Finding someone to process

[SandraMort]

I'd like to process my own birds, but on the off chance that I get partway through and it's too much work, how do I find someone to process for me? Cris from Cripple Creek hatchery said he'd do it for me for $2/per if I didn't mind skinless and the breast boneless. That would be good for some, but for some I'd like to actually have the whole bird. Suggestions?

 

[blue90292]

does he not want to do whole chickens? maybe if you offered him $3 a head, he'll give you whole?? that's what we pay, $3 a chicken.

otherwise, i'd ask the feedstore guy. maybe he'll know where other customers take theirs.

 

[SandraMort]

He doesn't have a plucker, so he slits the throat, peels off the feathers and skin in one swell foop, pops off the naked leg thigh quarters, then bones the breast, leaving the intestinal cavity intact. No risk of contamination. He's going to teach me how and I anticipate that I'll do MOST of my birds his way, but for a plain roasted chicken, I want whole with skin on.

 

[SandraMort]

Feedstore's a good idea. I have to start thinking like a country person! LOL

 

[greyfields]

Call your extension office.

 

[miss_thenorth]

All I can say is that I had to book a process date in advance. So find a processor, book a date, and if you do them yourself, just cancel your appt. but it is better to be prepared.

 

[SandraMort]

VERY good to know! Thank you!

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[dancingbear]

How many are you raising? My DH and I can easily do about 10-12 in a day, but we're stiff and slow. Lots of people do them faster. We keep them whole, skin on. There are a lot of tutorials online, with pics, some with videos. to show you how. Your first ones will be slow, but if you persevere you'll get faster. I can do one start to finish, by myself, in about 20 minutes. (That's when I get unexpectedly presented with a dead bird to process, and I just clear stuff out of the way and clean it in the kitchen sink)

When we have a planned butchering day, Del kills and plucks, hand off to me and I gut, clean, chill and package.
Every time, the first 2 seem to take forever, then we get in the flow and it's faster.

 

[dangerouschicken]

Quote:
I swear that should be your sigline

 

[FloridaChickenChick]

Quote:
I swear that should be your sigline

Sigline or not, it's great advice! I think those ag extension folks know EVERYTHING.

It makes me pout because I like to think I know everything.