Mental Preparation For Processing

[Miltonchix]

Quote:
I'LL TAKE 2!!

 

[coopist]

Fine job, sgray. Love the visual.

 

[okiechick57]

Sgray,. what talent.......... love it.. P.C . must figure out a way to make that a t-shirt.........

 

[halo]

Quote:
April, what I meant was I cook chicken for the dogs and de-bone it before I feed it. I do feed raw wings, they really enjoy the crunch and I feel the bones are just the right size for them. Im not sure Id feel comfortable with some of the larger bones in a chicken for them. Id just as soon cook the rest of the chicken and de-bone it for them (no, they're not spoiled rotten...). Maybe....just maybe....if I had some roos to process that were young, I could give them pieces of that raw. But its back to the same problem...what comes first, the chicken or the egg. Ive got to get the chicken in the fridge first.

 

[hcammack]

the extra delawares should be good in a few weeks the delaware girls are meaty little things LOL.

henry

 

[panner123]

Having butchered countless number of chickens, I have never used a hachet. I use the same method my grandmother used, hang them upside down by their feet and cut the head off. This lets the blood drain out faster and is cleaner.

 

[MissPrissy]

I would do it that way too, Panner, BUT ... (there is always a butt! lol) There is something about all the flapping and such that bothers me. Therefore I hold them until its over. Then I hang them and let them finish bleeding out.

 

[jab91864]

I always refer to it as going to freezer camp. I'll be honest I tend to whittle down the roo part of the flock as I pick and choose keepers over a period of months.

Because I work alone I don't like to do more than 6 at any given time. I also like to butcher in the early morning. I'm not a morning person and maybe I'm just cranky enough that it's easier I don't know...lol. I know the day before when I will be doing it so I have my "work station" supplies ready.

I usually pull the roo's the night before and separate them from the flock in a holding pen. I bind the feet and hang them from a post upside down. I stretch out the neck with my left hand, my palm shields the bird's eyes awary from me... more guilt...and run a sharp knife across quickly slitting the throat. I've tried other methods but find this to be the least traumatic for me personally.

My kids know what I do but don't have the stomach for it and I don't force them to participate. The youngest is now 15 and he gives me a wide berth when he knows I am butchering.

Although I will say this year I did make him watch me skin and quarter a deer. I think if he is going to hunt then he should know how to process it, cuz mommy isn't going to be around to do it for you forever...lol

Julie

 

[silkiechicken]

So how did the soup turn out?

 

[lacyloo]

im so going to use chicken feet for decorations, for christmas