I found a chicken processor

[Ericasl]

Hello, all I have been thinking really hard about my roosters(they are only a month old) They are buff orps I hate to just give then away and I don't want to cull and pluck and feather them all myself. I would really rather eat them. I have been raising them. Well I found a processor about 1 1/2 hours away. They butcher and process your bird while you wait, $3.00 a bird. They say it is about 3 hours. Go have breakfest or lunch look around the cute little town, then come back and get your birds. You just need to bring coolers to take your birds home in. They sell 10lbs of ice for a buck a bag. To me it sound like a good deal. What do you all think? They are also inspected by the state the place looks very nice and clean. They have a nice website.

 

[muddler6]

Well, it is a horrible deal. I had a butcher do mine last year for $2.50 a bird up to 7 pounds, and $0.25 a pound over that. He would only do the birds and leave them whole for that price, it was extra to cut them up. He did a great job and I was happy to not have to do the work, and they were frozen solid when I picked them up the next day. This year, I found an Amish family that does them, 3 miles from my house for $1.50 a chicken of any size and did them any way I wanted them to be done. But I had to supply the ice and bags to package them up in. Next year I will make my own Ice and find sales on bags to save myself even more money. I hope you can find a deal like that too.

 

[greyfields]

With fuel it was costing me close to $7 per bird last year. finally someone closer opened up, but it's still $3.50 per bird. Everything is costlier here in the PNW.

 

[Peruvian]

If you have less than 30 birds to do, I really suggest doing it yourself. Start with 3-4 one day to make sure you have everything you need and then plan on doing the rest over 2 days. If you can buy, rent, or make a chicken plucker it will save you a lot of time.

It's easier than you think, especially if you only have a few.

 

[joebryant]

Anybody who had a 100 chickens to have processed for $3 would do well to buy this on Ebay; it'd pay for itself the first time.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Steel-Picker-Pl...ryZ46532QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[halo]

Id be thrilled to find someone who would process birds for $3.00.

 

[Gallina]

Wow...I kinda find $2.50 expensive.....This is at a state approved processor.

 

[blue90292]

Quote:
that is quite a drive for month old buff orp cockerals. you're not going to get very much meat off of them. but i know how it is when you have too many boys around. if you can't find anyone closer to you, you can do a day trip and enjoy the little town. but that does sound a bit expensive to do such young birds. have you tried posting on craigslist that you're looking for a processor? or calling your local 4H people. they may know a closer processor.

 

[Mrs MIA]

It all depends on whether your time and energy is worth that much. I'm a perfectionist... I have been known to spend 2 hours on one bird getting every last feather out (yes, I need a Whiz-Bang Plucker and easier ways to remove feathers!) so if there was someone close by that would do it for me, I would be there in a heartbeat. The closest "processor" is 3 hours away... with gas prices the way they are, it just isn't feasible.
I don't think it's a horrible deal, and if that's the closest one and you have reason/desire to go to that town, then by all means do it.

 

[chickenannie]

I pay 1.50/bird to have them processed in a town 10 miles from here. It's an Amish/Mennonite guy, a custom butcher. He did 12 birds in 1 hour for me last time, usually you pick them up at the end of the day. He just puts them in a large ice/water container -- you have to take them home en masse and bag them yourself.