List of Equipment

[Erint]

Do you have a list of "must haves" on hand when you are processing your chickens to make it easier or more efficient? First timer going to harvest this week!

 

[CowgirlJules]

A big pot for scalding. I either heat my water on a turkey fryer or the burner on my gas grill.

Trash bags to pluck into.

A good sharp knife. I like scalpels.

And I find a vacuum sealer a handy but not essential piece.

 

[al6517]

Axe, several different size knifes until you find the ones you like. Chopping block, large tubs for several reasons, bleed out, innards and scraps. You also need a hose with adjustable nozzle, Ice, coolers, wire or string. just toname a few the other posters left out.

 

[Country Parson]

If your doing more than a couple of birds I HIGHLY suggest a cooling tank. This can be as simple as a large cooler or 35 gallon rumbermaid container filled with tap water and throw in a bag (or two) of ice.

1. Kill bird
2. Scald
3. Pluck feathers
4. Put in chill tank until cool/cold
5. Gut
6. Vac-seal (if you have one)
7. Age 24 hrs in fridge
8. Freeze

I didn't have a chill tank this last time and it caused problems.

 

[FeedYourself]

Cones
Knives
Scalder
large cooler with brine & ice
small cooler for hearts, livers, gizzards with icewater
something for feathers
something for innards
bags
freezer

 

[PotterWatch]

This is the equipment we use:

killing cones
buckets to drain the blood into
razor blades or scalpels
scalding pot and a way to heat it (we have a water heater scalder)
a place to dispose of feathers (our plucker piles them into a nice pile we can easily pick up)
a table to use for eviscerating
knives for eviscerating
water for rinsing
a gut bucket for all the extra parts
a pot with ice water for the necks, organs, and feet
a cooler with ice water to put birds in when they are finished
a scale and packaging for when the birds are fully cooled