How do you sell chickens for meat?

[Mac in Wisco]

Here is the USDA's take on it: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/fsisnotices/poultry_slaughter_exemption_0406.pdf

Most state regulations generally follow these guidelines although a state may have additional requirements. For example, I believe that in Wisconsin, the packaging has to be stamped with the producers name and address and some sort of exemption statement.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Here is a paper on the Illinois requirements. If you produce/process under 5,000 birds per year on your farm you are exempt from meat inspection requirements. You have to apply to the state for the exemption and have the proper facilities and HAACP plan. The state may (and probably will) inspect your facilities.

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/iidea/PDF/meatregulations.pdf

 

[schmism]

Quote:
did you even look at that pdf?

it specifically states that exemptions do not have to have a HAACP plan and says nothing about what constitutes "proper facilities". other than the process has to be sanitary and "that department personally may periodically inspect the processing area."

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Thanks for the OK info and web sites, I looked for this info a few weeks ago using the search engine and didn't get anywhere. I still wonder about the liability issues though.

 

[ndemerly]

Not sure I understand here. If I grow meat chickens and then get them processed at a state inspected meat packing plant, can I then turn around and sell them or no?

 

[remadl700]

Quote:
and the first time usda and or the state finds out your gonna get shut down. Do Not listen to bad advice that can get you into trouble stay within the laws of your state and community. You cannot sell a dead carcass unless you are a usda or state inspected processing plant. Laws were made for a reason and the last thing you want is the state or federal Meat inspectors at your house harrassing you. Its not as simple as oh I only killed 1000 this year I am in the clear. there are rules and laws wrapped around the 1000 bird exemption.

Correct.

You have to sell the bird to your customer alive. If they want it processed you basically offer that service for free at the request of the buyer of the live bird. That way the technically own the bird.

I offer this to my customers along with allowing them to rent the plucker, burner and processing table.

Its three dollars a bird for them to process or they can take it for a day at $125 for the
“kit”

It’s cheaper to take it for a day if they have 50 or more birds to process.

 

[cutechick2010]

Quote:
That is my understanding, yes. I hope I am correct, since that is what I am planning to do next spring. I have several people already wanting to buy some birds from me, but they definitely don't want to process them themselves!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Check out http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/poultry/entrepreneurship.html

This is ATTRAs Poultry Entrepreneurship page. The document you're looking for is Legal Issues for Small-scale Poultry Processors:
State by state listing of laws affecting small poultry processors. It's a PDF file.

Lots of other good info on that site as well. Much of the footwork has already been done for you.

 

[ncarper]

Info for Oklahoma:

Spoke with a man from the Dept of Ag today. The exemption is for processing only and not for selling. You can only process 1,000 chickens that you raised and sold live on your farm each year; you can sell as many live chickens as you like, but can only process 1,000. The birds have to be sold live prior to processing, but he said it doesn’t matter when money changes hands and how cost is determined. Basically, you have to negotiate the sale and the terms of the sale prior to process and slaughter. You can then have your customer pay after slaughter based on the negotiated price prior to slaughter. You cannot simply raise, slaughter, and process a bunch of chickens and hope people stop by after the fact to purchase. He further explained that the overall purpose behind this was to prevent on farm storage (Fridge or freezer) of processed birds – safety purposes.

Again this is for Oklahoma, if you’re unsure of your states law contact your states department of agriculture.

 

[guitari609]

Quote:
and the first time usda and or the state finds out your gonna get shut down. Do Not listen to bad advice that can get you into trouble stay within the laws of your state and community. You cannot sell a dead carcass unless you are a usda or state inspected processing plant. Laws were made for a reason and the last thing you want is the state or federal Meat inspectors at your house harrassing you. Its not as simple as oh I only killed 1000 this year I am in the clear. there are rules and laws wrapped around the 1000 bird exemption.

In my state, SC, this is SPECIFICALLY what the state Meat & Poultry Inspector told me when he visited me on site. In SC, if you are under 1000 chickens, 250 turkeys, and sell birds raised on your premises directly off of your premises, you are legal, no inspection necessary if you sell warm carcasses, same day. After the fact sales of frozen birds require only an inspected freezer...my 3x5 freezer was sufficient. My understanding is that this is true in about 30 out of 50 states, roughly.