How to find a processor?

[jaku]

Quote:
I know you can rent pluckers, but if you're doing 30-40 birds at a time, you should look into building a Whizbang. It's surprisingly easy, turns your processing time into a fraction of handplucking, and costs about $300. That number seems high, but consider the fact that you'll be spending around $100 to have 40 birds processed.

 

[shadowpaints]

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?

really, it was easy.. all i had was a tree to hang it by, i bought a nice new sharp pocket knife at Walmart, a saw horse, a board about 2ft wide with a cutting board on top... thats it.. oh and freezer bags.. this is what it cost me and i did 30 birds!

Tree -10$ 5 years ago
Pocket knife-5$
saw horse- free
sealed board free
cutting board 20$ i bought that 9 years ago
30 freezer bags-10

it was easy and now i know that i can do it!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Look in the Where am I?/Where are you? section of the forum to see if there are any BYCers in your area who know how to butcher and would be able to show you how. I'm in West Palm Beach, if you & your 8 roos were closer I'd invite you over here to do them. I think it's the easiest way to learn, having someone experienced by your side to assist. It's not that difficult & it makes you feel good to have mastered this essential survival skill.

And it's much cheaper than more traditional forms of therapy.

 

[Burbs]

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?

Don't mean to be rude............but wow............people have been doing this for centuries with a paring knife and a stock pot. Don't really need to invest in anything, I would jump to the conclusion that 90% of the households in America have the equipment to properly butcher a chicken.

The only thing you are probably lacking is the experience.

 

[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?

Don't mean to be rude............but wow............people have been doing this for centuries with a paring knife and a stock pot. Don't really need to invest in anything, I would jump to the conclusion that 90% of the households in America have the equipment to properly butcher a chicken.

The only thing you are probably lacking is the experience.

OK, you are right - I do lack experience, plus these roos have been quite a traumatic event for me. They were all 8 supposed to be pullets, I raised them with lots of handling so they would KNOW me, and now I have to get rid of them. I'm a little sore about the whole event...

Besides the fact that I DON'T know what I'm doing, I am not mentally prepared to personally kill my "little girls" that turned out to be "little boys". I didn't figure I'd have to deal with that within the first few months of having chickens, EVER. I am a noob at this, was raised in suburbia, and have a degree in chemistry. I have never handled "livestock" before in my life.

I was OK with the idea of "eventually" having to kill/cull birds, but the idea was hopefully EVENTUALLY, not 8 babies that I hand-raised in my first year of chicken-raising.

All that said, I know they gotta go - 8 roos among 23 hens is a bad ratio, and they are already starting to fight.

I didn't want to turn this into a debate about whether I could or should do it myself, I'm not going to. I'll call Animal Control and turn them over to them before I do it. I'm just not ready. I just need help finding someone who knows what they are doing so it can be done.

I'll check in the Where Am I/Where Are You section as Sunny-Side-Up recommended. I do need to learn at some point, so I'm willing to be "in attendance" and help, I'm just not going to grab a knife and a pot and march out to the back yard...

THANKS

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Sorry for your predicament, that sounds a very unhappy situation.

The eldest boy has started raising chickens and he was starting to get too close to the cockerels (boys to boys you know). I suggested we send some to the butcher early to avoid him getting any more attached to them. But I didn't make him butcher his own birds, not this first time. Even leaving them at the farm was hard for him, knowing what was going to happen. I am gald he (and you) have hearts, you know?

I found an Amish family who will do them for $1.50 each. They know what they are doing and will mae a quick and clean job of it.

NW Florida has to have some hunters or farmers who would be willing to help you out. Is there a hunter's group around? Is there an organic meat or Co-Op Food Sales in your area? They may know someone who suplies birds who can direct you to a processor or do it for a fee.

Processing is the least fun part of raising birds, so very few people get into that line of work.

Hang in there. We mean to be encouraging, not lecturing. It just comes out unintentionally in print sometimes....

Good Luck finding the help you need!

 

[Poupoulles]

try posting an add on craigslist, saying you need help and will swap chickens for it. I am always amazed at what turns up on craigslist.

 

[AHappychick]

I had a hard time too, its because often they are not listed as processors in the phone book, but can be found sometimes if you searh for "Live Poultry" instead. I have found that they are primarily in the more ethnic communities, Spanish and Italian they have their own birds you choose from but often will process birds for about $2 a bird if you ask and dont go on the busy days. Try searching you area that way and see if you have better luck

 

[AHappychick]

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?

I just tried Live Poultry in superpages.com in Florida and got a few places so I think you will have luck that way Just call the ones closest and ask if you can bring you own in 8 is not a lot they should be able to handle that easily enough.

 

[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?

I just tried Live Poultry in superpages.com in Florida and got a few places so I think you will have luck that way Just call the ones closest and ask if you can bring you own in 8 is not a lot they should be able to handle that easily enough.

Tried "Live Poultry" and "Poultry" and only got one hit within 50 miles.

I sent out some e-mails to several BYC people in my area, have already made a couple of new buddies but no processing plans at this time - still have several I haven't heard from yet, though.