Maine

[lazy gardener]

Each place is a bit different. Probably has to do with their operation, and what it's set up for. West Gardiner Beef's pricing is below:

Poultry

• Chickens/Pheasant - $3.50
• Split or Quartered - $.50
• Turkeys - $9.00
• Split or Quartered - $1.00
• Over 30# - $10.00
• Over 40# - $12.00

So I guess it's all about where you go. I waited far too long to make reservations--and learned my lesson. I am going to take my orders for next years' Turkeys now, run my calculations, then make a reservation for slaughter for 2015 so I can be sure to get mine in and ready to go on time. Slaughtering myself was a great experience, and has actually made me want to get more livestock; however, processing 40lbs turkeys isn't something I'm interested in doing much more than once!

Thanks for the reply. Hopefully there are some folks interested in rabbits. I've been doing my research and made a couple appointments at local Rabbitrys so I can check out the breeds and get off on the right foot. I'll have some pics to share once I get them. If anyone has info, please share! Otherwise...back to your previously scheduled episode of Chicken TV!

Cheers,
Jazor

Do they do ducks?

 

[mlowen]

Yes, I love this story.

Also note that if you want to learn to process yourself, it's not bad. I usually post here a day or two in advance if I'm going to process and anyone is welcome to come watch and/or participate.

I would love to watch, maybe participate, whenever you next process. Where about are you?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I would love to watch, maybe participate, whenever you next process. Where about are you?

I'm in Vassalboro. I usually start hatching in January, so the first batch of roosters tend to go down at the end of May or so. Depending on how many we end up with and how naughty they are... I may have multiple chances to show you how to process.

 

[buckabucka]

Not sure which place you are asking about, LG, but if I remember right, Jason's (Albion) and West Gardiner Beef dump a whole bunch of ice in your cooler. Greaney's does not give ice, but they chill the birds in an ice water bath for a while before giving them back.

 

[longgrove]

I agree, there is a real need for processing the birds. I had to go way up north to deal with some mean birds who sealed their fate by seriously mistreating the hens. The fellow who did it for me is setting up a processing center and getting certified. He said that there is grant money for those who wish to take on this task. With all of the folks who are incubating in addition to those who raise meaties on purpose, it seems there is a real market for this service. I hope someone in the Ellsworth area will take it on.

 

[lazy gardener]

If any of you hear of any one in the Bangor area who does processing, give me a shout.

 

[suzMEchicks]

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Enjoying the beautiful morning. I have a hard time with pictures!

 

[dowgirl71]

If any of you hear of any one in the Bangor area who does processing, give me a shout.

LG, I read about at guy in Levant on the Bangor Swap FB page: David Eccleston, 659-0751. I hope this helps.

 

[Jazor]

Are those prices for flash frozen, or just butchered and bagged??

I know they will store items for up to 7 days, and charge storage after that. I would imagine if they are storing them--they would be frozen as well. Can't see them keeping non-frozen cuts around for that long.

Do they do ducks?

I'm not sure, but they seem to do everything else. I would guess they could but I can't weigh in on if they actually do.

http://www.westgardinerbeef.com/services.html is the link to their services page. It's not going to give you all the answers you want, so you'd likely need to place a call to them and speak to someone who knows. They are always, always, booked far in advance. If you plan to have birds processed next year, call NOW. Seriously.

Their page claims they do custom poultry processing June-October and also states that all processed meat can be vacuum sealed and flash frozen. I figure this is all included, because nowhere on the site is there an upcharge listed or even mentioned.

Hope this helps! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[CoopChick719]

Just wanted to chime in on the processing chat. I had my meat birds done at Weston's in West Gardiner.
95 Collins Mills Rd. West Gardiner, Maine 724-2027. They were reasonably priced--can't remember how much. Everything was frozen in vacuum sealed bags. I dropped them in the morning & they were done that afternoon.

On a different note, I've got some sneezers.

No visible snot or runny eyes, just the sneezing. I have 1 that has sneezed since I got her but now I've got a few more and a few with messy bums. Do you think it would be okay to run a cool mist humidifier with Oxine water in it overnight in the coop? Worried about frostbite! Thanks for the advice!