Butchered in the bathtub this morning!

[weaveagarden]

Quote:
Now Joe, don't go giving me ideas.

I am trying to be a grown up about this (now), but it is very difficult when you have emotions involved.

So it was a chicken, that's my story anyway, and I am sticking to it.

Want to hear the punch line to that joke of yours????? Her name ironically is Birdy!!!!!!!

(Perhaps Bertie, but none of us know for sure

)

 

[weaveagarden]

Thanks everyone for the words of support and sharing of experience.

I totally agree about a scalpel. And I know from experience that they are much sharper than Xacto knives. But in a pinch, one of the smaller pointed better qualities might work. The scalpel blades are less bend-y as I remember them. I used them in art school. very nice for control while cutting.

I will be calling my vets on Tuesday. Thanks for the idea.

 

[fasbendera]

Congrats! It really does get better and you find your own short cuts that work best for you. We do ours outside but we do meat birds and this is our fourth year and I think we have all the kinks worked out down to the table and bin layout.

 

[DiVon80]

Quote:

 

[Sunny Side Up]

There are a lot of things you can use for a cone. It's purpose is to hold the bird's wings close to his body so he won't flap & flop around. It's cone shaped so it can fit a variety of sized birds, with the smaller opening towards the bottom to leave room for just the head & neck to stick out. It's designed to hang small-end down so the bird can stay head down for a few moments to bleed out.

If you're butchering in your bathroom you could zip-tie the feet and hang the birds from your shower head. You could wrap duct tape around his body to immobilize his wings. If you had a helper then one of you could hold the bird with your hands around his wings & body, hold him down at the bottom of the tub while the other person sliced the neck veins. But then you'd both have to keep your clothes on. Or maybe not...

If you can keep the bird from flapping and hold the head in place for a few minutes until it's stopped convulsing, there shouldn't be too much blood splattering around.

I've used utility knife blades for slicing throats, there's a type designed for slicing through wallpaper that's extra sharp.

Congratulations on your ingenuity & enjoy your tasty meal!

 

[vkp23]

You can find cheap scalpels (sp) at Tractor supply or local feed store. I find them in the area where the animal meds are. I have not yet bucherd any of my birds. But I have seen the scalpels there though. Thats a good idea though about using them for the killing part.

 

[tuffolbird]

Here are a couple links to good information about processing your own birds.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI0701.html


http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AA188

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Get utility knife blades at Lowes. They work great for killing.

 

[jaku]

Butchering chickens, naked, in a bathtub, is disturbing to me on SO many levels.

 

[Bedste]

my friend skinned his roosters..... it was easier than plucking and it was fast..