Big deep breath......I am gonna try this!!!!!!

[PurpleChicken]

There must be local chicken folk close by you. We are lucky here because we have
our little BYC group who will help each other out. CT is small though. You can fit
8 CTs in AR.

Not to go off topic but squirrel looks really good. Survivorman ate one on an episode.
My Great Grandma would skin them and throw them in the sauce like it was a rabbit.
This was about 35 years before I was born but it makes for a good story.

 

[EllyMae]

Purplechicken, I remember passing bowls of squirrel gravy and the platter of cooked squirrel in the center of the table when I was a kid. I never tried it but all of my relatives sure liked it. And that wasn't all that long ago...
Ok, back to the topic at hand, I am excited for you luvmychicknkids. I will try to keep up with your adventure in meat birds. You may end up being my inspiration!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

My grandmother always fried squirrel.. I can still close my eyes and smell it cooking. I feel so strange telling people I like to eat rodents!

My family was not the type to eat the brains, however. I am soooooooo glad!!! I haven't eaten any since my grandmother passed away when I was in my early 20's though.

Honestly, I don't personally know anyone who knows anything about chickens. I have some neighbors just a little way from me with chickens but have never even met them (sad, I know). I do, however, know the mennonite family that runs a little local store fairly well. I have even given them one of my extra roosters before. I have considered asking them if they would, or know someone who would, help. I just feel so strange asking something like that. This is all new to me.

Cool, EllyMae, I will definitely keep updates on here. It is going to be a unique experience for sure.

 

[hoosierhen]

How many are you ordering?

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I think 25 will be enough for me to try for now. Besides, with just me and 3 kids eating them, I doubt we will need more than that.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
I wouldn't feel bad asking them. They may do it themselves or could provide someone
who does. There is a member here who pays $2 per chicken to an Amish woman.
That's a deal. My boss pays $5 per bird but he is in the Boston area.

If you do find someone consider offering them a few chickens in exchange for helping
them. This way you both make out.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
I wouldn't feel bad asking them. They may do it themselves or could provide someone
who does. There is a member here who pays $2 per chicken to an Amish woman.
That's a deal. My boss pays $5 per bird but he is in the Boston area.

If you do find someone consider offering them a few chickens in exchange for helping
them. This way you both make out.

That is a good idea. I talk to them all the time, I just need to get my nerve up and ask. Heyyyyyy.....I have an idea. Isn't your kid good at this? He is young....you could box him up and ship him here, he could help out and I could mail him right back.

 

[EngieKisses]

The road kill thought makes me cringe.... I hope I can be that brave this coming spring.

 

[blue90292]

good luck! i still have a hard time about it. i have a guy who wants to give me his two broilers that are around 16 weeks old. i told him that's fine, but they'll end up at the processors in a couple of days after he gives them to me. he hesitated and said he'll have to think about giving them to me then.

i was glad cuz it's alot easier mentally taking 25 birds than just 2.

 

[lilshadow]

I felt the same way you do about butchering. I told my husband that I would do everything. This was my first time, and it was my only time. I apologized the whole time. I kept saying I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My friends were laughing at me (which I thought was mean of them). I say it is the last time because, I chopped the top of my finger off trying to butcher that bird. Never again will I butcher. As far as the deed goes, it wasn't bad at all. I am just dangerous with knives. Good luck with your butchering. Really, it isn't that bad, just watch for your fingers.