A bit of advice for our first slaughter

[CARS]

The wife and I just returned from processing our Cornish X's. We have neighbors that told us they were processing this weekend. I asked if I could bring our 15 birds along and we would help with theirs. It was great! One guy looping the head and scalding, one running the plucker, 2 picking off anything that the plucker couldn't get, 3 gutting, 2 rinsing and cooling (dumping buckets and other odd jobs too).

I will never sit down and butcher by myself again! Find someone near you (I would drive an hour to go to the nearest processor anyway) and work together. It is so much more fun and just makes life so, so much easier!!!

We did 92 in total in under 3 hours. That included the time to add more hot water and get the temp back to 145ish.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

WOW

That is AWESOME!!! You're very luck to have found such a network. That's a huge job! You're also lucky to have a plucker. Takes me 3 hours to do two chickens by myself with no plucker

I'm slowly but surely finding a group of new chicken friends here in my community and hopefully someday we can all work together too! CONGRATS!!

 

[cutlass1972]

hey heather, where bouts are you in KY? We are in Cynthiana and have processed a few.

Check this blog out it helped me immensely.
http://butcherachicken.blogspot.com/2007/09/introduction.html

 

[Sunny Side Up]

There's a good video on YouTube titled "Chicken Processing on Custer Family Farm" that shows good detailed instruction on both skinning & gutting chickens. Even if you decide to pluck the info on gutting, esp. where & how to cut, is very helpful. We all wish you great success!

 

[Grampa with chickens]

Quote:
I used this video for research when I did my processing. Very very helpful.