How long do they have to be off food before butchering?

[Lothiriel]

My meat birds are going to the butcher at 9 am tomorrow (we are definitely not up to doing it ourselves!!). Last time we took birds in they had to be off food for a certain amount of time... But I can't remember how long! So somebody please tell me.

 

[wyliefarms]

I stop the food at noon the day before going to the processor. Keep the water in front of them though.

 

[Salt and Light]

I normally stop about 12 hours before butchering

 

[Lothiriel]

Okay. I'll remove all the food from the coop when they go to bed tonight. Oooh... They'll be tasty!

 

[Salt and Light]

Quote:
This is what I do, but I never think of putting them to bed.

Would make it kind of hard to cut off their heads the next morning.

 

[scubaforlife]

They don't HAVE to be off food. Just makes the guts less messy. <-- Gotta be some kind of oxymoron.

 

[Salt and Light]

Quote:
This is true. One morning I decided to butcher some birds AFTER they had eaten. Because the crop was full, it was impossible to pull it through the neck cavity. Everyone of them ended up ripping. So, I still butchered but it was a little more messy.... lol

 

[Lothiriel]

lol I guess it's a good thing then that I took them off! Thanks guys.

All 22 are in the freezer now... The Red Rangers are HUGE!