my very own micro farm

[lindalouly]

Do you drain them? I saw a you tube where they hung the bird by its feet with a pull tie... Cut its neck with extremely sharp sheers and let them drain then the rest is the same. Your birds look really clean. Good job plucking!!!

 

[aart]

Like to use a cone just over a bucket, and slit the jugular...
....but I hold the head until they stop thrashing, then let them drain before scalding.
I harvest in my garage so don't want blood flinging all over.

Came up with a nifty way to hang them for plucking....broom holders mounted to a board.




Kept looking in the pics for your fingers.....maybe you were taking all the pics.
When you're ready.

Cooked a turkey breast on the grill, parted out fresh a local 13 pounder instead of roasting the whole thing....
....a first for me....it turned out great!

 

[Angie16hearts]

Thanks you for sharing! I've never culled s full grown chicken. Except the one I had to put down due to a dog attack. However, she was ripped apart but alive. Not one I was planning on EVER getting rif of! Man she laid a pretty big egg and was sweet! how old are the birds you process ? Is there a certain age they taste the best? Do they let out any hormones that would make the meat tuff?
Let's see the other pics! Hope your hands better! Must be if your back working.

 

[shodack]

I was looking for fingers in the pictures too! And thinking to myself, "man, if he can process a chicken and teach someone else how to do it, he'll be just fine!" Nice work Attimus.

 

[attimus]

@lindalouly using the rolled up wire to let them bleed out in. And yes they do get blood everywhere. The last time I just held it on the block after it was de headed. Forward progress. Still room for improvement.

@aart the cone might be the way to go. Tho I would still most likely set it up outside. Actually saw a cool diy processing table with wall and cones and a sink that attaches to a garden hose. Maybe when I build a little work shed that'll be in the mix.
Never occurs to people to break down the turkey 1st. Great option to break tradition. Only pictures of me mid swing and after(left handed) processing pictures of friend(right handed).
Soon tho they'll be up. I'm still working up the nerve to focus on the er pictures.

@Angie16hearts your welcome and sorry about your unfortunate culling. These two cockerals were just getting unruly. I imagine the older a bird gets the more time it will have to build muscle tissue which might make the meat tougher. Look at how early meat birds are processed, partly by size but still. There is some muscle tension with beheading since your severing the nervous system. Not really a problem tho since you want to let the bird rest for a few days in the fridge. And with the boys I usually stew or roast(bit synical but those were their names) them anyways which further helps breaking down any toughness.

@shodack its pretty crazy how quickly I've started utilizing my right hand. And interesting how quickly I forget I'm injured when doing things until I hit the tips. The motor skills certainly aren't the same with the non dominant hand, which makes for an interesting time when trying to accomplish some pretty simple tasks.

Getting an early start to the day

Onwards and upwards
Attimus

 

[aart]

@Angie16hearts your welcome and sorry about your unfortunate culling. These two cockerals were just getting unruly. I imagine the older a bird gets the more time it will have to build muscle tissue which might make the meat tougher. Look at how early meat birds are processed, partly by size but still. There is some muscle tension with beheading since your severing the nervous system. Not really a problem tho since you want to let the bird rest for a few days in the fridge. And with the boys I usually stew or roast(bit synical but those were their names) them anyways which further helps breaking down any toughness.

This is key!! Rigor mortise must be allowed to pass.
I've read so many stories about 'terrible' meat when folks didn't know to do this.
Even then they can be 'chewier' than a grocery birds.
I harvest the cockerels at under 16 weeks, so I can grill instead of stew and before they start to cause trouble....the grilled bones make excellent stock.

 

[attimus]

Yesterday was interesting. The reason I was up so early was just a subconscious hunch on my part. And it was screaming COYOTE. Although it wasn't until about 3 hours or so later, Hermes bolted towards the fence line clucking up a storm. I followed unsure of what he was doing only to see a coyote using the neighbors drive to traverse the field across my fence. And sure enough Hermes followed with rage the whole while. That thing is getting ballsy, stopped to look back at me a few times and didnt look to be in a hurry. I was just so proud of Hermes, he saw the dang thing before my dog did.I'm just glad I was outside consolidating wood piles. Which by the way everyone loved. So much exposed earth and insects. Here's the bantams with their own private termite feast

Qbert even had a little field trip outside.

We even got the diaper on her again last night so she could spend some time inside.

All for now
Onwards and upwards
Attimus

 

[Angie16hearts]

Yesterday was interesting. The reason I was up so early was just a subconscious hunch on my part. And it was screaming COYOTE. Although it wasn't until about 3 hours or so later, Hermes bolted towards the fence line clucking up a storm. I followed unsure of what he was doing only to see a coyote using the neighbors drive to traverse the field across my fence. And sure enough Hermes followed with rage the whole while. That thing is getting ballsy, stopped to look back at me a few times and didnt look to be in a hurry. I was just so proud of Hermes, he saw the dang thing before my dog did.I'm just glad I was outside consolidating wood piles. Which by the way everyone loved. So much exposed earth and insects. Here's the bantams with their own private termite feast

Qbert even had a little field trip outside.

We even got the diaper on her again last night so she could spend some time inside.

All for now
Onwards and upwards
Attimus

Do u make your own diapers or buy ? I have some seramas I keep inside but I hate following then around.... I tried with a so k

did not work! I need to buy or make. Anyone knows a good dealer or ideas on how to make my own? Thanks a million ! Love the duck swimming !!
Thank god you were up and Bout! Glad everyone is safe. Time to get rid of the coyote!

 

[attimus]

We bought this one online but I feel like there's at least a few people on byc that make them too. Think I saw someone on the house duck thread anyways. I believe it's @Scovy Momma but I'm not 100%. My mom's a pretty good seamstress maybe I'll have to look up some diagrams. Coincidentally a nursing pad fits in the diaper and is much cheaper than the alternative.

Onwards and upwards
Attimus

 

[lindalouly]

Do u make your own diapers or buy ? I have some seramas I keep inside but I hate following then around.... I tried with a so k

did not work! I need to buy or make. Anyone knows a good dealer or ideas on how to make my own? Thanks a million ! Love the duck swimming !!
Thank god you were up and Bout! Glad everyone is safe. Time to get rid of the coyote!

There is a thread called indoor pet chickens and they have plans on it for diapers. If I can find it I will link it.