Culling the Flock?

[Beekissed]

Quote:
You are so funny!!!

Many, many folks on here would heartily disagree with this post!

Really...you don't need a man to do it for you. Imagine how empowered and accomplished you will feel if you take matters into your own hands! And your hubby just may feel like he should help...ya never know. Or..he may just start looking at you nervously and begin to listen to your more carefully....

Its so much easier to use a killing cone and they are easy to make from a bleach jug, no extra purchase required. I can even post pics here of where to slice the throat and such if you need them. I've been killing chickens since I was 11 years old and it really is no big deal. Although never pleasant, it is a chore much like any other...best if done quickly and the hardest part is just getting started.

Here's a few pics to get you started:

A few CX in the homemade killing cones.

A good place to start is with a very sharp knife, pull slight tension on the neck by gently pushing down on the beak and cradling the head with your hand...cut a smooth line from left to right...and you are done with the actual killing part.

My antique automatic plucker~the one that got me started processing chickens in the first place:

She and I butchered a young cow at our place last winter....if us two ladies can do that, you can cull your flock. Women can do this!!!

 

[CANDLE98]

My antique automatic plucker~the one that got me started processing chickens in the first place:

That is freaking hilarous! I am not sure what i am going to do with the girls when they stop laying.... i don't want to have to think about it! Won't they be tough?

 

[Wendy'sChicksRock]

I dont think I could do it.....Take that back .. I KNOW i couldnt do it... We will get meat birds this spring and those will be sent off for processing and/or sold at fair. I have no trouble cooking them for the family I just cant do it my self.... I couldnt deer hunt either... I think this is why my DH didnt really want chickens.. He new we would have to keep them all..

 

[Uzuri]

Candle98 -- they will be tougher than store bought birds, you just need to plan for that when you cook them. Make soup, crock pot them. Don't expect to grill them!

I'll tell you this, though, if you can adjust your lifestyle so that you're only eating older birds (never buying from the store) the "toughness" that everyone talks about will soon go away. For one thing, it's not as bad as everyone tries to make it sound, for another, you'll get used to it. That'll be how chicken's supposed to be. Then the flavor takes over.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

Well I use a cone from TSP cut back a bit. But I just turn them upside down in it for a few minutes while I get things ready. I use Trimmers to cut off their heads then put them back in the cone to drain. Hold their feet for a minute till the nerves stop thrashing.

Pluck them old birds, will be to hard to skin them. Cook them down or better, pressure cook them and make up some chicken and dumplings or soup. It will be the best you ever ever had. This is their one last thank you for giving them a good life. They deserve that honor.

 

[BarredBuff]

Quote:
You are so funny!!!

Many, many folks on here would heartily disagree with this post!

Really...you don't need a man to do it for you. Imagine how empowered and accomplished you will feel if you take matters into your own hands! And your hubby just may feel like he should help...ya never know. Or..he may just start looking at you nervously and begin to listen to your more carefully....

Its so much easier to use a killing cone and they are easy to make from a bleach jug, no extra purchase required. I can even post pics here of where to slice the throat and such if you need them. I've been killing chickens since I was 11 years old and it really is no big deal. Although never pleasant, it is a chore much like any other...best if done quickly and the hardest part is just getting started.

Here's a few pics to get you started:

A few CX in the homemade killing cones.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6459_meat_chickens_processing_007.jpg

A good place to start is with a very sharp knife, pull slight tension on the neck by gently pushing down on the beak and cradling the head with your hand...cut a smooth line from left to right...and you are done with the actual killing part.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6459_meat_chickens_processing_041.jpg

My antique automatic plucker~the one that got me started processing chickens in the first place:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6459_meat_chickens_processing_046.jpg

She and I butchered a young cow at our place last winter....if us two ladies can do that, you can cull your flock. Women can do this!!!

If Im not mistaken women used to tend the flocks and kill the supper.

 

[Beekissed]

I just can up my older hens and they come out of the jar very tender and ready for any recipe...they definitely have a better taste than my CX did.

 

[HeatherLynn]

Grab the hatchet and start crying. My hubby was so into processing for me after that little hint of what the day would be like if I actually had to kill them myself. I could be empowered if I really wanted to but in this instance I don't really want to. He can kill my chickens and I will do his taxes and we will call it even.

 

[TreeHugger]

I raise bantams and don't butcher my birds. However, I was raised on a farm where we butchered about 100 birds each fall. Everyone had a "station" to tend to in the process. I was normally a feather picker.

IF I ever decided to raise meat birds my husband would be no where near the place on butchering day. He once called me sexiest for selling off all my extra roos

 

[BarredBuff]

I think that butchering your birds is part of the chicken expierience. I fed you, now you feed me.