Just cooked up my first cornish x and it was delicious!

[jaku]

I'm doing half my birds Thursday, and the other half next weekend. Steveo- how'd the PVC pen work for you? I'll never go back to wood now- mine is great. Yes, build a plucker- it's well worth it!

 

[steveo]

Quote:
The pvc pen worked great but I am going to do some modifications before I get another batch. I am going to add wheels to the back of the tractor. Maybe you can give me more details on how you did your wheels. Trying to catch the birds was difficult with only one door. I am going to add at least one more door on the top to make catching the birds easier.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
The pvc pen worked great but I am going to do some modifications before I get another batch. I am going to add wheels to the back of the tractor. Maybe you can give me more details on how you did your wheels. Trying to catch the birds was difficult with only one door. I am going to add at least one more door on the top to make catching the birds easier.

I think I can help you with both those problems! As for the wheels, I got two of sliding joints (the one that rides in the middle of the tarp "rafter." I put a section of PVC through that, and drilled holes in both, then mounted a wheel at the bottom, so I can raise and lower it. I think I posted a pic awhile back- let me know if I didn't or if you can't find it.

As for catching the birds, I built a inner false wall, complete with chicken wire, attached by a zip tie to the back side. I mounted it to PVC pieces that were just larger than the frame, so it slides, and tied a rope to it. When I butcher, I'll just cut the zip tie and pull the rope, and the wall will move, cutting the size of the pen in 1/2. Let me know if you want pics of that too! Hope it helps.

 

[steveo]

We just had another one of our fresh chickens for dinner and it was even better than the first one. Looks like I will be getting some more after I put the remaining 11 in the freezer.

 

[cw]

any suggestions? you would like to give ?
i have 50 im am gonna to by hand come late june
an would like to pepare for em

 

[steveo]

Quote:
sharp knife, killing cone, hose to clean chicken during butchering, scald bird until wing or tail feathers pull out easy, gut bucket, cooler full of ice water to put birds in after they are finished. Here is a link to what I read before processing my birds:

http://butcherachicken.blogspot.com/2007/09/step-1-getting-ready-to-butcher.html

 

[enola]

I am going to butcher one of my broilers (5 total) the next time I have a day off. My BF says we are going to cook it at his place. I will see how this one turns out before I decide when to butcher the others.

They are incredible eating machines, and the poop smells incredibly bad, but I can hardly wait to eat one of them !

 

[georgialee]

Did you see that post about the small plucker that used a drill to spin???

 

[beak]

Quote:
Let them feed them in a few weeks when they act like a pack of wolves killing a deer every time you feed them. We have 30 and they are so nasty. Off with their heads next week.