Have you considered processing chickens as a full-time job?

[joebryant]

Quote:
there's one possible source in Indiana -- http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poultry_processors/search_results.php?State=IN

Yep, I've seen that before. It's partly why I started this thread. It's an example of the reality that most BYC people have to deal/live with for getting processing done.
I did a Yahoo map search, putting in my zip code in central Indiana and LaGrange, Indiana and came up with: Distance: 194.49313.0 mi Time: 3 hrs 16 mins

Round trip would be about 400 miles of driving for at least 6 1/2 hours + waiting for the chickens to be processed. Any motels in the area?

 

[warmfuzzies]

I guess I am one of the weird ones, I dont mind butchering at all. I dont think I would pay someone to do it. I actually enjoy it, once the killing part is over. I guess it is satisfying for me, like bringing in an armload of produce from the garden. it feels like REAL food.

I think if you free range them and raise and butcher them yourselves you can save money. But if you buy broilers, then feed them for 8 weeks, then pay $2 apeice to butcher them, that is expensive meat. I know for some it is worth it to get REAL meat, but I would rather save money at the same time!

I wanted to butcher our deer myself, but we had nothing as far as processing equipment so DH said no. We paid $100 each to have it done, and we had to skin them. I wouldnt do it for that again, it was too much. This year, if we get liscenses, we will be doing it ourselves, even if I have to do it all.

OK, it is true----I jabber!!

 

[warmfuzzies]

Double post- I guess If someone wanted to pay me $2 apiece I would do it in a heartbeat. I have no equipment at all, and I would not pluck, but if you dont eat the skin anyway it would not matter.

 

[WalkingWolf]

If you do it as a business then you run into having to have licenses and insurance, and health dept inspections. Ohh and you have to be inspected by OSHA. Too much of a hassle for most people unless you do it under the radar.

 

[Southernbelle]

There's a local mom&pop type of grocery store that will butcher deer for $40 - we had to drop it off field dressed (skinned, gutted with head and lower legs removed) - it came back in neat little packages, just like in the grocery store.

The nearest place that will process chickens for us is 40 min away and want $4/bird with a min of 30.

No thanks!

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
What kind of chicken and for how long do you free-range before killing and processing? Anne bought a frozen (what I presumed to be) Cornish X about two months ago for $10. I can see paying $250 for 25 that were as delicious as that one was. However, I'd much rather free range 25 of a breed for eight weeks other than but comparable to the size of Cornish X if I could find someone else to process them because I ain'ta gonna do that.

 

[jvls1942]

nope

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
LOL Quit stalling around. I want a direct answer.

 

[Cara]

I think the biggest expense is constructing/finding the facilities to be properly licensed. I'd imagine industrial stainless steel tables like the ones found in commercial kitchens are required, for example. We have a processor in Albuquerque (that's close, only 200 miles

) but he is not licensed. I had contacted him about processing my Thanksgiving turkeys to sell, thinking that he must have a license to be advertising, but no. It made no sense to pay someone who isn't licensed if I could do it myself for free.

I (very briefly!) looked into the option of selling my homemade ice cream and cheese at the farmer's market; problem is I have to be a Grade A licensed dairy, and the guidelines are extremely specific. They need windows and doors in certain places, a particular grade for the floor, ventilation systems, specific kinds of lighting..etc We live on a ranch and for one can't afford to construct anything elaborate , and it wouldn't make much sense to do it on someone else's land

 

[joebryant]

Of course I could always get Anne to slaughter and process them... right after she finishes milking the cow.

Seems I'd better plan on continuing to buy ready-frozen ones.