Preserving Meat/Veggies/Fruit

[FortCluck]

I have a question about skinning... we did our first roosters today, they were born in Oct '19, so they weren't too old, but not really big either. One was a bantam, so of course he wasn't. Anyway, skinning wasn't necessarily easy, but we got it done and not too shabby for our first time. (I say "we", but my husband did all the work. ) What do you mean by getting the feathers all wet? Did you hose them down? Soak them? Hot water, cold water? I've read about scalding for plucking, but we don't want the skin, but is it the same process? Thanks for your help, I'm enjoying this thread!

I wet down the entire carcass so that the feathers wouldn't be all fluffy, it made it easier for me to skin them. I wet them down with cold water in my kitchen sink because I did everything in my kitchen besides the initial slice that offs them.

 

[FortCluck]

I have a question about skinning... we did our first roosters today, they were born in Oct '19, so they weren't too old, but not really big either. One was a bantam, so of course he wasn't. Anyway, skinning wasn't necessarily easy, but we got it done and not too shabby for our first time. (I say "we", but my husband did all the work. ) What do you mean by getting the feathers all wet? Did you hose them down? Soak them? Hot water, cold water? I've read about scalding for plucking, but we don't want the skin, but is it the same process? Thanks for your help, I'm enjoying this thread!

And feel free to post pics or whatever you'd like.

What type of chickens did you guys process?

My chickens were born on Halloween, I hatched them myself. I have more that I'm growing out right now plus I just hatched more a few days ago.

I usually do jersey giant crosses. Here's what they look like before they turn into giant chickens.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Just found this and thought it looked pretty good. Anyone ever gotten it or similar?

https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Plucker-Killing-Swedish-Processing/dp/B00AZ03F66

 

[FortCluck]

Just found this and thought it looked pretty good. Anyone ever gotten it or similar?

https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Plucker-Killing-Swedish-Processing/dp/B00AZ03F66

That plucker is better than by hand, but I don't think they're very efficient from what I've read and seen. You can look into it and decide.

 

[ShrekDawg]

That plucker is better than by hand, but I don't think they're very efficient from what I've read and seen. You can look into it and decide.

Thanks! It doesn’t seem like it would work very well? Hah I’ve seen the ones that are like a big bucket or whatever and it seems like those ones and/or just simply scalding would be way better haha but I also just kind of wondered if it was a good deal or not with the cone and knife too?? Idk how much cones usually are. I was trying to see and saw that thing haha

 

[ShrekDawg]

This is it just so it’s easier haha

 

[FortCluck]

This is it just so it’s easier haha

View attachment 2100162

Why are you looking at this? Do you plan on processing chickens?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Why are you looking at this? Do you plan on processing chickens?

I was just thinking I should get a cone for next time. If there is a next time. I know it probably sounds crazy but it’s like... now that I know I can do it I want to do meat birds. well, I wanted to before too but didn’t think I could do it. But it’s probably stupid considering everything else we have going on atm

 

[FortCluck]

I was just thinking I should get a cone for next time. If there is a next time. I know it probably sounds crazy but it’s like... now that I know I can do it I want to do meat birds. well, I wanted to before too but didn’t think I could do it. But it’s probably stupid considering everything else we have going on atm

And your parents don't like the idea I'm sure.

 

[ShrekDawg]

And your parents don't like the idea I'm sure.

Oh yeah no they hate it. Although I’m sure I could convince my dad after today his main thing was he thought I’d be traumatized and couldn’t do it and all this stuff. Sure he’d be fine now. My mom on the other hand.... she is a major work in progress. She still thinks it’s gross or whatever.