Processing cockerels for other purposes

[CLSranch]

Good info. It's nice to do a few just for the know how in case some day you NEED to Know How.

 

[aart]

A lot of people that think permethrin works so good have never skinned a bird and then bagged a cape and saddle. You’ll see bugs in that bag that you weren’t aware of by checking over the bird. This is why I recommend sevin and frontline all the time. Comes from experience.

I was only about 5 months in to my chickeneering 'career'.
Started with a flock of adults and had no idea they had brought bugs with them until that moment.
Permethrin took care of it.
Was really glad it was only lice and not mites.
Haven't skinned a bird since either...so<shrugs>

 

[roosterhavoc]

I was only about 5 months in to my chickeneering 'career'.
Started with a flock of adults and had no idea they had brought bugs with them until that moment.
Permethrin took care of it.
Was really glad it was only lice and not mites.
Haven't skinned a bird since either...so<shrugs>

Next time you kill one put the cape or saddle in a bag and watch the bugs come out or don’t I’m just saying what actually works.

 

[aart]

Next time you kill one put the cape or saddle in a bag and watch the bugs come out or don’t I’m just saying what actually works.

I scald and pluck.
I know your feelings about bug chemicals....we have different techniques there

 

[Geena]

I love to peel the feet, and especially the POP of the nail sheaths coming off.

 

[CLSranch]

ditto

 

[3KillerBs]

I didn't practice for the purpose of learning to butcher, just a way of life.

Since I can save $1/lb for 5 minutes work, why *wouldn't* I want to cut up the whole chickens?

 

[LizzzyJo]

Plucking took a long time. I don't have a large pot, so I had to boil small batches of water and carry it out to a bucket. I think the water ended up being too cold to loosen the feathers. Cleanup took a long time too, washing out all the buckets, wrapping up guts, disinfecting everything.

OMG yes. Skin them. GAME CHANGER. I will never pluck for the rest of my life. Processing with skinning takes less than 10 minutes. No joke.

 

[LizzzyJo]

@Geena @OhZark Biddies do you scald before skinning?

(also just saw that amazon sells bags of chicken feathers as fertilizer! https://www.amazon.com/Down-Earth-Organic-Feather-Fertilizer/dp/B001B2W842 )

I don't. I don't use any heat. Ii skin outside with one motion and take the skinless carcass in to my kitchen counter cutting board to process. No feathers or mess. I trash the skin outside in whatever way works in that moment.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I just skimmed this thread but I'd love to know how to skin them while still preserving them for framing or whatever as another poster did. Would it be the same process as tanning a fur? (Something else I've researched but never attempted.)