Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[chicksooner]

Dinner at camp Friday night... from the smoker, cooked for 4 hrs at 275 (or slightly lower)... was a 7lb 6oz bird.... and yes, it's upside down. I prefer cooking them that way.



If we ever debated on keeping meaties... this bird alone would be enough to convince us that it is worth every day of it!

 

[off-grid hen]

Fisher lady hat bird looks delicious!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Dinner at camp Friday night... from the smoker, cooked for 4 hrs at 275 (or slightly lower)... was a 7lb 6oz bird.... and yes, it's upside down. I prefer cooking them that way.



If we ever debated on keeping meaties... this bird alone would be enough to convince us that it is worth every day of it!

OMGAWD!!! yum!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

This is what I use to feed FF

is this a rubber one just wider? can it flip? I am so paranoid I cant tell you how many birds I found under dishes! I now use those cat dishes that if flipped still have a center that they can still breath and attempt to get out, and the other dishes I screwed a plastic tube on one side on the top so if it flips ditto above, so ya I am paranoid. Closest to dying was one turkey!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Great thread! I have been feeling pretty awefull about processing my chickens this fall. I am not getting my meat birds until late August and I have a bunch of extra roosters to go along with them. I am cheating this first time. There is a USDA inspected processor 15 minutes away that will do the deed and give you back you bird in a shrink wrapped bag for $3.50. They assured me that they are humane and they have a small open air facility. My husband was stoked when I found this place because he really didn't want to do it. The deal was that he does the killing. I don't think I am ready for that... He had to cull a chick for me with a scissors and didn't like it at all, plus after all the videos we watched on processing chickens he was really happy not to have to dispose of all the guts and stuff. It's going to be hard just to load them up and know they are done for. I have always felt we are all hypocrites if we eat meat and can't raise our own, but I am going to go this route first because I just am too soft hearted to do it myself the first year. Still getting emotionally prepared to send them away this fall.

Lisa

Hi Lisa! You will do fine Lisa! I think if he has issues with innards then that's the best route for you, but you sure could save cash doing it yourself!

 

[199787]

Hi Lisa! You will do fine Lisa! I think if he has issues with innards then that's the best route for you, but you sure could save cash doing it yourself!

Yah, I could save money, but it think it would take a long time to process all these and you know what they say...time is money. I do want to know how to do it myself just in case I have to someday. I watched a lot of videos...I will have to get someone to show me so I don't totally tear up a bird if I have to do it.

Lisa

 

[hillfloweranch]

is this a rubber one just wider? can it flip? I am so paranoid I cant tell you how many birds I found under dishes! I now use those cat dishes that if flipped still have a center that they can still breath and attempt to get out, and the other dishes I screwed a plastic tube on one side on the top so if it flips ditto above, so ya I am paranoid. Closest to dying was one turkey!

They haven't done that they're too busy eating what's inside it

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Thanks.

Speaking of "processing day emotions", it kind of bothers me that harvesting chickens doesn't bother me more. I don't enjoy it, it makes me feel uncomfortable, but I get down to business. I have made peace with what I am doing. I feel guilty that it doesn't bother me more. I have a lot of philosophical thoughts about killing chickens, and I really love chickens, so I do feel bad about it. But it's not as bad as I thought. Isn't that the way with a lot of things in life? Anyway, that's my contribution to the main thread I guess.

I am feeling the same way...with one exception. I culled my first bird ever this morning...an extra and aggressive 17 week old BR cockerel who bit the heck outta me two nights ago. When I sliced his jugular, my hands were shaking. I expected to cry and feel AWFUL for taking the life of something, but I didn't. I didn't like it at all, mind you, but I didn't feel bad. And now I feel guilty because I didn't feel bad.

I think the reason I didn't react the way I expected to is because I spent two days mentally preparing myself. I knew if I let my emotions get the best of me, I'd have a panic attack. I suffer from severe anxiety, and panic attacks...to me...are the worst feeling in the world. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. So any way to avoid them, I take it. I think I just wouldn't LET myself feel bad or sad.

But now I'm filled with guilt for my lack of emotions. SIGH.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Montana - Welcome to the Processing day support group!

Not sure if you've read from the beginning but we've all talked about the
different emotions we had before, during and after doing "the deed".
Whatever you're feeling, in my opinion, is just fine. As Dr. Phil says
"how's that workin for ya"

Taking the life of something is not supposed to be easy. However,
who says we have to feel terrible for doing what nature initially
intended us to do?

As far as anxiety - right there with ya sista. My chickens have been
the best prescription for battling depression/anxiety!! My family
has noticed a big difference in me. (and I thought I was hiding it
so well

)

I have my last processed meatie thawing today. I initially thought
I wouldn't want to get meaties again. Now, I can't wait for Fall and
pick out my next batch. All the best to you - we are all in it together!

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Montana - Welcome to the Processing day support group!

Not sure if you've read from the beginning but we've all talked about the
different emotions we had before, during and after doing "the deed".
Whatever you're feeling, in my opinion, is just fine. As Dr. Phil says
"how's that workin for ya"

Taking the life of something is not supposed to be easy. However,
who says we have to feel terrible for doing what nature initially
intended us to do?

As far as anxiety - right there with ya sista. My chickens have been
the best prescription for battling depression/anxiety!! My family
has noticed a big difference in me. (and I thought I was hiding it
so well

)

I have my last processed meatie thawing today. I initially thought
I wouldn't want to get meaties again. Now, I can't wait for Fall and
pick out my next batch. All the best to you - we are all in it together!

Thank you. Yea, anxiety SUCKS lol. I forgot to mention...I did have one emotion surface after I cut the jugular..."oh God, I hope he's not suffering". That is because I wasn't sure if I cut right...he flopped around a lot.

I posted this in a separate thread, but want to share it here in this support topic. Opinions GREATLY appreciated.

I hope I did everything right. I watched a lot of videos and read a lot of how-to's...I hope I didn't miss anything.

I chose the method of slicing the jugular. I watched different technique videos...and it seemed the fastest and best way in order to get all the blood to drain. I was originally going to just cut/chop the head off...but when I watched videos of this and the bird just ran around, decapitated...I noticed there was barely any blood loss. Where does the blood go? The way I did it, the blood just drains out. But the decapitated bird didn't "leak".

I have three extra roos (17 weeks old) and knew they would end up as dinner once I realized they were male. I was going to wait until next weekend, but two nights ago Boring Boy attacked me and bit the crap outta my hand. So he met his maker a little early.

My boys (8 and 10) were there to witness. Last night I isolated him as the rest of the flock free ranged for an hour...I read that it's a good idea to withhold food the night before. Once it got dark, I removed their food from inside the coop and returned him. This morning I retrieved him from the coop. I hung him by his feet from a tree (out of sight of the coop containing the other chickens) by a rope with a slip knot. I used the sharpest knife I had (hubby's filet knife), moved the feathers out of the way, and sliced. I think I got just the jugular...not positive though. He drained for a few seconds and then started flopping around. I didn't realize he'd do that. Or, at least, not so much. He flopped for a good 2 or 3 minutes. My boys laughed so hard...while I just thought to myself "God, I hope he's not suffering". Once the blood just dripped instead of flowed, I cut the head off.

I dipped him in the hot water and swished around till the feathers could be wiped away. The boys and I removed all the feathers and then I rinsed him with a hose. I tried to burn the "hairs" but when I cleaned him, noticed I missed a lot. I picked as many of as I could see with my fingernails, once I gutted him.

When I was finished, I put him in a roasting pan and stuck him in my fridge.

Questions: Did I not slice the neck right? Is that why he just kept flopping around???

How do I store him to "rest" in the fridge? Do I keep him in the roasting pan and just cover it up with plastic wrap? Or should I wrap him up? If so, with what?

He got stiff within minutes of slicing his jugular. He's still stiff. Is this normal????

How long should I let him "rest"? I have read so many conflicting amounts...one person said 2 days for just the right tenderness. Someone else wrote 5 days. I am so confused!

Oh, and I'm not freezing him...he's going to be dinner straight from the fridge. The other two, though (once culled), will be freezer bound. Do I have to soak them in brine and THEN freeze them? Or can I freeze them right from the fridge??


I am very proud of myself for doing it. I didn't enjoy it at all...taking a life is not something I've ever done before. Well, except for a handful of black widows and wasps LOL. But I am proud. No one thought I could go through with it. I did it though, and now that I know I am able to do it, I feel empowered...that I can provide food for my family. What a great feeling.