Friday is d-day *WARNING* GRAPHIC POST Page 4

[ohiofarmgirl]

GREAT JOB CRICKETT!!!

we are VERY proud of you - our little grasshopper has come a long way baby!

as above, the best thing you learned was that you CAN do it. good for you. take some time to reflect on everything, practice thanksgiving, and go and make the best stock you can never buy in the store!

yay you!!!!

 

[boxermom]

Yeh!!!!!!!!!

You have given me courage to go for it.

Thanks

 

[Crickett]

Now that I'm rested, I'll give you the details. I only got to do one rooster, because the others escaped when I opened the cage to get the first one.

I couldn't find the zip ties, so I used yarn to hang him by his feet. Then I duct taped his wings, he was pretty calm about it, which helped me considerably. I said a prayer for him and then used a plumbers cutter (for cutting pvc) to cut off his head. It wasn't sharp enough though, so I will NOT do that again! I ended up having to use a butcher knife to finish it off. There wasn't as much blood as I thought there would be. I'm a nurse and comparitively, humans have a LOT of blood! My water wasn't hot enough, so the plucking part went kind of slow. I ended up cutting the wing tips off cause I couldn't get the feathers out. Mean while, the escapees were running around taunting me! They would come up to the bucket where I was putting the feathers and eat them! After I finally got the feathers off, the rest was easy! I just followed the instructions Frugal posted. So, I only have one bird, But I'm proud of him!

Almost forgot! I was doing this in my front yard. We live in a rural area, but the highway does run by the front of my house. I kept expecting to see the PETA van pulling up at any moment to harrass me and take me to PETA jail!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

See, you already learned a lot of things to make the next session go soooo much easier! I keep certain butchering supplies together in one box so they'll be handy for the next time, like the gloves, duct tape, zip ties, thermometer, utility knife blades, etc. I have a list of the all the other things I'll need taped inside a kitchen cabinet so I can get them ready the night before.

Someone else on this forum mentioned that a passing driver drove into their mailbox while gawking at their butchering session. So remember to collect your mail before you begin the next time.

 

[Crickett]

I laughed so hard at this I started crying! I nearly wet my pants!


Yes, I did learn a lot. 1. make sure the other chickens CAN'T get out! 2. make darn sure those knives are SHARP! 3. let that scald water get HOT! and 4. take time to laugh at yourself!


Those utility knives, they really work good? I was thinking about getting some scalpels at TSC, but if the utility knives work just as good, that would probably be cheaper. I didn't use gloves. I can't get a good grip with them. At work I have to use them, but very few of my patients require plucking!

And they are still bothersome when trying to tape something!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

good for you honey! well you got your feet wet and found out what its all about. it will get easier and faster...especially when you find out what works for you.

we normally butcher out in front of our garage but one time we were racing the clock b/c the school bus was about to go by!! it stops right next to us and i was afraid all of the kids would see and start crying!! heee hee hee now we do it behind the garage!

 

[Crickett]

I can see it now, PETA van pulls up, "Ma'am, I'm afraid your under arrest for cruelty to your dinner." Hee-Hee!


Thanks for all the encouragement! I think it will go a bit easier next time! Rudy, the evil rooster, your days are numbered! (he was one of the escapees!)

 

[mxpres]

good job cricket,your there now,you have the experience,made us proud,congrats,,,,

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The utility knife blades work well, I especially like the blades made for cutting through wallpaper, they're extra sharp. Just be careful with handling them & especially where you lay them down. They're easy to lose in the grass, & easy to find with your bare feet next week. Often I'll stick a folded piece of duct tape on the blade to make them easier to find.

I've had more success with a fish fileting knife I found in the WalMart sporting goods section, it's nice & sharp.

Next time you can use a meat or candy thermometer to better gauge your water temp. I heat the water to boiling on the stove inside & add it to a larger pot of water outside that's used for dunking. The ideal temp is between 150-140 degrees, and agitate the bird up & down to get the water between the feathers & onto the skin.

How are you going to prepare your bird for eating?

 

[Crickett]

My son really likes rotisserie style chicken. Since he's coming home from college in about two weeks, I thought that would be nice to have! That with some biscuits, mashed taters, breen beans, and gravy. Yummy!