Butchered first chicken- did I do it right?

[MamaHen11]

hi all!

I butchered for the first time today- hoping you can help me answer some questions that came up.

First, how long can I take to pluck before I need to move on to removing the organs? It takes me a long to pluck by hand, but I’m worried I willing compromise the meat by not gutting quickly.

Second, how can you tell if you get the lungs?

Third, how to make sure the windpipe/esophagus Spears from body versus breaking off?

Fourth, it had a small injury with bruising , looks like a peck. I just cut off the bruise and broken skin. Anything else to worry about?

I watched a few different videos prior, but it’s still tricky.

Thanks!

Took some pics of the body cavity for reference. I removed whatever that ‘string’ was hanging down and plucked a few more feathers.

 

[Parront]

You did great! You do not have to rush to gut the bird. Take the time you need, the lungs are easiest to get out with your fingers, just feel for them. Rinse well and little pink bits of lungs come out, pick the strings is the right thing to do. You did a nice clean job. I have a very favorite knife, gets sharp and stays sharp.
It is old, I got it from my brother-in-law, who worked in a Kansas processing plant. It was "liberated" ~20 years ago. Buy a good knife and you will not regret it.

 

[Maeschak]

You did a great job if you ask me! And yes, just pick off all strings.

The lungs are sometimes difficult to get- you sort of have to scrape deep into the rib cage area (on both sides of the spine) with your fingernails to scrape out the lungs. They are a bit recessed and if you don't dig in you might miss them. They are red and spongy. If you still can't find them I'd suggest spatchcocking the bird so you can more easily locate them the first time.

Great job!

 

[Smuvers Farm]

@rjohns39

 

[rjohns39]

@rjohns39

Great Job

 

[Parront]

Third, how to make sure the windpipe/esophagus Spears from body versus breaking off?

You can cut the skin on the back of the neck, along the top, and pull it from the neck with all the tubes, separate the windpipe and crop from the body and leave them loose so they come out the back with the innards. Make sense?

 

[rjohns39]

You did a great job if you ask me! And yes, just pick off all strings.

The lungs are sometimes difficult to get- you sort of have to scrape deep into the rib cage area (on both sides of the spine) with your fingernails to scrape out the lungs. They are a bit recessed and if you don't dig in you might miss them. They are red and spongy. If you still can't find them I'd suggest spatchcocking the bird so you can more easily locate them the first time.

Great job!

I cheat and use a lung rake.

 

[Parront]

I cheat and use a lung rake.

You do have to use a fingernail brush with my method! The right tool for the job, and I would get one if I were doing a lot of birds. They sure do have lots of cool stuff on that site!

 

[rjohns39]

You do have to use a fingernail brush with my method! The right tool for the job, and I would get one if I were doing a lot of birds. They sure do have lots of cool stuff on that site!

I love his stuff and he's got some pretty good how to videos as well

 

[Molpet]

I cheat and use a lung rake.

$60 I am still justifying the plucker for 50 or so birds a year LOL