My meat chicks arrived Jan 6, 2011

[BoomChickaRocka]

All you need for poultry is a sharp knife. Ive done it with a pen knife only many times and in a lot of ways that is what i prefer. Its not like beef and pork where you actually NEED a cimeter butcher and filet knife. One thing that is ESSENTIAL is a sharp hatchet for head removal you do NOT want to overlook that because it will get messy very quick if you dont do it right! haha Would anyone want to see a video of the whole process?

 

[halo]

Yes I would.

 

[Mamaperreca]

Actually for us I use sharp Kitchen Shears. Instead of a knife, i prefer to cut the rear end of the chicken out with the kitchen scissors and then remove the insides. DH does the killing part and he uses a sharp axe/hatchet for head removal and then a sharp small paring knife for other things.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

I'm impressed.

We're doing our first processing ever in August. REAL first-timers! We've only been raising chickens since this time lst year. Making a list of all the supplies we need to gather.

Do you have your list handy? Things we need to do this, with minimal fuss and mess but quickly and efficiently? Without buying expensive equipment.

Thanks.

We're kinda nervous so any help you (or anyone!) can give would be appreciated. Meanwhile, I'll keep scouring the meat birds threads to see if I can combine many threads into one list.

 

[Bossroo]

The only tools that I use are my 2 hands, boning knife and a sharpening steel for 25 chickens at a time 4 times a year.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Did you have help your first time?

I read the graphic thread on here, somewhere, with pics and detailed info, and I'm trying to figure out how to translate the fancy equipment, etc. he had into just a few things.

Thanks.

 

[Mamaperreca]

Yeah, we don't do the killing cones or anything fancy like that. DH has a stump of wood with 2 nails in it about an inch or two apart. He puts the chickens head above the nails and the neck in between the nails. holds the bird and chops its head off. It sounds really primative but it is quick and easy. Then he just holds it still until it quits wiggling/bleeding out and then skins and defeathers it.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Stupid question but doesn't the blood soak through into the stump?

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Lippincott'sHomegrown :

Well, we did it! We have 12 cornish rocks resting in the fridge. My father in law did the actual killing - thank goodness!

I couldn't do it face to face after raising them for the last few weeks! We used a big bleach bottle for a cone and used poultry shears for the beheading, because the box cutter plan didn't work effectively. It was a new knife and blade, but didn't do a good clean job...maybe user error. We built a $6 chicken plucker with a drill, PVC and bungie cords. I found the plans on another post (can't remember the name of the man who posted the plans though). It worked well. This was my husband's first processing & he did a good job catching and putting them in the cone, scalding and plucking! I was also in charge of scalding, plucking, windpipe & crop removal, final rinsing and vacuum sealing. I bought a fish cleaning station at Academy so that we would have a sink area with a drain and a hole to drop offal into a big trash can. It was a good height and kept everything within reach. It was well worth the $80 in my opinion, since I plan to do this more than once.
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Do you have a pic of your $6 chicken plucker and notes on how you put it together? Couldn't find the post you referred to.

Thanks.​

 

[Mamaperreca]

Yeah I guess it probably does but we leave it outside and the rain takes care of it in the long run. Or you can get a new stump every year. They are cheap.