Processed 25 cornish cross yesterday...

[jossanne]

Quote:
They were about 7 and 8 weeks old. Nice to have about 100 pounds of chicken to toss int he freezer!

 

[jossanne]

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We've got a good system going. We don't have a killing cone, so he slits their throats and I hold them while they bleed out. I can hold three at a time. Once they've expired, I take them over and pluck while he cuts and guts the plucked ones. We can get them done in about 10-15 minutes per bird that way. When I have a break, I work on gizzards and livers to give to my dad.

 

[Winsor Woods]

do you have a plucker or do you pluck by hand. Impressive time per bird either way but if plucking by hand, that's an amazing time.

Dan

 

[jossanne]

We pluck by hand. Wish we had a plucker! I tried plucking one dry, but it left a lot of the tiny underneath feathers in, and it was slower. It's really pretty easy when you scald them, and the scalding pot has a bit of dish detergent in it. It makes the hot water penetrate through the feathers better.

 

[jaku]

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Whizbang pluckers are easy to build, cheap, and they work GREAT!!

 

[horsechick]

Hi,
How much did they weigh?
We just had 26 done and they didnt get really big at all, 2-3 1/2lbs after done.
well our first year so we will try another place next year, got them from Welp this year.
Thanks,
Angela

 

[jossanne]

They were 3.5 to just over 4.5 pounds apiece, at 8 weeks old. They came from Ideal hatchery. We fed them 28% protein turkey and game bird ration throughout their lifetime, and as they had room to move around, I didn't always withhold their food for the recommended 12hrs per day as recommended.

 

[Bridget399]

I am considering doing the same as you next year, but with only about a dozen. We're taking our 3 to the buther because it just seems like an awful lot of work just to do 3.
They look delicious (both before and after)!

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]