Hudson Valley NY *chat thread*

[LSzajko]

I don't have the room for two flocks so I'll have some nice roosters in the freezer

lol

Do you process them yourself?
That's one thing I'm not so sure I want to do or watch!

 

[chickengirl1193]

No I dont... idk if I could. Im going to ask either my neighbors who process their roos or my BFs dad who is a hunter and very good with all of that lol. I might try to stay to learn but idk yet lol

 

[JerseyHen]

I processed mine. The first one was the hardest but I made myself do it. Now I know I can. It does give you a whole new appreciation for where your food comes from.

 

[Coupe]

I think I would process more of mine if I had some one to help me and better knives. I would like to raise meat rabbits as well, but the BF wont help with any killing or skinning.
A lovely lady taught me to do the chickens acouple years back! She did one bird while I watched and then left and made me do the other by myself! Lol it was a great learning experience!

 

[JerseyHen]

Maybe we should all get together and process as a team? I know I don't want to process just one or two birds (I would just skin a single bird or two), it is a hassle to set everything up. However, if we all got together to do it we could get them all done quickly and be support for each other. I think I am going to have a good number of roosters this year (I am doing a lot of hatching and ordering some straight runs) so I was also going to order some meat birds to time with the processing of my hatched roosters. I have an extremely sharp buck knife, the outside burner and pot for dipping, etc... I don't have an outside sink, but the hose works fine.

I don't know if I could do rabbits... I would like to do ducks though (not sure about them either). I didn't process the quail I raised, I just couldn't justify killing something for such a tiny amount of meat.

 

[chickengirl1193]

I would love to come learn how to process and bring some of my roos! Idk when they will be ready but they will probably just be for the crock pot anyway. I dont know the first thing about any of it

 

[charlie14]

I read an article about duck, appearantly you have to brine duck or it tastes like garbage. That may just be wild duck though.

 

[LSzajko]

Maybe we should all get together and process as a team? I know I don't want to process just one or two birds (I would just skin a single bird or two), it is a hassle to set everything up. However, if we all got together to do it we could get them all done quickly and be support for each other. I think I am going to have a good number of roosters this year (I am doing a lot of hatching and ordering some straight runs) so I was also going to order some meat birds to time with the processing of my hatched roosters. I have an extremely sharp buck knife, the outside burner and pot for dipping, etc... I don't have an outside sink, but the hose works fine.

I don't know if I could do rabbits... I would like to do ducks though (not sure about them either). I didn't process the quail I raised, I just couldn't justify killing something for such a tiny amount of meat.

No I dont... idk if I could. Im going to ask either my neighbors who process their roos or my BFs dad who is a hunter and very good with all of that lol. I might try to stay to learn but idk yet lol

Well.....I'd absolutely LOVE to meet all of you.
I think I'd be able to watch (maybe).
Definitely not sure I'd be able to actually participate in the processing.
So I'll bring the appetizers and wine!

 

[JerseyHen]

I read an article about duck, appearantly you have to brine duck or it tastes like garbage. That may just be wild duck though.

I love duck and have never brined one. Then again, I have only had farm raised, never wild duck.

Well.....I'd absolutely LOVE to meet all of you.
I think I'd be able to watch (maybe).
Definitely not sure I'd be able to actually participate in the processing.
So I'll bring the appetizers and wine!

It would be fun to get together, regardless of the circumstances. No pressure to participate and there is only one way to truly find out if you can or not... I surprised myself when I was able to do it. My DH was watching from the window, he didn't think I would go through with it, but I really had little choice, waaay to many roosters and no where to place them. You can always try to sell them at the shows or through craigslist, but let's be honest, most of the time they end up as someone's supper, so I figured it might as well be mine.

 

[Coupe]

I agree, I think it would be a great idea to meet up and process some birds! I was thinking about getting meaties this spring, but didnt know how I would process them all lol I dont like the gutting part, but ill de-feather!

I just spent all morning shoveling paths out to the coops..the snow is so heavy! I love to open the coop door and watch everyone fly out because they are terrified to touch snow lol. Shovled some paths to the food and water bowls and layed some hay down for them.