INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Proverb31mama]

How far would you want to go to a processor? Or, were you really wanting to learn how to do it yourself? (There is a processor in the New Paris/Goshen area for a reasonable price....I understand that folks go there from as far away as FW.) On processing, this is my favorite video that may be helpful. We got to get a "lesson" like you are hoping for with some folks we knew here locally but we've only done it that one time. But this video was extremely helpful. I think we could have done it after having read some resources and watching this, but it was nice to have the guidance of someone that had done it to ask questions as we went.

Wow that video is really great! He makes it look so easy. The part that has me nervous is the eviseration. I've heard that one can cause problems. But he made it look really easy. I am also still a little confused about how a killing cone works since he didn't use one. And i think that slitting the neck would be a really difficult step. I am not sure if I would rather learn to do it or hire a processor. I think it would be a good skill to have, but I am also nervous about killing an animal (and my husband isn't any less nervous about it than I am). I wrestle back and forth on that. Long term I think re would like to learn, short term probably depends on whether we can find someone affordable nearby. I think Goshen might be a little far away, but it is a possibility. Do you have the contact info for them?

 

[Proverb31mama]

I took 2 cockerels there for the first time ever last November.  It was the only time.  I was able to see the ladies working, but did not see the "kill" area.  I asked them if I could do a "tour" and watch their process sometime and they told me to just call and let them know and that would be fine.  They start work very early - it was either 5am or 4am...I don't remember which.  If I wanted to see the "kill" , I needed to be there early.

I do want to go back for the tour as it is important to me to see how they do the "kill" and to observe the stress level on the birds.  That may change my opinion of taking birds there.

I did like the atmosphere in the area I did see.  But I'd also like to know if they are using a "bleach wash" as I prefer not to have my birds bleached.  If I do meat birds any time soon, I may just need to do it myself so that I know how they're treated, that their last hours aren't filled with stress, and that the processing is done in a way that will provide the healthiest meat in the end.  The jury is out until I visit and then consider how much time I want to put into it myself.

I think that having a "processing buddy" or 2 would make it more "enjoyable for processing a bunch of meat birds.  Would make the time go quicker and make for some good company.



I know of a couple families that knew that they would have to process their older hens at some point and so they made a "deal".  They decided that, since they had few hens and "know" them all that it would be hard to process them on the emotional side.  They decided that when the time came, they'd trade hens and each do the other's so that it wasn't like processing a "friend".  I don't know if they ever did it, but it seems like that would make things easier on old hens.  I think with the meat birds it wouldn't be such an attachment.

So far I've never processed one of my hens.  The birds we learned on were "strangers" to me so there was no attachment.

So how does it work? Do you drop the chickens off the night before or do you have to go super early? Do they get it all done in 1 day and you pick up that night? Do they do multiple people's chickens in the same day? How do they keep them separate so you know you are getting yours?That is a very reasonable price. Maybe the hubby and I could make a date night/ day of it Although I'm not sure if our dog crates can hold the 25-50 birds we'd have to do at once to make it worth it.

I think it would be good to learn to do it. At some point we will have to cull an older bird or extra rooster and we wouldn't want to drive over an hour for that. I am still at the point that I hate catching them because I feel like I am being mean. But I know that culling is an important part of the process and I want to be able to do it someday.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: On occasions some of our members do free processing workshops. I have done a few at my house, and @racinchickins has also. This would enable you to have the experience without using your own bird unless you chose to bring one. There are dozens of different ways folks "do the deed", and it helps to be hands on to understand why certain steps need to be done first. It sure is less stressful the first time if it isn't a bird you raised from a chick. My 2 most important things are "quick and painless" so the animal does not suffer.
It is very hard to take an animals life. My first time raising chickens was for meat birds some 30 years ago. Moved to town, and had give it up. This time, I planned more for eggs. I raise them for food here also because I want to know what my family is eating, my parents health has improved by changing our food sources. I also want to know how the animal was treated, and what it ate. No matter what the end result is, every critter I keep here knows love and respect until that bad day comes for them, I treat them all like a pet.
I will likely be doing a workshop early November for winter downsizing, and that will include turkey and other misc bird species. Probably a few roosters if I have any at the time I can't or won't rehome. I have a few members already expressed interest in attending a workshop next time its available.

 

[Mother2Hens]

@pbirdhaven if you're out there you are now a grams! My IB pair have added their first additions to our family! I know both parents are split and must be BS (black shoulder) because I believe this babe pictured here is a Black shoulder. No way my white yearling is a daddy yet!

The other babe is a IB but haven't gotten a good enough look to see if there's any white on it.

So cute!! Is this one a new hatch --different from the single chick with the bump that sits on your sofa?
Originally Posted by Indyshent Well, I really wanted to post pictures but still haven't found my phone.

@Indyshent I couldn't make it through a week without using my iPad's "Find iPhone" app! lol I'm always walking around with my iPad while it plays a pinging sound trying to locate my phone in the house. It's kind like that game-- cold, warmer…warmer…hot -- you found it!

I enjoyed reading about your new flock members meeting each other. It's interesting how they pick and choose and socialize.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have some annoying gnats this year too, seems like the biting flies are terrible. All this rain has really encouraged the bugs. My guinea are sure happy about it!

 

[ellymayRans]

[COLOR=8B4513]So cute!! Is this one a new hatch --different from the single chick with the bump that sits on your sofa? [/COLOR]
[rule] @Indyshent
  [COLOR=8B4513]I couldn't make it through a week without using my iPad's "Find iPhone" app! lol I'm always walking around with my iPad while it plays a pinging sound trying to locate my phone in the house. It's kind like that game-- cold, warmer…warmer…hot -- you found it![/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]I enjoyed reading about your new flock members meeting each other. It's interesting how they pick and choose and socialize.[/COLOR]

Lol! No I've hatched 3 and my broody pea hatched 2 of her own. The potato couch was hatched with another but my cat killed it. He is 6 weeks today.
Boys named him Rocky. ..hahaha!

The recent hatch from Ebay which is a BYC member also is the one making the vet trip in the AM. I don't know what color it is. Ad was for Opal and Bronze pied/white eye.

The broody hatched a all yellow chick and a India Blue chick. I just haven't gotten a pic of it yet. It's been under momma since I moved them to a pen. The all yellow one I posted earlier.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So frustrated, had a (daybreak) early morning of hog round up, now my breeder boar has learned to pop fences. UGH. DH was leaving for work, came back in and announced "Your big pig is loose

" Getting him back in was easy, its the fence repairs that's not...Hard to fix a fence when the goofball keeps mashing his whole body against it wanting to be pet. Told DH either we get the electric fence up or I am done. He is over 300lbs, and if my big freezer had not finally died, I have to admit I would have been processing today. On that note, I would make someone a reasonable deal on him as a breeder or for their freezer. He is supposed to be a "big black" PM if interested. This is my first time in 3 years confining pigs has been an issue, and too much of a risk. Both my big pigs have done this now, and the barrow is already in the smaller freezer from a week ago for that reason.

He is a boar, not a barrow (meaning neutered). Non aggressive at this point and over a year old. I have kept boars before and saw the aggressive side of them more than once. Large, stout fella, very nice hog. When he gets a belly or back rub, nothing jiggles lol, so there is little fat on him.. Yes, I pet him, walk right up to him and rub those big ears. That's why he is still here, very docile guy. Would make an awesome breeder. All the birds including ducks can fly/walk in or out of the pen, and share his food right out of the dish. That's how calm this hog is. IF we are able to get the fence wired hot then he will stay, and I will be crossing him with my Hampshire sow late winter. Docile boars are a rare find.

 

[chick rookie]

I wish there was somewhere close to Indy or Columbus, Indiana that processed the chickens. We can do it and have done it but time is a big factor. Equipment is another. I don't have a pluckeror a great way to keep the water the right temperature so we tend to skin the birds but that is a bit tedious too. It all boils down to time for me and I'd trade a few dollars for someone else to process our roosters. But I won't pay $8+ a rooster like the traveling processor on FB is asking.

Man sounds like he is out to get rich quick!! I don't do it but that price does seem a bit too high.

Well, I really wanted to post pictures but still haven't found my phone.

My teenie weenie mille fleur D'Uccle roo has taken well to the bigger silkie from @chickrookie and the seven muscovy ducklings from @jchny2000 , but neither of them seem to like the four bitty silkies, so I'm having to keep both of the bigger birds sequestered from the babies. Nobody was hurt, but I just didn't like them nipping at the babies. On the upside, the silkies are thoroughly enjoying scratching through my compost pile. The bigger silkie has hit it off pretty well with the whole flock and everyone's leaving her alone, except the other bantams who get along swimmingly with her. She's been helping me weed and de-pest the garden, too

I went around the neighborhood today, picking dandelions, ornamental strawberries and apples for the birds, and the whole 5-gallon bucket was a big hit in the yard! Had to slice the super-hard apples into smaller pieces, but so far, everyone's enjoying them.

You didn't quarantine?? I worry too much I guess, not about where they come from in this case. Just that everyone's ground is different and it may contain a different strain of the same stuff I have and it may effect your birds differently or vice versa. Just saying. I lost a whole flock do to that one time and now, I don't care where they come from, they get quarantined. Don't get me wrong, your birds are perfectly healthy and so are mine.
I am glad the flock is getting along with the newbies, our compost pile isn't where the silkies can get to it, the LF can but not the littles, so that is probably a great treat for her. She had a great teacher as far as pest control... lol her momma is great, and fast!! I laugh everytime I see splash chasing now a miller or some other bug and she can catch flys too.

So cute!! Is this one a new hatch --different from the single chick with the bump that sits on your sofa?
@Indyshent I couldn't make it through a week without using my iPad's "Find iPhone" app! lol I'm always walking around with my iPad while it plays a pinging sound trying to locate my phone in the house. It's kind like that game-- cold, warmer…warmer…hot -- you found it!

I enjoyed reading about your new flock members meeting each other. It's interesting how they pick and choose and socialize.

The gnats are real bad here too. I spray the best boxes and floor of the coops as well as the chickens. only the newbies stress over being sprayed down, but they will get used to it, once they figure out it helps, just like it took time for the rest of my flock.
As far as me, I use Skin So Soft body lotion, you get to hydrate your skin as well as keep the gnats (and skeeters ) away, I have used all the stinky spray stuff, DH still does. He still complains while I just go about my way shacking my head at him. He don't want to "smell like a girl"

so I guess he will just have to deal with it.

So frustrated, had a (daybreak) early morning of hog round up, now my breeder boar has learned to pop fences. UGH. DH was leaving for work, came back in and announced "Your big pig is loose

" Getting him back in was easy, its the fence repairs that's not...Hard to fix a fence when the goofball keeps mashing his whole body against it wanting to be pet. Told DH either we get the electric fence up or I am done. He is over 300lbs, and if my big freezer had not finally died, I have to admit I would have been processing today. On that note, I would make someone a reasonable deal on him as a breeder or for their freezer. He is supposed to be a "big black" PM if interested. This is my first time in 3 years confining pigs has been an issue, and too much of a risk. Both my big pigs have done this now, and the barrow is already in the smaller freezer from a week ago for that reason.

He is a boar, not a barrow (meaning neutered). Non aggressive at this point and over a year old. I have kept boars before and saw the aggressive side of them more than once. Large, stout fella, very nice hog. When he gets a belly or back rub, nothing jiggles lol, so there is little fat on him.. Yes, I pet him, walk right up to him and rub those big ears. That's why he is still here, very docile guy. Would make an awesome breeder. All the birds including ducks can fly/walk in or out of the pen, and share his food right out of the dish. That's how calm this hog is. IF we are able to get the fence wired hot then he will stay, and I will be crossing him with my Hampshire sow late winter. Docile boars are a rare find.

He is a big pig. I wish I had a place for a pig or 2. I hate early morning round ups, I have to do it with my horses once in a bkue moon, I would hate to have to round up a pig, good thing he is a sweety.

 

[Proverb31mama]

On occasions some of our members do free processing workshops. I have done a few at my house, and @racinchickins
has also. This would enable you to have the experience without using your own bird unless you chose to bring one. There are dozens of different ways folks "do the deed", and it helps to be hands on to understand why certain steps need to be done first. It sure is less stressful the first time if it isn't a bird you raised from a chick. My 2 most important things are "quick and painless" so the animal does not suffer.
It is very hard to take an animals life. My first time raising chickens was for meat birds some 30 years ago. Moved to town, and had give it up. This time, I planned more for eggs. I raise them for food here also because I want to know what my family is eating, my parents health has improved by changing our food sources. I also want to know how the animal was treated, and what it ate. No matter what the end result is, every critter I keep here knows love and respect until that bad day comes for them, I treat them all like a pet.
I will likely be doing a workshop early November for winter downsizing, and that will include turkey and other misc bird species. Probably a few roosters if I have any at the time I can't or won't rehome. I have a few members already expressed interest in attending a workshop next time its available.

Thank you for the offer. That would be great to learn not on our own birds. Can you tell me where you are located? I looked up Pendleton and it is not in the county that the map on your avatar shows so I am confused . I found a lady on Facebook who may be willing to teach us too.

 

[Indyshent]

You didn't quarantine?? I worry too much I guess, not about where they come from in this case. Just that everyone's ground is different and it may contain a different strain of the same stuff I have and it may effect your birds differently or vice versa. Just saying. I lost a whole flock do to that one time and now, I don't care where they come from, they get quarantined. Don't get me wrong, your birds are perfectly healthy and so are mine.
I am glad the flock is getting along with the newbies, our compost pile isn't where the silkies can get to it, the LF can but not the littles, so that is probably a great treat for her. She had a great teacher as far as pest control... lol her momma is great, and fast!! I laugh everytime I see splash chasing now a miller or some other bug and she can catch flys too.

In this case, no, though I would have for a stranger's birds. Actually, I wouldn't have picked up birds from a complete stranger because of getting burned from it last year so badly. In this case, because of boatloads of drama from my in-laws, birds simply cannot be allowed in the house and I had nowhere else to put them. The bitties are all in the brooder (which is now in the coop, taking up a bunch of room) because they still prefer the heat lamp and require supervision with larger birds, who are always the nicest. So far no meaningful incidents, but I'm not taking chances. When it's warm out, I sometimes let the bitties into the run by themselves. The sucklings have shown no interest in leaving the brooder, but the silkies are very independent babies and love to scratch around in the compost pile. It's their absolute favorite thing to do.

The bigger silkie has become fast friends with the D'Uccle, and they're almost always together if she has anything to say about it. They were napping on each other this morning when I went out to feed everyone.

He has a difficult time fitting in with the other birds because everyone's bigger than him, and nobody feels like listening to him and putting up with his attitude. My last D'Uccle roo was second-in-command on the rooster totem pole, but this little guy can't catch a break, and if he gets too big for his britches, everyone shuts him down. I haven't heard him crow for weeks, so I'm really glad that he's getting a chance to make some new friends and feel like a big man with these babies.

BTW, my SLW has shown an extra sassy side since most of her friends left. She's always been top hen, but the Welsummer and Australorp I gave out this weekend were her buddies, and all of them were purchased at the same time. She doesn't seem to know what to do with herself, and so far, has taken the reins of top bird. She even bosses my turkeys around sometimes--say nothing of the four roosters still on premises. Not a single guff is taken. She seems to recognize still that I'm actually the top bird in the yard and has been hanging out with me more often, though I was petting her this morning, and she squatted. Never had a girl do that for me before. Poor girl; all that drive to make some chickies and no guy worth the effort around anymore. She'd been quite fond of the Welsummer roo and really doesn't recognize the guys that are left as "real men", so to speak.

Also, has anyone had experience with turkey hens fighting with toms and displaying? I'm not sure on Falkor's gender. She/He has more feathers on the noggin than Trogdor, the BBB tom, but occasionally displays and always kicks the crap out of him when he starts something in the yard (even though he's bigger, Falkor is more tenacious). He/She is also more cuddly than Trogdor has been lately (though he still wants lots and lots of attention, pets and treats, he doesn't like being picked up and sitting in my lap as long as he used to). Falkor, however, must usually be evicted from my lap because he/she will spend hours there if left to its own devices.