101 Ways to Kill

[iwltfum]

Nice, that’s great time. We usually have a small gathering on processing day so maybe if I wasn’t drinking and talking so much I could move it along alittle faster. I hate the setup and brake down/cleanup.

It hasn't come easy. Took me about a year of tweaking the system and finding the right people to help and that was after I spent the year before getting a butchering facility built and finished and purchasing all the equipment and installing the set up. I usually am pretty relaxed about keeping track of budgety type things when it comes to the homestead, but we have some people that invested in our broiler business so I have to run our butchering days on the clock for everyone and keep diligent records of the whole 9 week process

The set up and break down part are the worst! Especially after butchering, having to clean everything and deal with guts and blood again is all but appealing!

We are tripling our broiler production this upcoming season. It will be the true test of our abilities!

 

[ShrekDawg]

@KDOGG331 you should be doing those two things at the same time. Not standing then taking a sip of coffee then pulling on legs. Same time!

I do! But I wanna make sure I’m standing on it first before I grab the legs so I don’t accidentally pick the bird up again or something

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

We had an Amish chicken processor with usda inspections, but they closed down and moved on. I hate to even say this...but my husband steps on the head and breaks the neck. It seems awful and I can't even watch. I would help with the killing if it was faster. I grew up processing chickens, so that part doesn't bother me.

 

[Mtnboomer]

My wife is my partner in the butchering process. We can go from a live bird to ready for the freezer in 12 min. (Including plucking by hand and gutting).

To dispatch the bird I wring their neck for cervical dislocation. Bird dies instantly. Then i chop head off with a hatchet and hang the bird by its feet to drain the blood. This prevents bruising of the meat while its nerves are still firing (flopping).

My grandparents used a cone and a sharp knife.

 

[salshep20]

hatchet who else buters there chickens

 

[RUNuts]

Killing cone from a bleach jug. Sharp knife to the carotid. Seems fast enough.
I'm getting faster, but 12 minutes per bird with hand plucking sounds amazing. I think I'm 4 birds in 3.5 hours. I can do 7 in a day, but that takes all morning and wipes me out.

 

[Molpet]

Killing cone from a bleach jug. Sharp knife to the carotid. Seems fast enough.
I'm getting faster, but 12 minutes per bird with hand plucking sounds amazing. I think I'm 4 birds in 3.5 hours. I can do 7 in a day, but that takes all morning and wipes me out.

Sounds amazing, but true, to me too. My record was 15 minutes with a plucker most I ever did in a day was 4 chickens and 2 turkeys.
But they are heritage , so older.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Your speed will depend on a few things. Experience, of course. What does your set-up look like? What tools do you use? Are you alone or do you have help? Henry Ford demonstrated the value of the assembly line. The age of the birds matters, younger birds are faster. Do you skin or pluck and how are you set up for that? Do you part the bird or leave the carcass whole? Which parts do you use and how do you save them? How bad is your arthritis? A lot of different variables.

I take about a half hour per bird, certainly not setting any speed records. But I'm OK with that, they get done.

 

[Morrigan]

Hatchet and stump for us. Having a very good, sharp hatchet with a wide blade is helpful. Although I've dispatched a couple, my husband usually does the deed. The routine is that I get the birds isolated in crates first thing in the morning (I get up early so I grab themwhile they are still roosting). Husband then dispatches, and we work together to pluck and clean.

From start to finish, including set up and clean up, we can usually get through 4 in an hour.
We've gotten faster through the years. The plucking is also easier with the naked neck crosses we are raising.

 

[BantyChooks]

Manual CD followed immediately after with removing the head with a knife. Broomstick method for mature roosters if I don't trust my arm strength. Manual CD works for butcher as well as euthanasia, and can be performed without equipment which is important to me. I haven't had any issues with the lesser quality bleed out, but I do take care to hold the bird upside down whilst it's convulsing so that the blood drains towards the separated neck area; I think that helps somewhat.