It's the dead of night and I hear my numerous roosters crowing. They're such funny guys, but I doubt my neighbors think so.
I've been having less and less time to handle things myself so thought I'd try and figure out a new method of butchering.
I finally ordered a restraint cone, have been wanting one of those for a while.
I ordered a scalder and a plucker, I've never plucked any of my birds, only skinned them (but the skins the best part!). I'm hoping this will make the process a bit easier on me and make for more meat.
It's definitely an investment, and one I hope pays off. I think we definitely have enough chickens for it.
My last experience with butchering didn't go great.
I got pooped on, guess they were eating something after I took away their food.
I messed up somewhere in cutting the vein because he didn't die. I ended up crying begging him to just stop living. I hated seeing him like that, throat open but refusing to quit. I never wanted my birds to suffer, let alone be the cause of it.
But it's part of keeping chickens and I need to get better.
So new tools, sharp knives, clean workspace, re-watching videos again and finding new ones to relearn the details, new restraint cone, new scalding/plucking the birds, and moving the coop to concrete so I can be certain they won't poop on me.
I'm hopeful the next time will be smoother.
Gotta give these guys a clean death and get some nasty chicken for my freezer.
Here's hoping my new supplies get in before the snow. Gotta get to work so these loudmouths aren't here through the winter.
I've been having less and less time to handle things myself so thought I'd try and figure out a new method of butchering.
I finally ordered a restraint cone, have been wanting one of those for a while.
I ordered a scalder and a plucker, I've never plucked any of my birds, only skinned them (but the skins the best part!). I'm hoping this will make the process a bit easier on me and make for more meat.
It's definitely an investment, and one I hope pays off. I think we definitely have enough chickens for it.
My last experience with butchering didn't go great.
I got pooped on, guess they were eating something after I took away their food.
I messed up somewhere in cutting the vein because he didn't die. I ended up crying begging him to just stop living. I hated seeing him like that, throat open but refusing to quit. I never wanted my birds to suffer, let alone be the cause of it.
But it's part of keeping chickens and I need to get better.
So new tools, sharp knives, clean workspace, re-watching videos again and finding new ones to relearn the details, new restraint cone, new scalding/plucking the birds, and moving the coop to concrete so I can be certain they won't poop on me.
I'm hopeful the next time will be smoother.
Gotta give these guys a clean death and get some nasty chicken for my freezer.
Here's hoping my new supplies get in before the snow. Gotta get to work so these loudmouths aren't here through the winter.