ALABAMA!!

[kimberly35042]

I killed my first chicken today. Not very happy about it. We only killed 1 last year, and I made the hubby do it. It took me 3 months to eat it. I thought it would be easier this year since there are so many. I guess in a way it was, I was able to do it myself, but I feel like a butt. And I have at least 3 more to do. The ugly side of farm life is showing up

I guess I look at it differently. My chickens live a wonderful life and have one bad day. Much nicer than the horrific conditions of commercial raised birds!

 

[Wisher1000]

I agree with you both. I have not done my own processing, but I am trying to work up to it. I remind myself of the good life mine have and I also recognize that I eat chicken all the time that someone else raised (factory) so it is hypocritical to be unwilling to eat my own.

I am making slow progress. I started with the attitude that my chickens would all die happily of old age on my farm. Then, I would let go of roosters and ask that I not be told what happens to them. Now, I can sell the extra cockerels to families that practically salivate as they are picking them up. My next step is to trade several birds to them in exchange for one returned ready for the freezer. If I can eat it and enjoy it, I will then try processing one that was raised by a friend before I kill one of my own.

Silly, huh?

 

[jknox1982]

Well the babies I got that I thought were hens turned out to be possible roosters. I was really hoping for hens for the eggs. Then I find out that you only need one rooster per 8 hens so if they are roosters I will have to either rehome them or get more hens i have 4 hens outside and then the babies. It has become a very overwhelming event for me as I have grown so close to the babies I really don't want to loose them.

 

[Dragonfly216]

@Wisher1000 I'm right there with ya! I can't bring myself to kill them yet. My boyfriend killed one rooster not too long ago and gutted it, and I plucked the feathers. I felt really strange about it since I raised him since two days old, but wow! We grilled it and it was really tender and tasty! We're going to the lake for the long weekend with a bunch of friends and we're talking about taking 3-4 of my extra roosters to grill......but only if my friend makes it over to do the deed! I don't really know if I can ever bring myself to do it! Raw chicken doesn't bother me, and I make a tasty bistro chicken with veggies with a while chicken, but it's just so different with your own birds!

@jknox1982 I ended up with a bunch of extra roosters myself! Even when I ordered sexed chicks from a hatchery, I STILL got 3 roosters! Luckily they will refund or replace them after the 90% guarantee rate. Ugh! I hate it though!

 

[kimberly35042]

It is such a complete change from how I grew up, but I mean....my grandmother "processed" chickens and my mother remembers it. It certainly helps to have a support group and initially just to watch the tutorial videos and such. If there is any interest, I have a friend visiting in November, and she is an expert processor and sales at her local farmer's markets and customers from her farm in MD. I guess we could have a BYOB (bring your own birds) LOL

We are certainly no experts, but we do get the job done, and the Dorkings we raise are known for their huge breasts and "more meat around the wishbone" ! Yea....I started with that breed for a reason

 

[Orps]

I agree with you both. I have not done my own processing, but I am trying to work up to it. I remind myself of the good life mine have and I also recognize that I eat chicken all the time that someone else raised (factory) so it is hypocritical to be unwilling to eat my own.

I am making slow progress. I started with the attitude that my chickens would all die happily of old age on my farm. Then, I would let go of roosters and ask that I not be told what happens to them. Now, I can sell the extra cockerels to families that practically salivate as they are picking them up. My next step is to trade several birds to them in exchange for one returned ready for the freezer. If I can eat it and enjoy it, I will then try processing one that was raised by a friend before I kill one of my own.

Silly, huh?

I'm with you on this one. I tell myself "it's a chicken. Where do you think chicken come from?", and that I eat chicken all the time so what is the difference. I even convince myself that I can do it. I dissected tons of stuff during college. I even limited my contact with the roo knowing that it will probably end up as soup. But now that my roo is crowing and I'm put the the test, I'm failing.

But I do have a plan B. It's going to get process by a friend and they are going to make me black chicken soup which is a very popular and expensive dish in Asian countries. And I had it before and liked it. So, I've convinced myself that I will be able to eat him but I'll let you know after the weekend if I could or not.

 

[Orps]

Well the babies I got that I thought were hens turned out to be possible roosters. I was really hoping for hens for the eggs. Then I find out that you only need one rooster per 8 hens so if they are roosters I will have to either rehome them or get more hens i have 4 hens outside and then the babies. It has become a very overwhelming event for me as I have grown so close to the babies I really don't want to loose them.

They still may be hens. Give them some time to mature a little more,

 

[Wisher1000]

Quote:
But I do have a plan B. It's going to get process by a friend and they are going to make me black chicken soup which is a very popular and expensive dish in Asian countries. And I had it before and liked it. So, I've convinced myself that I will be able to eat him but I'll let you know after the weekend if I could or not.

I really think that I could enjoy eating one of mine, certainly if I didn't know who it was.........it's the transition from walking around to ready to cook that trips me up.

 

[bamadude]

The only chicken ive ever tasted came from the grocery store. I have been inside big commercial "broiler" houses. Its gross and kinda sad when compared to the way mine are raised.

 

[jknox1982]

They still may be hens. Give them some time to mature a little more,

Thank you I am keeping my fingers crossed because I don't have the room to keep them and it would kill me to have to give them away!