New Jersey

[DragonfyrNJ]

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Seems like most of the NJ people are up in Sussex county and northern and Central NJ...don't seem to be a lot of us Cape May County people

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

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Yeah, yeah - don't get my hopes up, Lauren!

I hope to graduate in December, too, and I'm STILL waiting to hear whether they'll let me into grad school. Gonna raise a turkey for me? I'm placing my order now.

Let me tell you, you missed the best Sussex show yet. I've never seen such an amazing variety of birds, on the show AND sale floor.

Ahhh, you are making me jealous!

Don't worry, providing I don't have work on the same day, I WILL be there!

As for the turkeys, I just have to figure out a place to keep 'em till thanksgiving! Them dang things are sooo messy! I'm not so sure my dad will let me take over one of his horse stalls to do it, but I'm thinking if I take it over nice and slowlyyy he won't really notice untill it's too late! ROFL

I also have to find a butcher. I wanted to learn to do it myself, but now I'm thinking it would be so much easier to just pay someone else to process 'em for me.

 

[mame1616]

Dragonfyr, there are a LOT of South Jersey people - just go back through the posts, or do a search of different towns in the search bar - Welcome to BYC!!

Lauren, that's a pretty big processing job to do yourself. I can help, but I don't know if I'm ready to do "the deed" itself just yet. Went to a processing demo last fall and it was extremely informative. Scout around on here and see if someone knows a traveling processor that can come to your house.

As far as the Spring Show, I will give you that date in PLENTY of time for you to get at least the morning off - so no excuses from you!! I hope to know in a couple weeks.

 

[cbohn80]

butchering birds is easy, i was a duck hunter but after owning ducks i might not do it anymore. its the feathering thats hard. cabelas makes a de-featherer for a drill for a few bucks. once the feathers are off use poultry shears for the head and lower legs. one inscision from breastbone to tail and just pull everything out. its simple but messy. in my opinion you're better off saving your cash and doing it yourself

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I think the main problem I would have is killing the bird. The only times I've ever had to do "the deed" was for animals that needed emergency euthanasia. I think if I had someone show me first, I wouldn't have such a problem with it, but right now I feel a bit hesitant. Also, the issue of plucking since I don't have a plucker, but I'm sure I could borrow one or find a cheap one somewhere. If I do turkeys successfully, I would love to do meat chickens at some point!

 

[mame1616]

Mother Earth News has some home-made chicken plucker instructions online, or available for purchase. I'm with you - if someone could show me, say, the cone method, I could probably do it. Saw the hatchet method - that's out. Someone showed me the head-under-the-boot-and-pull method this weekend. I don't think that's for me, either.

 

[Tom NJ]

Anyone have a duck or two they are looking to get rid of/sell? I am in Burlington. I have one lonely Cayuga drake. His mate was hit by a car a few weeks ago.

Thanks.

 

[cbohn80]

sorry to hear that tom, you really need to fence them in, its the second time in a few months right? check with ben is a terror, she needs to get rid of some.

 

[cbohn80]

i have fertile duck eggs if you have an incubator tom, they'd be free of charge. it would be any mix of cayuga/runner/pekin. i could meet you at ractor supply again next time i need feed, unfortunately i still feel like i have too many males so we arent willing to give up any females. i swear they put viagra in the duck feed, the girls cant catch a break

 

[Tom NJ]

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Yeah, it is unfortunate. They weren't going near the road, but for some reason, when they harvested the field across the street the ducks were interested and went over there. Your drake is alive. I thought about not getting any more ducks and sticking with the chickens. However, he seems pretty lonely and I don't want to get rid of him.