A hard decision- but it had to be made...

[Dogfish]

Yup. 4 hours to get to an internal temp of 40 degrees. After gutting, trimming off feet, head and getting final feathers off, rinse with clear water. Then toss into your ice bath for an hour minimum. Cooler or bucket is fine. I'd rest the bird in the fridge for 24-48 hours, personally, but anywhere you can keep the temp below 40 and above freezing is fine.

You can go fancy, or bare bones on an emergency processing outfit.

My kill cone is a traffic cone nailed to a fence post. (Found mangle out in front of our house)
My scalder is the pot I use for cooking crab in, set on top of my turkey fryer burner. (Already had)
I built a drill mounted plucker in an hour that cost me less than $10. Carriage bolt, 2 nuts, 2 black rubber bungies, and a 4" PVC cap. Need a few drill bits, scissors, sharpie marker and a utility knife. (Already had the drill, about 3 minutes to pluck a bird.)
Add a cutting board and a knife and that is all I use for my set up. (Also already owned)

From the time I start the scalding pot to when I'm done with a bird in the ice bath it is about 15 minutes.

Alton Brown, the host of "Good Eats", talks about buying kitchen tools that are multi taskers. Look around. Figure it out.

 

[jhmoore]

I didn't have time to read all the posts, so I hope I'm not being repetitive. But, I noticed you're from West Michigan. Two birds might not be worth the drive, but since you think you may continue to raise roosters to eventually eat, it would help to know a processor. I am not quite ready to process on my own either, and don't mind paying a reputable place to do it for me. There is a place in Fowlerville called Munsells Poultry Processing that you can look into. Have a great reputation. Good luck!

 

[Avalon1984]

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Thank you so much for your help. I found an Amish guy up in Fremont that does poultry processing but for two birds, I may just do it myself. In the time we drive up to Fremont and stress the birds we will have done the deed ourselves. However, I have some 10-15 roos growing so once they are ready they might have to take the drive. I was joking with my husband about putting whiskey in their water tonight to relax them

 

[jenny_kap]

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some people do that with turkeys, as i know.

 

[Avalon1984]

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some people do that with turkeys, as i know.

that is what we heard too. Thinking about using Southern Comfort

 

[ailurophile23]

I like the tailgate suggestion - it is actually what we use when butchering deer. After killing, skinning and gutting, we trim and rinse the pieces on a clean board or tray on the tailgate, then into the cooler with ice water. This keeps thing simple and inexpensive and would work well for chickens too. When you are only doing one or two, it just seems easier and quicker to do it on your own.

 

[Avalon1984]

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I agree now. Glad all you guys were so supportive. We will see what hubby and I can do together. It will be interesting since we are both processing virgins

He is the kindest and gentlest person around but he too is sick and tired of the two trouble makers. Roosters will be seperated tonight and be put on water and maybe some SoCo. There will be peace again in my chicken run

Wish us luck!

 

[ailurophile23]

So does the SoCo also act as a marinade?

I really shouldn't joke about this as I know it is hard to do the first time through - sorry. Use what you have on hand to do this and good luck. As friend who raises meaties says it gets easier each time.

 

[Avalon1984]

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Thank you for understanding. Yes, we are kind of nervous about it but I just get so angry when I see them after my hens. Yesterday I was in their run working on a new construction and they did it again! I about clubbed them then too so I think it will not be too hard. My husband has a hatchet that we are trying to find so that I don’t miss the first time. That would suck. We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully the weather will be ok and no neighbor will randomly stop by

We had rain and 55 degrees this morning, are supposed to get worse weather later. The ironic thing is that I already have both roosters sold as broilers. I hope that they dress out the way I imagine. They are Brahma/EE mixes and huge! I heard that they will be fairly boney but just picking them up they feel like 10lbs. Hoping they will have this nice whiskey taste to them

 

[Avalon1984]

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By the way, looking at your signature line we have the exact same animals except for the dogs and we have a few more chickens

What type of bees do you have?