How do you process a chicken?

[SpringChickens]

We just plucked by hand, although I might recommend just skinning since you only have one. Then you don't need to worry about water for plucking...

 

[mxpres]

Has anyone tried using the long handled pruning shears with the half moon shaped blades to remove the head from a bird? I realize it would take the head off with one cut but by hanging in a killing cone or by the feet the bird would bleed to some extent.and I feel that it would be as quick as using an axe,I am not to the point of cutting the throat and watching it bleed to death,,which is a quick and humane way to get the job done,,thanks,,,mxpres

 

[SpringChickens]

I like cervical dislocation, personally, but I think that your pruning shears should work too. I would just be worried about not getting a clean cut.

 

[bheila]

I'd go with the axe....once you've done it you'll think it wasn't that bad.

 

[mxpres]

I have used the axe many times before but sometimes it takes a second swing to complete the job,several times I just allowed the bird to expire then finish removing the head,I was looking for a smoother quicker method,I use the two nails in a log which works good.I was thinking that by using the shears it would be smoother,I tie the legs together before using the axe and let the bird hang over a log to bleed out better,I have six cornish cross to process next week and i will try the shears on several and post the results,thanks everyone for the response..mxpres

 

[ChickenMama09]

My husband made his own killing cone out of a sheet of metal ductwork from home depot. He traced the shape onto it and cut it out and used metal rivets to hold it together. Then just attached it to a tree out back. It sure worked good and cost us less than $10 to make.

 

[pdpatch]

Quote:
Yes, that is what we use, but they do need some extra sharpening. If you don't get the cut the first time have a knife handy to finish the job. It is very quick and you don't have to worry about missing as with an axe.

If you don't keep the wings from flapping they will bruse. so the a killing cone helps.

I use a small sharpening stone and go slow.

Tom

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

the steps we use in slaughtering birds

- Place bird in the killing cone
- In one motion cut the entire head off right below the beak
- After bird is all bleed out we then cut off its feet
- Put the bird in the scalder 140 deg for about 20-30 sec
- Place the bird in the plucker 30-45 sec
- Place the bird on the table
- Flip the bird on its back breast up and slide the knife up thru the neck skin right to the breast plate, pull the skin down to that point and cut the neck off, then trim the neck skin
- Rotate the bird on its back and cut off the tail
- Then pinch the skin at the lower point of the breast bone and pull back while making a small cut, then cut around the anus and pull the skin open at the first cut.
- Reach way up in there as far as you can and grab all of the guts and pull, when you get almost all the way out it will get tough, but pull hard, when you are done you should have all the guts and crop all in one.
- Pull the heart out and scrap the lungs and kidneys out
- Rinse out the insides real good
- give one last look over for pin feathers or anything that does not belong
- place in chill tank for about 2 hours or so
- place in bag and let rest in fridge 24 hrs and then eat or freeze

This whole process takes us about 3-5 mins a bird, have done it faster but also cut my hand real bad too.

 

[halo]

That is a great synopsis.

 

[TimG]

When I watched the processing last fall, I noticed that they cut around the anus and then squirted water in the body cavity before pulling out the insides. I don't know if it loosened or cleaned (or both), but the extraction of the innards looked very easy after this step.