Crossing over--My first processed bird Warning graphic pics!!!!

[chiknlady]

An update I processed two more and cooked 2 of the 3 today. One I had brined and the other I cooked after processing. The brined was similar to the tecture of store bought--but tastier! The fresh one was similar in texture to a duck or turkey--it had a stringier texture and was gamier--but still delicious I cooked it before Rigor set in and it was not tough at all. All in all it was well worth the effort and my DD and BF helped. It was a great feeling to know I was supported and they loved the meal as well!

 

[redhead83402]

It was a great feeling to know I was supported and they loved the meal as well!

I think this is the greatest part of processing your own meat ~ there is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in the fact that you raised the bird, processed it, and then made it into a tasty dish. I know that our ancestors had no other choice, but it seems almost to be a lost art now adays, what with grocery stores & such. In fact, this was one of the main reasons that we started out in our ~chicken adventure~

I thought that the kids really needed to become closer to their food sources, and understand all that really truly goes into sustanence. They knew about where food came from, but only through books or videos or such ~ but We had little neighbor kids who honestly didn't realize that eggs came from chickens, milk came from cows, corn came from a stalk ~ etc, they just assumed that it all came from the store, as if it were some magical producer of items.

I am very proud of you ~ doesn't it feel like a tremendously HUGE step towards self-sufficiency, & provident living? :-D
~Red
LOL ~ edited just for you Jim ~ jvls1942 ~ PPPPPP ~ that's a virtual razzzberry!! ;-D ( don't you know I have dislexic logic??? ;-D)​

 

[Bassleg]

The first time is always hard and now its time for chow!!

 

[key west chick]

Wow, I so wish I could get up the nerves to do that, pat yourself on the back!

 

[jvls1942]

I grew up rural and I am considered to be an "old timer" by my over 40 years old, daughters.. and I did not know until this previous post that cows came from milk ! interesting.. How does that work??????? LOL

.........jiminwisc.......

 

[FarmerDenise]

We are getting ready to butcher our first birds and I am researching or rather psyching myself up for it. So I appreciate the pictures.
We hunt and fish, but killing our own birds is turning out to be a little more difficult, even though we always try for a good quick kill when hunting or fishing.
When I was a teen my family moved to the country and my grandparents got back into raising and butchering our own meat. They did it for the same reasons many of us are today. They wanted better quality meat, raised and butchered humanely.
That was quite a few years ago though. Having to be the one responsible for both the raising and the killing is making it a bit difficult. But since we have six roosters too many, they have to go one way or the other. We may as well eat them ourselves and I do look forward to having tasty homegrown chicken dinners.

 

[chiknlady]

Denise I wish you well and I know that you will be providing the "best " quality food for your family! You can't get fresher or healthier and you will know that in the grand scheme of things you really worked for your supper. My daughter surprized me this weekend by wanting to participate in the next round. She was prepared and ready to eat by the time the hard work was done. We may not need to fend for ourselves any more--but it sure is good to know how!

God bless...

 

[the1much]

GREAT work !!!

 

[ashyannehand]

Great Job! After reading so many great experiences on this forum I am looking to get some meat birds next spring and process my own. I can not wait.

 

[Chicabee19]

I do want to try this, but I'd like to find someone local who can walk me through it the first time or two.