How many chickens should I give for helping out?

[Kaitie09]

We have 28 Cornish X that we are butchering this weekend. Originally, people said they would pay for their birds, and we would keep them here. However, no one really did that. This weekend, we have my aunt and uncle, my older cousin and his wife, and my grandfather's brother and his wife coming out to help with all the butchering. We want to give them some of the birds for helping process, but we really do not know how many. We are thinking 3 per family, which will leave us with 19. If they want more, they can buy them from us, just because it did cost a lot to take care of them.

Does this seem like a good amount, or should we give them less or more? The boys will be killing, scalding, and plucking, while the girls will be cleaning them out and shrink-wrapping them.

 

[galanie]

2 or 3 sounds fair to me. Absolutely make them pay for any extra since they never paid like they promised in the first place. Too many families expect family members to fork over whatever they want for free. Hopefully you won't have that problem with yours.

 

[CMV]

I usually give 2 birds a man for helpers, but I process about 60 birds at a whack. I think you would be OK giving 2 per couple. Anymore would be very generous.

Good luck.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I'm thinking two.

Also, you just got the lesson that many pf us get about "sharing" livestock. Very often it ends up that you pay for all of it, give all the care, and the other person still thinks they own half and get half the meat. I refuse to go "partners" with anyone because it just doesn't work well.

I wouldn't be surprised if the "help" you get consists of watching or maybe turning the hose off and on. You probably won't see any of them with their hands up inside ripping out guts. If the help is really minimal, then only give them one. If the help consists of drinking your beer and "supervising", don't give them any.

 

[hydroswiftrob]

Quote:
This is my answer also without plagiarizing.

 

[bugkiller]

2 or 3 sounds very fair to me

 

[bustermommy]

Are they the people you were originally going to go shares with?

I just did a partnership with someone from BYC. She was kind enough to teach me and my husband how to kill, pluck, gut, etc. the birds.

I gave her a check for half the expenses when I came to butcher.

Perhaps that's what they intend. I would ask. Otherwise, I agree with the other responses.

 

[Kaitie09]

I talked to them and they all agreed on two per couple. 2 or the 3 groups were the ones to originally say they would pitch in and everyone is really excited because this will be our first time. My grandfather's brother has done hundreds so he is coming to teach all of us. If they want extra, it will be $8 per bird.

My family is very close with one another, no one is a "moocher". If they say they will help, 90% of them will. I know my cousin-in-law is bringing her two kids (2 and 8 mths) so she will be inside just watching them. I think it will all work out and everyone will leave happy. If all goes well, my aunt is going to get a cow next year and we will all do the same thing.