1st time slaughtering help plz

[Slater1995]

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You should not ax the head, it allows blood to get into the lungs and can damage the meat also it will cause the feather to tighten up and make her harder to pluck. Slit the throat or if you don't like to do that, the best way and what we like is to hold the bird by its feet, take you thumb and place it behind the comb and your littlle under the beak. Tilt the head back and pull down firmly until the head seperates from the spine. This is instant death and will allow all the reflexes to relax and not tighten up the feathers. Once the bird is dead you must bleed it. Cut the throad on both sides but don't cut the trachea. After it bleeds out you can continue to pluck and do the rest of the butchering. You should leave the head on until after you pluck but some people don't like the bird looking at them. I know I don't.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sparklee]

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Oops. Just saw this question. Probably too late to answer. We happen to have two smaller (but still regular size) fridges. I can stack about 16 in there at a time. For me, that's two days worth. I could get more if I put them in plastic bags.

I have thought to buy an old used fridge to keep out on the porch and only plug in during times I need it. I know it wouldn't be Energy Star approved, but for a few days a summer, it wouldn't be that bad at sucking energy. You could stack a bunch in there and then cool the others in water.

Anyway, it's just a thought. I really don't like the thought of my bird soaking up a bunch of water and getting waterlogged. I'd think it would affect the flavor and quality of the meat -- but probably only on a level that snobs would notice. Since I like to impress the snobs among us, we air chill. LOL! Ha, no really, it's just easier for me to avoid all the ice and extra buckets by just tossing them in the fridge. The snob appeal is truly not the reason. Plus, I don't get that stretched out, stiff chicken that I can't get into the bag. Getting the chickens shaped like store bought chicken before they get to rigor mortis stage makes for easier packing later ... at least that's my meager experience between the year I iced in buckets of water and the years I've air chilled (under plastic wrap).