California - Northern

[zooweemama]

There really is not that much stink. The water is only 140 degrees when you scald them. It really is just wet feather smell.

Put a bit of dish soap in the water and there will be less smell.

The pot only needs to be big enough for one chicken. It takes less than 5 min. in the water for them to be ready for plucking.

Are you processing tomorrow?

Ron

Edited to add: No it will not get into the pan

Ok then I think this pot will do and if the smell won't stick then I can use my red pot. I need to process tomorrow. It's frustrating- I have to go to baby shower in the afternoon. It totally cuts into the middle of the day. I will likely show up, drop of the gift and stay for a short time and make my excuses. I have SO much to do- the duck coop needs to be shoveled out, new pellets down, fresh shavings in next boxes. I need to go to the feed stores to get more food and bedding pellets. Process a few chickens- I think I can start that chore AFTER I get back from the shower. I only need enough light for the beginning part. The rest I can finish in the house. Then Sunday I play hooky with church to attend a 4-H meeting and then if the previous day went well- maybe I can do a couple more chickens. Wow life before animals was so....much less busy. haha! Still love all this though.

 

[lawatt]

this has nothing to do with anything being discussed, but i was so delighted with the cooler weather this morning, i decided to try out my ancient DSLR camera (which i recently got back from my mother, who borrowed it for a couple of years) -- had forgotten how EASY shooting with a digital cam and auto-focus and etc. is, compared to film/old cameras, but also not terribly impressed by some of the pictures -- they seem very flat, and the whites (light sussex chickens!) blow out SO easily.

that said, here are two that turned out ok -- one of Cheryl's SPPRs, Bella, now roughly 18 weeks (?) old or so -- and Eleanor the 7-week-old basque pullet. will try to get some that i like of the other birds!



bella



eleanor (deann, this is one of your chicks!)

 

[debs_flock]

WARNING - FRANK DISCUSSION OF SLAUGHTERING!!! SKIP THIS POST IF IT BOTHERS YOU.

I wish I had a HUGE pot. I do have a big one- but not sure it's quite the size that would as easy as it could be with a larger one. I will take a pic and share and you all can tell me if I can make do?

Know anywhere in town that sells decent prices gigantic pots? LOL

I use a canning kettle, or a large stock pot. You can get either one at WalMart (or a hardware store for the canning kettle) for less than $20.

That's what I wanted to hear. I want to have an easy time plucking. It will be the easiest part of the processing but the most tedious and longest task if I don't do something efficient. I DO want the skin (I love eating crispy chicken skin lol- my family says I am gross but whatever) so I want the skin in good condition when done. Should I pick up 1 or 3 cones at the store? if I buy more than 1 cone- I can process more than 1 at a time. Would it really speed things up? Do you guys boil outside or take them inside and do the boil dip?

We use one cone. You can make them out of a traffic cone even. I bought a stainless one from CoopsNMore, they are a little pricy, but will last nearly forever. Being flat one one side makes them easy to hang (ours is on an oak tree) and the flat side fits the birds back, exposing the correct side to you.

Here's our routine.

DH does this part, because I can be girly squeamish and he has to pretend to be tough (even though he's a marshmallow).

Put the bird in the cone, do the deed (make sure you move the feathers out of the way and use a very sharp knife). The bird will be "gone" within a few minutes. Be prepared for a little twitching and kicking, but they are already past feeling any pain, it's just nerve/muscle impulses. He then removes the head, puts the bird in a small bucket and brings it in to me.

I have the kettle heated and ready. Have the temperature at 140-150, I shoot for 145 and use an instant read thermometer (about $10 in kitchen supply at the grocery store). If you don't have a thermometer, look for tiny bubbles on the bottom of the pan, it's just below a simmer. The water should be hot enough to be uncomfortable to your skin, but not burn. If the water is too hot, it will make the bird's skin rubbery and prone to tearing. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap, it helps the water to penetrate the feathers.

Dip your bird, use the feet/legs as a handle. Up and down and swish side to side (like a washing machine agitator). This only take 2-3 minutes. Pull a tail or wing feather. If they slip out with NO resistance, they are ready. If you have to pull at all, dip the bird another minute and test again.

I then put the bird back in the bucket and take it outside to pluck. I use a chair with a tub lined with a trash bag to catch the feathers. Pull out the tail and wing feathers first or they will tighten back up (you can always redip the bird if you need to). Then just start plucking whereever is most convenient. It literally takes no more than 10 mintues to do a whole bird.

I then head back to the house with the bird in hand, leave the bucket with DH so he can do the next bird.

I then put the kettle back on to come back up to temp and remove the feet from the bird. I put the whole bird in a sink of cold water to soak until all three birds are plucked. I find it reduces the ick factor of reaching into the body cavity of a still warm bird for entrail removal.

We repeat the above steps until I have all three birds.

Then I pick over the bird to remove as many pin feathers as possible and procede with eviserating. I can continue with what has worked best for me by trial and error if you're interested.

Deb

 

[zooweemama]

this has nothing to do with anything being discussed, but i was so delighted with the cooler weather this morning, i decided to try out my ancient DSLR camera (which i recently got back from my mother, who borrowed it for a couple of years) -- had forgotten how EASY shooting with a digital cam and auto-focus and etc. is, compared to film/old cameras, but also not terribly impressed by some of the pictures -- they seem very flat, and the whites (light sussex chickens!) blow out SO easily.

that said, here are two that turned out ok -- one of Cheryl's SPPRs, Bella, now roughly 18 weeks (?) old or so -- and Eleanor the 7-week-old basque pullet. will try to get some that i like of the other birds!



bella



eleanor (deann, this is one of your chicks!)

These are great! I do use auto focus (even the film shooters I know use auto focus) but I still usually manually set exposure. But I also process my images - I shoot in RAW not JPG so I can control my highlights, contrast and color. I know it's not a chicken picture but below is a before and after. I like warm colors, I like my highlights not clipped or too bright, I like my shadows to be rich usually and find that in processing I can get that. I treat digital like a film person treats film. Selecting papers, chemical variations for certain results etc. The digital camera is processing the image and I personally find the images flat and like to mess with them a little bit.

This Winter I am going to try to get my hands on a Nikon F5. I will be able to use all my lenses with it and then try some film. I am DYING to do some bw on film! DYING.

 

[ronott1]

this has nothing to do with anything being discussed, but i was so delighted with the cooler weather this morning, i decided to try out my ancient DSLR camera (which i recently got back from my mother, who borrowed it for a couple of years) -- had forgotten how EASY shooting with a digital cam and auto-focus and etc. is, compared to film/old cameras, but also not terribly impressed by some of the pictures -- they seem very flat, and the whites (light sussex chickens!) blow out SO easily.

that said, here are two that turned out ok -- one of Cheryl's SPPRs, Bella, now roughly 18 weeks (?) old or so -- and Eleanor the 7-week-old basque pullet. will try to get some that i like of the other birds!



bella



eleanor (deann, this is one of your chicks!)

Thank you for the pictures!

They are very nice looking Birds!

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

WARNING - FRANK DISCUSSION OF SLAUGHTERING!!! SKIP THIS POST IF IT BOTHERS YOU.

I use a canning kettle, or a large stock pot. You can get either one at WalMart (or a hardware store for the canning kettle) for less than $20.


We use one cone. You can make them out of a traffic cone even. I bought a stainless one from CoopsNMore, they are a little pricy, but will last nearly forever. Being flat one one side makes them easy to hang (ours is on an oak tree) and the flat side fits the birds back, exposing the correct side to you.

Here's our routine.

DH does this part, because I can be girly squeamish and he has to pretend to be tough (even though he's a marshmallow).

Put the bird in the cone, do the deed (make sure you move the feathers out of the way and use a very sharp knife). The bird will be "gone" within a few minutes. Be prepared for a little twitching and kicking, but they are already past feeling any pain, it's just nerve/muscle impulses. He then removes the head, puts the bird in a small bucket and brings it in to me.

I have the kettle heated and ready. Have the temperature at 140-150, I shoot for 145 and use an instant read thermometer (about $10 in kitchen supply at the grocery store). If you don't have a thermometer, look for tiny bubbles on the bottom of the pan, it's just below a simmer. The water should be hot enough to be uncomfortable to your skin, but not burn. If the water is too hot, it will make the bird's skin rubbery and prone to tearing. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap, it helps the water to penetrate the feathers.

Dip your bird, use the feet/legs as a handle. Up and down and swish side to side (like a washing machine agitator). This only take 2-3 minutes. Pull a tail or wing feather. If they slip out with NO resistance, they are ready. If you have to pull at all, dip the bird another minute and test again.

I then put the bird back in the bucket and take it outside to pluck. I use a chair with a tub lined with a trash bag to catch the feathers. Pull out the tail and wing feathers first or they will tighten back up (you can always redip the bird if you need to). Then just start plucking whereever is most convenient. It literally takes no more than 10 mintues to do a whole bird.

I then head back to the house with the bird in hand, leave the bucket with DH so he can do the next bird.

I then put the kettle back on to come back up to temp and remove the feet from the bird. I put the whole bird in a sink of cold water to soak until all three birds are plucked. I find it reduces the ick factor of reaching into the body cavity of a still warm bird for entrail removal.

We repeat the above steps until I have all three birds.

Then I pick over the bird to remove as many pin feathers as possible and procede with eviserating. I can continue with what has worked best for me by trial and error if you're interested.

Deb

Wow. I have read and seen a ton of processing stuff in the past few weeks but it was really nice to read what you do and your process. If you are willing to share more - I would love to read. I am soaking this all in. Even if I only manage to finish one bird tomorrow- it will be great to get that one under my belt and then I will do some more on Sunday.

 

[lawatt]

These are great! I do use auto focus (even the film shooters I know use auto focus) but I still usually manually set exposure. But I also process my images - I shoot in RAW not JPG so I can control my highlights, contrast and color. I know it's not a chicken picture but below is a before and after. I like warm colors, I like my highlights not clipped or too bright, I like my shadows to be rich usually and find that in processing I can get that. I treat digital like a film person treats film. Selecting papers, chemical variations for certain results etc. The digital camera is processing the image and I personally find the images flat and like to mess with them a little bit.

This Winter I am going to try to get my hands on a Nikon F5. I will be able to use all my lenses with it and then try some film. I am DYING to do some bw on film! DYING.

i process photos also (need to with scanning!), and obviously do all manual settings with most of my cameras, which are all-manual -- this was just a pick-up-and-see-what-the-cam-can-do moment with the chicklets. and the above two pictures are photoshopped a bit -- but most of the snaps i took weren't really worth bothering with. like i said, will try a few more... it's still better than my iPhone!

and speaking on non-digital cameras -- a couple of years ago my parents found my great-grandfather's old Brownie, which had been in storage since 1975 at least -- i looked up the model, and it was one only produced between 1904-07 -- but i just dusted it off, put a roll of 120 film in, and away we went. no battery to charge, no nuthin'. focus is tricky but it can take lovely pictures:


view from my old rental place in sebastopol

 

[zooweemama]

i process photos also (need to with scanning!), and obviously do all manual settings with most of my cameras, which are all-manual -- this was just a pick-up-and-see-what-the-cam-can-do moment with the chicklets. and the above two pictures are photoshopped a bit -- but most of the snaps i took weren't really worth bothering with. like i said, will try a few more... it's still better than my iPhone!

and speaking on non-digital cameras -- a couple of years ago my parents found my great-grandfather's old Brownie, which had been in storage since 1975 at least -- i looked up the model, and it was one only produced between 1904-07 -- but i just dusted it off, put a roll of 120 film in, and away we went. no battery to charge, no nuthin'. focus is tricky but it can take lovely pictures:


view from my old rental place in sebastopol

A Brownie? Shut the front door! That's awesome! I am playing with an old Minolta Talker right now. Just so I can cheaply play with film, papers (we have a lab that processes film here old school) and just see if I like it. I am running some Kodak right now. When I am done I want to try a roll of Ilford or something. Some of my lenses are the older lenses...my 50 1.4 is the older series, so is my 105mm f2. I just love them so much. All my friends bought the newer lenses- i went out of my way to locate the older ones. They are heavy and made of metal. Feels wonderful to hold them and click them on. Like the smell of an old book...just nostalgic!

 

[tls_ranch]

WARNING - FRANK DISCUSSION OF SLAUGHTERING!!! SKIP THIS POST IF IT BOTHERS YOU.
Quote: Thanks for the info Deb I really need to get a cone or make one because it was pretty awkward the first time I processed a cockerel. I have 5 cockerels that I'm going to process this weekend unless someone buys them soon. They are just project cockerels and I don't need them so they are taking up space. They don't have much meat on them yet so I'm thinking of trying to skin them and make soup. I think they would make a decent chicken stock even with out the skin.

Trisha

 

[lawatt]

A Brownie? Shut the front door! That's awesome! I am playing with an old Minolta Talker right now. Just so I can cheaply play with film, papers (we have a lab that processes film here old school) and just see if I like it. I am running some Kodak right now. When I am done I want to try a roll of Ilford or something. Some of my lenses are the older lenses...my 50 1.4 is the older series, so is my 105mm f2. I just love them so much. All my friends bought the newer lenses- i went out of my way to locate the older ones. They are heavy and made of metal. Feels wonderful to hold them and click them on. Like the smell of an old book...just nostalgic!

the brownie is my oldest camera, but i also shoot sometimes with my grandfather's Rolleiflex (from the 1930s), and most recently got a Crown Graphic from the '50s. also all of my polaroids & the Hasselblad manual cam are from the '60s.

all the various cams i mess around with are collected here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawatt/collections/72157594588133823/

a couple more snaps:


the two cream legbars: speedy, who's 4-5 weeks old & looks like she'll have a small crest, and amelia, who's 7 weeks & no crest



but amelia has a HUGE tail!