First butchering day; Actually quick and easy!

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
The first one, the bigger roo, was difficult for me. And of course, *I* wasn't the one doing the actual deed. But it was tough to watch. I do feel better for having seen how quick and quiet the end was, though.

The younger ones were easier, probably because they've been in a rooster pen, separate from the rest, and it's been easy to kind of detach and think of them as "food" from day one.

 

[georgiegirl]

I have some that will be freezer ready in 4 or 5 weeks and am so very greatful for all the information. But I do want to know what pithing is. I will want to be going that way, what ever it is.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Here's the low-down from the hubs:

Put the bird in a cone upside-down, grasp head gently, and gently but firmly stretch it downward. Open the bird's mouth. There is actually what looks like a little "slot" on the roof of the bird's mouth, and that's what you're aiming for.

Place the tip of a sharp, narrow-bladed knife (like a fillet knife for fishing/hunting) into the "slot," and push quickly upward to puncture the brain. NOT HARD. He says very little force is needed--it's like poking a hole in an apple. You're not sticking the blade through any bone or cartilage, just through the soft tissue of the palate. It's very easy.

The angle of the stick is through the roof of the mouth toward the back/top of the head.

Does that help?

On a purely emotional level, it helped me a lot that the birds' eyes closed at the instant of the stick. I can't imagine anything more humane as far as killing methods goes. This is what we'll use if we have to put any injured or sick birds down, too. I also felt like it was a good thing that we had spent time among the birds and handled them, so they weren't terrified when he picked them up that last time. Made it harder on us at the end, but easier on them.

 

[ninjapoodles]

My husband's big hands make it look even smaller than it was.

Two of these (6-week-old white rock cockerels) on the grill should make a nice meal and then leftovers for the three of us.

 

[georgiegirl]

Perfect explaination! Thank you so much! I was planning to use the cone thing, but was told to just pull its head down and cut it off. I will feel much better knowing it is dead before I do that. I know it wont be easy, but this will definately make it easier. Thanks again!

 

[ninjapoodles]

Hubs says don't put your holding hand behind the head, because it'd be easy to punch all the way through and stab yourself in the hand!

Oh, and in that pic above, that is the bird that I scalded too hot, and it kind of cooked the skin a little. That's why the skin was so yellow. I had turned the heat off, but the water still heated up between birds.

 

[menageriemama]

good for you, and great description!

 

[joebryant]

Great post! This was so good that, honestly, I think I might even be able to do it someday. I made a MS-Word document of everything you wrote. THANKS!

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

GREAT job and very informative! Thank you for posting the video too - very helpful! When I did my birds, we cut the head off with a hatchet and I was not happy with that. I think I will try it your way next time. Had a heck of a time plucking so if pithing makes it easier to pluck, then all the better.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

If your just slitting the throats, you can put your knife, sharp edge up, into the slit in top of mouth and poke the back of the mouth and give a quarter turn. This loosens the feathers and you don't have to scald them.

If you hit the frontal lobe of the brain with the method listed above it will tighten the feathers.