Dixie Chicks

[Amberjem]

Haven't seen that one, but if you're just looking for good processing instructions, here's the one I started with.

http://ramblingredneckmom.blogspot.fi/2011/04/how-to-process-chickens-at-home.html?m=1

She just cuts the jugular, but how you go about the first step is really up to preference. I say the axe is probably the easiest method. Once you have a dead chicken that's been drained of blood, it's pretty straight forward. Those instructions were pretty okay from that point on. I don't see a need for the cone though, the lasso on legs does the same.

I been thinking about this and I want to put a drop down table with sheet metal table top .. .with a two drilled holes to put a noose and secure chicken then lasso the legs and process on the metal table...can clean it up after drop it down when not in use....maybe do four drilled wholes so can have noose for legs and neck to stretch the bird out on the table with...

 

[vehve]

Here's the coolest fence:

http://www.johnmarian.com/blog/run-chicken-run/

Jem, metal would be easy to wipe, but on the other hand, you'll have to be super careful with knives. I wonder if a proper good old fashioned butchers block would be nicer to work on... you could just pour boiling water on it after you're done and before you start processing.

For bleeding the birds, I would just fasten a broom handle horizontally on something and tie the lasso string to that and let them drip somewhere where it's easy to clean. I wouldn't come near the butchering table before the bird has been plucked and thoroughly washed. That would help lessen the risk of contaminating the meat.

 

[Amberjem]

Here's the coolest fence:

http://www.johnmarian.com/blog/run-chicken-run/

Jem, metal would be easy to wipe, but on the other hand, you'll have to be super careful with knives. I wonder if a proper good old fashioned butchers block would be nicer to work on... you could just pour boiling water on it after you're done and before you start processing.

For bleeding the birds, I would just fasten a broom handle horizontally on something and tie the lasso string to that and let them drip somewhere where it's easy to clean. I wouldn't come near the butchering table before the bird has been plucked and thoroughly washed. That would help lessen the risk of contaminating the meat.

lol actually I use my fence to hang them on lol

 

[Amberjem]

the way I set it up is I wired the legs together and looped that and hung it off my fence.. I made sure to give myself extra slack and I can lift them off the fence a bit and dip them into the pot of scalding water hang hose down dip pluck ect...I removed them after that to process out the rest


why do you think the metal table top would be an issue?

 

[vehve]

Metal is murder on blades. Wood or plastic is a lot nicer to cut against, I would cringe every time the knife touches the steel surface. But I prefer my knives sharp and try to take care of them. I think the most hygienic and knife friendly combo would be a plastic cutting board that barely fits into your dishwasher.

 

[hennible]

I think it is funny all you that don't want white chickens because of predators. Do you think predators are dumb, or have poor eyesight? I never understood the thought, dark colored birds get ate all the time. I have also heard people that have mixed flocks free ranging, their darker birds will get nailed and not the whites, they think it is because they look more like the predators natural prey. I heard from a breeder of golden pheasants that he has never lost one and free ranges them alongside his partridge colored chickens that he does lose. 

I've lost five sense free ranging started about a month ago
Mostly Ive lost buff Orpington's... Which has lead me to believe they are dumb... And one very easy to see black and white hen... I'm thinking it's how clever the birds are, I'd be fine with a bunch of smart white birds but I like other colours better... Oh well no free ranging again for a while, if only the chickens listened to the ducks... Oh and my loses last year before winter were also mostly buff Orpington's... No more buff orps for moi perhaps...

 

[Amberjem]

Metal is murder on blades. Wood or plastic is a lot nicer to cut against, I would cringe every time the knife touches the steel surface. But I prefer my knives sharp and try to take care of them. I think the most hygienic and knife friendly combo would be a plastic cutting board that barely fits into your dishwasher.

mmmhmm ya plastic cutting board would be great and could hang it in the chicken cabinet after...........I grabbed some pressure trated 2 b y 4's I plan on using for the base o f the cabinet grmmm I should have more scrape metal roofing when done with the coop also..scavanged some of the cover metal sheets thats used as packing for the sheet metal for the shop garage for the chicken coop...

 

[hennible]

Metal is murder on blades. Wood or plastic is a lot nicer to cut against, I would cringe every time the knife touches the steel surface. But I prefer my knives sharp and try to take care of them. I think the most hygienic and knife friendly combo would be a plastic cutting board that barely fits into your dishwasher.

Felix do you have any knife sharpening tips for me? I'm not good at it, at all... Could use some pointers...

 

[Amberjem]

I've lost five sense free ranging started about a month ago
Mostly Ive lost buff Orpington's... Which has lead me to believe they are dumb... And one very easy to see black and white hen... I'm thinking it's how clever the birds are, I'd be fine with a bunch of smart white birds but I like other colours better... Oh well no free ranging again for a while, if only the chickens listened to the ducks... Oh and my loses last year before winter were also mostly buff Orpington's... No more buff orps for moi perhaps...

aww I really adore my buff pr[s so far they are so sweet see how they do on egg production.......maybe you jut have a dumb line of buffs?

 

[vehve]

Get a huge cutting board, and build the base so that you get an inch or two of overhang on the sides and front. The back you can build some sort of tool support, a knife block, paper towel holder, plastic glove holder and what not. On both sides you'll want to get two of those half circle buckets, and fasten them on the sides so that you can just scrape guts and similar stuff into them right off of the cutting board. If you can find a cutting board with some grooves that direct the blood into the buckets, even better.