugh.

Gonna go feed the remaining broilers and call it a day.
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I am so sorry!

Next time will go better.
 
hillfloweranch said:
Here ! Here! :) when I ate my turkey last year I swore I would never buy another store bought turkey again, if I could help it! So i plan to raise my own turkeys every year and since it's easier to raise several than just 1 or 2 I figure I'll donate a few to local shelters.
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I wish I could raise a turkey. My neighbors are patient with my chickens, but I think a turkey would stretch their patience to the breaking point.
 

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