It's getting harder, not easier...

[aggiecatholicmom]

I"m with you....I had a hard first day doing my meat birds as well this summer,
After that hard day, I loaded up my 17 meat birds into dog crates, pulled out the seats in my minivan, and drove them 2 hours to Houston to get them processed. What a bad idea! I can't tell you how bad my van stunk, even after withholding their food, and then there was the leaky ice cooler that leaked out icky chicken water onto the rug. I won't do that again, but it sure made a memory, and it was cheap except for gas (2.50/bird), and quick....about 30 minutes during the processing.

Since then, I"ve found someone who will let me come "help" her when they do their flock.
Surely there is someone in your area who knows how...try calling the Ag Extension office for a name, or perhaps call a 4-H rep or FFA group. I bet a teen would love to come out for a few bucks to help you out, or even just to do one as an example. It wouldn't take them long, and teens love to show off their knowldege. If you could find out when a 4-H group or FFA group is meeting, perhaps you could arrange with the leader for a liitle announcement first, by you, to implore help?
Just some ideas. But don't feel bad. I"m sure it is a skill that we can all master, but even after mastery, that doesn't mean we will enjoy doing it.
There is a website that someone gave me awhile back that lists places that process birds. I don't have it anymore, but I bet you could google it, or search through old forum messages....
GOod luck!
-Jennifer
one wonderful husband, 4 homeschooling children, 17 happy chickens, a corn snake, a rabbit, and 2 parakeets.

 

[redhen]

could you pith...then..chop the head off?...i'm just asking in case i ever need to do this....i like the idea of the brain stick...so they dont feel anything..but...something about bleeding out bothers me..(but please understand..its only MY personal opinion..i'm not judging..AT ALL...

..)..so could i combine the 2?..the quick brain stick..and the quick..head chop?..so i dont have to let them bleed to death...(while still alive)...because the pithing dosent kill them outright..right?.(it just paralyzes them??)..i'm sorry..i'm just trying to learn all these things in case i need them in the future....Wendy

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Sure you could. The pithing doesn't paralyze them--it renders them completely insensate--brain-dead. So whatever you do next won't be felt. They're done feeling anything once they're pithed.

The downside of cutting off the head instead of cutting the jugular is that you lose the great benefit of having the feathers roll right off easily and having the body limp and elastic and easy to work with. Don't worry about them being "still alive" as they bleed out. They are, technically, but you will have effectively destroyed their brains, so they will be feeling no pain at that point.

We're finally going to do a whole bunch of roosters this week, and I'll at least take pictures, and video if I can find my Flip.

 

[dancingbear]

I think we actually have a misuse of terms here. After reading up a little more, the method is called debraining, and is similar to pithing, but there seem to be some differences. Debraining, done correctly, kills the bird. When I first started asking about this, somebody told me it was called pithing, and I just took their word for it. Now I think they may have been mistaken.

The first one I did died instantly, but that was a severely injured bird, and a mercy killing. I did the brain stick, and she went absolutely limp. Then I immediately cut the head off. I don't have an ax, I just used a very sharp kitchen knife, cut through the throat, and it was easy to twist the neck at that spot (right under the head, as close to the head as possible) to break the bones, and finish the cut. She never flapped or squawked or anything. I do not believe she was still alive at that point. The roosters last week didn't go quite so smooth. I think I must've not done it just right, I hope I get it down better next time.

The cutting of the throat on the sides is supposed to bleed them faster, but after debraining, if you get it right, I really doubt that it matters much. If they don't bleed out completely, you can soak them in brine, the rest of the blood will come out.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Yes, I feel confident that I could take the head off or slice the throat once I got the bird imobile. It's the eyes staring at me and the squacking, moving body that is really tearing me up inside.
They're just looking up at me with their heads on the chopping block like "Come on lady, are you gonna do it or what?!" Part of which is comical in a way...

I'm starting to drool over these 8 I have left. They are walking (waddling is more like it) chicken dinners, they're HUGE. That is part of my problem now; they are so large that I'm having a horrible time holding them still with heads in the nails while I bring the other hand down hard enough to kill them... When my hubs is home he will help if I bug him enough but he works two jobs so it mainly falls to me.

Thank You all so much for your kind words and advice.
I don't have many friends outside of the computer, so it really means alot to me.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I'm right there with ya...I had a very hard time with the axe too and will never do that again. I asked around up at the feedstore and found a local family who came and helped me do the rest. Using the axe by yourself I've found is too difficult for a small woman.

Next time I will use a cone and try one of the other methods. Leaning towards pithing but not sure I could do that. Would like to try though.

Don't give up - just keep trying different methods til you find the one that works best for you.

 

[perfectly_polish]

Quote:
Like I said, me, PC, and MNC would be more then happy to come and help you

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

PP, I'm interested in having you all over! I was about to reply to you when my kids made a rucus and I went careening off to see what they were up to this time

The best day for me would be a Sunday, I could wiggle things around in my normal schedule then and have someone watch my kids so we could concentrate. My son might want to stick around (he's 8). Saturdays are tough around here, my hubs works at the post office on Saturday so he's up and gone by 6am and not back until 4-5pm.

We could have a cook-out too.

PM me and we can talk more about it

Thanks a million!

 

[mrsengeseth]

(I just wanted to interject a YAY for BYC, what a great group of people!! I am so glad to see how many are willing to physically go and help out. This is a great board filled with great people)

Someday soon enough I will be having to do this very thing too. I am feeling confident right now, and DH is my back up. I am hoping I can do it. I will keep checking this thread and some related ones to learn other techniques and ideas to make this as smooth a process as possible.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

BYC members make the best of friends!!!