How to find a processor?

[tulie13]

I have 8 roos that I need to get rid of. I don't know anyone who slaughters/dresses them. How can I find such a person in my area?

 

[wyliefarms]

Yellow pages?

Where do you live?

 

[fasbendera]

Ask your local butcher even if it is in a supermarket they might know because they may get asked quite a bit. Another option would be to ask your local elevator or feed store if they know of anyone who butchers or raises birds so you could ask where they get theirs done.

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
NW Florida - what should I look under in the Yellow Pages? I checked Butcher, found one but they don't do poultry. Any other headings I should try?

 

[Bossroo]

Read the sticky at the top of this page, then ask the person in the mirror. It's not that hard.

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
And I need to go buy a killing cone, some special knives, and a big container that I can heat soapy water in to scald the birds? Plus a thermometer to ensure that my scalding bath is the right temperature. Plus pluck them all - I certainly don't have an automatic plucker, nor do I have $300 to build the home "washtub" version that the book describes...

Do you recommend this to everyone?

 

[Southernbelle]

I called our local dept of ag and they were able to give me the name of the only processor in a 60 mile radius

Unfortunately, mine are booked until next spring!!!!

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

There are meat companies locally that will process dear and hogs...I assume they would do a chicken but you would have to look them up and call...

You can do it yourself!! It really isn't that bad! You would feel so proud of yourself

 

[jaku]

Are you in an area with Amish? Even if they don't have any signs posted, you can guarentee that if you knock on their door they will either process chickens, or know of another Amish farm that does. They charge about $2/bird around me. But, I second the post about doing it yourself- it really isn't that hard. When I started out, I knew NOTHING about processing birds- now, a short time later, I've built a plucker, scalder, and turned my garage into a part time butcher shop. My buddy and I are obscessed with finding ways to make the processing easier/quicker. It's also not that tough to find people to help if you offer them free chicken!

 

[wombat]

I can do it myself, not that different from bringing game home. On the other hand, I've been thinking about raising 30-40 meaties next year, and that's a bit more than I want to be plucking and cleaning. That's a lot to tackle without investing in equipment. All the slaughterhouses around here take anything but poultry, it seems.

Maybe it's just not economical to process poultry in small numbers. In my area, slaugherhouses charge $.40 a pound dressed weight to slaughter, cut and wrap just about anything on four legs, but I've not found any that want to do chickens, even at 40 birds to the order.

I've heard of people getting together and pooling equipment and effort to have chicken processing days, but I wonder if that goes on much these days with the concerns over biosecurity.