Maine

[annabananaandfamily]

I'm About 20 minutes from auburn myself! Seems like there are several folks around our area here.
So far we have only have a few xhickens that we keep for eggs/pets. Hubby and I would like to try broilers at some point, but right now we dont have the space and I don't know if I have the courage (weak stomach).
Good luck with the barn!

 

[CranberryCreekFarm]

Anyone else going to the Farm Swap in skowhegan this saturday?

 

[spook]

Welcome Polly, did you come to the Lewiston Chickenstock on Saturday (6/11)? I'm up here in Norway with a very small "farm". We do raise our own poultry for meat, sell eggs to friends and family. If you stopped by on Saturday, refresh me on who you are.

 

[PollyC]

Unfortunately I was not able to attend the swap, had to make emergency run to docs,had a Diverticulitis attack. Hoping to make it to the skowhegan one on Sat.

I moved up mama and babies, I thought we had 3 but when I picked her up 5 more were hiding, so we have 8. Not bad for a first time mama.

We are in Hartford, I go to Norway and So.Paris every so often. I use to buy hatching eggs from a lady in So.Paris and always had good luck but have not been able to get ahold of her this year.

I like raising broilers as they are a fast grower and then I have the space for the other birds. this year I have a friend who is also raising them and they have a automatic plucker. I will be helping her and we will do them all at the same time and I will be cutting hers up for her so won't cost me anything.

 

[annabananaandfamily]

My Husband thinks he could handle the butchering process if he could have someone show him on the first couple. So someday when we are feeling brave I will have to start begging for teachers here on the boards! I have never had home grown chicken (or any other kind of meat for that matter!) and love all the benefits of it that I have heard of. Cant wait to try it someday!

 

[spook]

Quote:
anna, I swear it has helped my arthritis and other health issues , I shouldn't "swear" as the doctor has blood work that prove that there are significant changes in my health from eating chicken & turkey that we raised. If you ever, or anyone for that matter want a quick learn, I would be glad to share how I take care of processing. We used a whiz Bang chickens plucker on 2 birds. For the broilers it tossed them around enough so it damaged bones. I was shocked, meat was bruised and I did not seem to have any luck with it removing feathers even. We found that the fingers were to stiff for what you must remember, 6 week old chicks. Even though they are big, they're bones are not rugged. Turkeys are so cute and friendly that it gets me at the end of the season, but when I feel that heart twinge, I process the next day!

Polly, I am so very sorry to hear of your husbands problem, what a miserable disease. Hope he is doing better now and on steady improvement! Congrats on your chicks, broody hens amaze me with where they can tuck babies and move without losing a single baby and often a egg!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Quote:
Backyard Poultry had a really good "how to" with pictures a few months back. We've kept it and we're going to butcher our first extra roos from it shortly. Even though they haven't fattened up to where we'd like them the girls are begging us to do it. You may be able to find the printing online or through your library.

 

[buckabucka]

Quote:
Where is the farm swap?


We haven't tackled butchering here yet. When it is only $3 to have someone butcher, clean, and hand the chicken back to you in a plastic bag, it is hard to resist.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Who does that?
Quote:
Where is the farm swap?


We haven't tackled butchering here yet. When it is only $3 to have someone butcher, clean, and hand the chicken back to you in a plastic bag, it is hard to resist.

 

[buckabucka]

Hi SCG,

There is a place called "Jason's" in Albion. I think they only do chickens on Mondays. The bad news with them, is that they open in the morning and it is first come, first served. I think Jack arrived at 6:30 a.m., and was third in line, but the people in front of him all had 80 birds or something (he had 5), so it was a long wait.
We're thinking of trying a place in Gardiner (Gardiner Beef?, not sure). I don't know what they charge, but imagine it is competitive. It is a longer drive for us, but I hear you get an appointment time.

I don't eat a lot of meat anyway, and if I had to process my own chicken, I think I'd stop eating it altogether! I am a wimp.