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

[Crickett]

Crisis is over. Was just having a mild panic attack.

I talked to someone and they said to put them in the fridge for a couple of days to rest, before I cut them up or anything; then stick them in the freezer.

 

[Crickett]

Thanks! And I guess you can call me "Grasshopper" if you've a mind to!

I was just a lil freaked, i've never done this sort of thing before.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

you'll be just fine. Friday morning check in with us for a shot of extra courage - then let us know how it goes!!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

so..... how'd it go?? everything ok? are YOU ok? fridge full of cooling birds???

 

[Crickett]

They got out of their cage and ate! DEMON BIRDS! and the rest got out too, with the turkeys, so by the time I got them all rounded up again, I was too tired to do it! But I'm going to try again on Monday. I got a better cage to hold them in. They won't get out this time!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hee hee hee hey maybe you were sleep walking and let them out without knowing it?
hee hee hee

sorry - that all probably added to your stress. hang in there and dream of chicken pot pie, chicken and noodles, chicken sandwiches, chicken salad, chicken tacos....

 

[Crickett]

I have four roosters in the cage. My processing buddy can't make it. So I'm going to try to do it myself. I figured four would be about all I could handle at one time. I got some new knives, really sharp, and kind of heavy. I'm going to spend today sharpening them some more so they will be super sharp! Got my bucket for blood and offal, and two deep pans for heating water and dunking. Gonna have a fire outside to heat the water on, so it stays hot. Got an old swing frame with hooks to hang the carcasses on to let them bleed out, and for plucking purposes. Don't have a killing cone yet. Trying to get DH to make me one. Question about the duct tape. If I use it to bind the wings, won't it be hard to get off? I feel very calm about this, at the moment, and hopefully will at the time. Think I'm going to try the "lop off the whole head" approach. Wish me luck!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Before I made cones to use, I would first zip-tie the legs and wrap duct tape 2-3 times around the bird's body to hold the wings in place. It's not necessary, but I don't like the birds to flip & flap around and spatter blood all around the place -- or on me. The tape was very easy to remove, I'd just slice through all the layers of tape & it would pull right off. And the bird was past caring if you pulled his feathers out while removing the tape.

I do wish you the best success with your processing on Monday. With each session I learn something to make the next session go easier & faster. So take heart, this first session will be your most difficult, and it will only get EASIER from here on out!

Go Crickett! Go Crickett! Go Crickett!

 

[boxermom]

I'm rooting for you too!

I'm getting ready to try this myself as my DH just got out of the hosp. We were going to do them all in 2 wks, but the roos are getting out of hand. I'm building up my courage.

 

[Crickett]

Well, today is the day! I'm going to read over the process again to make sure I know the steps, then it's off to do the deed! Still feeling calm at the moment. Don't know if I should eat breakfast first or not. (I don't want to get sick, but then again, I am hungry)I'll let you all know how it went later tonight.