New Hampshire!

[DownwardDog]

I know this can be a sensitive subject for some, BUT...
For those of you in NH who have to cull or for those raising meat birds, do you process the birds yourselves or send them out? Where are some reputable processors???

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I process them myself

 

[angelobutter]

Sorry to interrupt the culling topic but I just had some silkie chicks hatch and they are so cute I have to post pictures! so far there are three chicks but i have 5 eggs still pipping in the incubator so maybe some new photos tomorrow

 

[serenityNH]

I process myself also.

Angelo- beautiful babies

 

[DownwardDog]

So, where did you all learn to do this? Does it take much space and equipment?

 

[chicken pickin]

We process ourselves also. There are many threads here on BYC that are very helpful along with youtube vidoesfor learning the process. We did it in our garage with most things from around the house. Tables, buckets trash barrels. Fryer to use as a scalder. We bought knives and scissors on line If you use a knife have a sharpener handy. They sell scalpels at TSC if you want to use one of those. And heavy duty plactic to cover the floor from Homedept. We made tones of ice over a period of days using plastic bowls and tupperwares so we didnt have to buy ice. And we made the rack to hold the birds. There is also a farm I know of that does it local to me.

 

[chicken pickin]

It doesnt take much space or equipment here is a pic of my set up Copied and pasted from my old thread


This was our set up, the pic of the kill rack was before we started. we ended up not using the milk jugs and only the pink bucket in the middle(the milk jug seemed way to small)

This pic is after we built the rack

This is right before we started but then last min decided to take off the milk jugs and only use the bucket. We moved one of the concrete blocks and bagged buckets under it. Also the scalding pot to the right.

This is what we set up for plucking, cleaning ect. We also had 2 more buckets of clean water to either end of the table, to the left to rinse feathers while plucking and to the right to rinse clean after gutting.

This is what we used for an ice bath. After it was filled with water we added tons of ice and this is where the chickens sat until i drained then dryed them and bagged them.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

LOL as this high tec stuff... I guess I am just a hillbilly... back the truck up... let the tailgate down.. layer open newspapers weighed down with a big stock pot of icey water and a butcher knife... place a 5 gallon bucket lined with a large garbage bag at one end... set up a water hose with a spray nozzle on it.. get your self a hoe handle.... grab a chicken by his feet.. letting his head and neck lay on the ground under the handle.. place your feet on the handle of both sides of the chicken and pull his feet to the sky... His neck will snap with one swift pull...if his head didn't come off.. I keep a set of tree loppers close by.. I let the chicken finish bleeding out in the bucket... Once he is still place him on paper and go to work.... I rip the skin away on the chest... fillet the breast pieces... toss into the icey water... pull the hide off the thigh and leg.. either cut with a knife or use the loppers...removing the feet..toss into water... remove the liver and gizzard.. carefully remove the green gall bladder.... slice the gizzard open... remove the contents and the thick layer of lining inside.. rinse.. toss into icey water.... take the first few layers of newspaper on top... wrap up whats left and toss into garbage bucket. Yee Haw... time for chicken and dumplings lol

 

[DownwardDog]

Thanks for those pics, chicken pickin! Where are you located? I so wish there were mobile units who would come to you -- not so sure I can do it, or want to do it, myself! I'm a softy at heart....

 

[angelobutter]

Thanks for those pics, chicken pickin! Where are you located? I so wish there were mobile units who would come to you -- not so sure I can do it, or want to do it, myself! I'm a softy at heart....

i agree- i am a softie - I have my mom do all the butchering for me- she lives right next door so it works out- i just gotta time it so she is doing turkeys or ducks the same day and i can usually squeeze a few free chicken butcherings in.