I am new to this and have recently hatched eggs. I can't keep roosters because I live in town. I am comfortable eating my rooster but do not know the first thing about killing and dressing a chicken. Can I get someone to do this for me? How do I go about this? Do I just find a farmer and pay him to prepare them for me?? I would like to get about 6 hens, but that likely means giving away or eating multiple roosters. Help!
We had 4 out of 7 silkies who turned out to be Roos. They "moved out" to a neighboring farm. There is no way I could pass them off as regular chickens on the table with that black skin! lol
Some people use killing cones. They put the bird upside down into the cone and slit thier throat. You drain the blood into a bucket. I believe the roos will sort of go to sleep when they are upside down in the cone and the blood rushes to thier heads. They don't flap around as much because the wide part of the cone holds thier wings in (when you kill them they involuntarily will flap around) . I haven't used one before but that I what I understood from reading about them. There is a meat forum here on byc with people who are experienced with different methods. Years ago, when we used to raise leghorns and barred rocks exclusively, my dh just used an axe. I don't like that method because they know something horrible is happening to them. My grandmother raised leghorns and she used an axe and did the deed herself lol. If you don't want to do the deed. Just raise them up to eating size and find a meat processor person or if you are lucky to live near some farms that raise chickens they might do it for you.
Quote:I did my first roosters yesterday and learned everything I knew from BYC and affiliated sites. Specifically, I found these six sites to be very good resources and would recommend them to other beginners: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=109583 http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Butchering-ready.html http://butcherachicken.blogspot.com/ http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poultryprocess.html#Table2
If i were you, if you don't want to do it yourself, i would go to the "where am i where are you?" thread and find your state. It might be easier there to find someone nearby you who could help you out. I'd be happy to help you out, but i think i'm a little too much of a drive for you. You might also ask around at your local feed store to see if they just know someone they could connect you with.