First Time Turkey Processing

[biomistake]

Day one... Well today was a first for me. I decided to take a jake with me for christmas dinner with my family. I really was not set up for processing turkeys but I had read a few tips on here and I tried one. I used a feed bag with a corner cut out as the killing cone and it worked sufficiently. As soon as it was through bleeding out i immediately started dry plucking the carcass. I was shocked... it was as easy as i had read it was. In a very short time I had one 14 lb 26.5 wk jake processed in less time it would have taken to do a few cockerels even if I skinned them. I had planned on doing a small breeding program for a sustainable chicken for processing, but not anymore. I will use turkeys instead and focus on bringing my laying breeds closer to their specifications in the APA.

Day two... I processed my sweetgrass jake and his processed weight was 11lbs with a 19.4 live weight. Just as easy as the first one... Ordering midget whites immediately!!!!

 

[TriciaHowe]

Awesome! I bet it's going to taste fantastic!

 

[CARS]

That is great. I wish I had the guts to do my own. I will do 100's of chickens but I always let my Turks get too big for the scalding tank. I just take them in to the local processor.
Lazy I guess

I actually have some 11 pound Chickens in the freezer

My Turkeys are 20 pounds and over... I like to feed dozens of people if I go through the work of cooking

 

[sandspoultry]

Way to go! Wait until your family taste the turkey...it will be so wonderful.
And Midget Whites have the best flavor!!!