I did it! The meat birds are in the coolers on ice!!

[carolinagirl58]

And guess what? It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. I had 18 eight week old Cornish Rock x birds. Today was the day. The whiz bang chicken plucker was finally done and it was time for a trial run. So after gathering together various coolers, buckets, barrels, knives, etc. and reviewing the butchering procedure one more time, we got started. The birds barely fit in the cones we had made but it was ok. Our neighbor came and helped. Hubby killed, neighbor and hubby scalded and put them in the plucker and I butchered every one of them myself. Right after i got done, i hosed each bird off anf them dumprd it n a barrel of ice water to pre-chill. After all the birds were done they got washed again and packed in coolers with ice. They will stay there until monday. We processed 18 birds in a little over two hours. I am very pleased at how smoothly it went. And man what beautiful carcasses! I said I would not raise these birds again but I just might. I can't wait to try them!

 

[bj taylor]

great for you! i'm due to take on my first batch of dual purpose 20 wk old roosters in a month. it will be my first go. hubby is finally on board and will be helping.
sounds like y'all had it down to a fine art the very first time.

 

[mattsinger]

glad to hear it all worked out well.

 

[Elke Beck]

Just wait until you taste them! You will be hooked on home raised.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Just wait until you taste them!  You will be hooked on home raised.

 

X2

 

[SmokinChick]

congratulations to you and the family. You'll be patting yourself on the back until the next batch. then you'll be "seasoned".
Just a word, if they will be on ice until Monday make sure they are on/in the ice and not submerged in water. Open the drain and keep the birds cold and dry.
Again, congrats to you all.

 

[carolinagirl58]

Thanks. Yep...the drain plugs are open so the birds are on ice only and no water. I can't wait to try one!!

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Congratulations. It's a satisfying feeling isn't it? Do you have some nice broth simmering on the stove?

 

[carolinagirl58]

Yeah it's a great feeling. No broth simmering yet but the necks are in the freezer and I'll use the backs for broth too. I froze the feet, planning on giving them to the dogs but they actually might get made into broth as well. I will probably can the thighs whole and can the broth and freeze everything else. I fried a batch of liver this evening and I have to admit it was good. I have never eaten chicken liver before but hubby loves so I cooked it for him. Nothing but the feathers and heads were discarded. My dogs will get the innards over the next few meals.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I've had some great chicken liver pate, which is very tasty spread on a slice of French bread with perhaps a dolop of jelly, something like boysenberry or black rasberry..