California - Northern

[zooweemama]

zoowemama, I process my own birds a lot. A turkey is easier to get your hand in, but harder to heave around and scald. I'm still keeping my eyes out for a ten gallon stock pot for that, or a 35-gallon drum that I can cut down to use as one. I can sort of scald my heritage turkeys one end at a time in my five gallon pot but the broad-breastfed varieties just get too big. I can't even fit them into my killing cone, and have to use the hatchet. If you raise your own Cornish crosses, they get much larger than the grocery store chickens, to ten or twelve pounds. I have a few entries about poultry processing on the blog I link to in my signature. The flavor difference is amazing. I've got a batch of Jumbo Pekins ready to go now, which will be a new one for me. I'm going to try waxing them when I scald them for the first time.

Like this? http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=K1TaT4GoNILE2wW3h6DRBg&ved=0CIUBEPMCMAI
Holy moly that's a price tag!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I have used stuff like this to cook for a 500 person thanks giving dinner. It takes a lot of BTUs to heat them up.

Cheaper to use a half barrel. Just have to make sure you can clean out whatever was in it.

Ron

 

[CowgirlJules]

That looks like a good size but there's no way I would pay that much! I've set my father-in-law to find one; he gets the most amazing garage sale deals. If not that, then I have a line on a drum that held salad oil. I have my assistant/photographer this weekend, and so we might process a duck if it's not too hot. I've never had homegrown duck, and but if it's anything like as good as chicken, and we're in for a treat.

As far as Cornish crosses, I bought ten at the feed store this year and the only two that lived long enough to be eaten were sold at the 4H auction. All of the rest succumbed to a bad growing year for one reason or another. Last year we raised 25 Freedom Rangers, a type of red broiler. They grew a little slower but the mortality wasn't as bad. Didn't show well at the fair but they tasted delicious and some of them dressed out at over 12 pounds.

 

[zooweemama]

That looks like a good size but there's no way I would pay that much! I've set my father-in-law to find one; he gets the most amazing garage sale deals. If not that, then I have a line on a drum that held salad oil. I have my assistant/photographer this weekend, and so we might process a duck if it's not too hot. I've never had homegrown duck, and but if it's anything like as good as chicken, and we're in for a treat.
As far as Cornish crosses, I bought ten at the feed store this year and the only two that lived long enough to be eaten were sold at the 4H auction. All of the rest succumbed to a bad growing year for one reason or another. Last year we raised 25 Freedom Rangers, a type of red broiler. They grew a little slower but the mortality wasn't as bad. Didn't show well at the fair but they tasted delicious and some of them dressed out at over 12 pounds.

Good luck! I hope you can find a barrel! Dipping turkeys half way has got to go. hehe

I'll have to look into the FRs. I have seen quite a few people doing them!

 

[Papa Brooder]

Quote:
Hello! Thankfully I was able to sell almost all the ones that I wanted to sell. Those sizzles and silkies flew out the door. Wish I would have had more of them.

 

[ronott1]

WasabiChicki,

How did the chicken processing go?

Ron

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Actually the broody is a cross between a Black Cochin and Black Tailed White Japanese, the chicks are from my OEGB's.

They are adorable!

Is that the Mom? and the Dad is a Jersey Giant"

 

[ronott1]

Actually the broody is a cross between a Black Cochin and Black Tailed White Japanese, the chicks are from my OEGB's.

Quote: They did look a little chipmunish. I love the way broodies don't care what they hatch.

Congratulations!

Ron

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

They did look a little chipmunish. I love the way broodies don't care what they hatch.

Congratulations!

Ron

Thank you!
Actually the mommy of the broody went un-broody over some OEGB eggs we put under her, laid her own secret nest, and hatched that broody on accident... at least it was a pullet!

 

[ChicknThief]

Hey, I just met you,
And this is Crazy,
But I'm an orphan,
So adopt me maybe?

Trying to find a home for this sweet little girl! If you or someone you know need a cuddly sweet kitten (she was a bottle baby, so very VERY lovey), please send me a message!