our 1st time

[ladyride]

We had never processed before but we had several roos that were starting to look tasty

so today we decided to try out the new plucker & get those roos processed. Now I grew up on a farm but have lived in the city all of my adult life til about 3 years ago so this was a whole other world to me processing your homegrown meat, gardening I am good with. It took us 2 1/2 hours start to finish to do those 8 birds. They are now on ice to go in the fridge in am.
This would never even been possible had it not been for the very informative people here on BYC, this forum not only tells you how to raise the chickens & keep them healthy, but also how to process them for your dinner table. I am looking forward to tasting mine. I have eaten homegrown before just had never taken them from chicks to table.
So let me say here Thank-you everyone on here that prepared me for this journey. Many of you have my deepest respect. I know my chickens had a very happy little chicken life til today when they didn't. They have a good coop, nice protective run, could freerange with some degree of safety til recently when alot of preds found out the chicken buffet but we now have a handle on that thanks to the folks here as well.
We still have a group of broilers to do in a few weeks so this gave me the confidence to do them. One thing to keep in mind a glass of wine or a magarita will make everything go much easier.

 

[Jschaaff]

Go Ladyride

!!!! Go Ladyride

!!!!!
Nice job Lady

Personally I found my Roo (notice... singular.."Roo"...cuz the others..well, they got rehoooomed, after I processed the first Roo) ..much harder to process than my broilers. Not just emotionally, I mean, physically more difficult.. the broilers were easier to cull, easier to pluck, easier to gut, smelled better inside...yes lol...my cornish guts smelled better than my 5 month old roo guts...lol..Just sayin'!

So, I am sure you'll have no problem processing that group of broilers in a few weeks!

I'm sad its getting so cold here, would've loved to get one more batch in!

Congrats hun

Jessa

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'd like to second the OP's thank you to this board. I've been a vegetarian since 2002 - earlier this spring I had some extra roosters that I just couldn't get rid of. I thought... well this is silly. I don't eat meat because of the dismal way in which it is treated, in both life and death. I think it's unhealthy and unsustainable. These roosters lived a great life, and if I get rid of them, they'll probably get eaten anyway. I should just enjoy them myself. I've now become what I jokingly refer to as "autotarian" - I'll only eat what I've raised and processed. Granted so far it's been one bird... but there's more in the freezer.

Yesterday we did 6 roosters, and right now I've got their leftovers simmering in two crockpots to make some stock for freezing. Next time I do it I'm ready to move on to the necks and feet, too. I'm proud of myself for being more sustainable, for learning new skills (although my boyfriend does the eviscerating, I do help) and I couldn't do it without this board.

 

[booker81]

Congrats and well done!!!

It's amazing the pride and good feeling that comes when you learn how to not just make a meal, but how to make FOOD - be it gardening and growing veggies or fruits, up to learning how to properly care for meat animals and process them into meals. It's a trait most have forgotten. There are a lot of emotions that do come into play, but it's a thing to remember - while your chickens did have one bad day at your hand, the ones in the store often have a lifetime of bad days. It's an honorable way to provide meat for your family.