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

[gryeyes]

Before I managed to find homes for my beloved bantam roosters, I used to "warn" them they could easily become Cup o' Soup - being small didn't give them permission to be naughty boys.

Unfortunately, I found out later the guy I gave four bantam roosters and six LF laying hens (two per rooster as incentives) lost every last one to predators. He had an inadequate coop; when he called to get some more hens, I didn't have any available. :/. And I won't. Not for him. Ever. Not even for money.

 

[ronott1]

So, slaughter them as soon as I have myself mentally prepared and must make soup if there isn't enough meat? I should process them the same way as if they were big birds, correct? The concept of killing them and not using them is abhorrent to me. I'm thinking of paying my vet's tech to come and teach me. He has chickens and we've talked about slaughtering. Would $100 to teach me be enough do you think?

Check the state thread for your State and see if there is someone close to you willing to help you.

I helped a local BYCr last Summer.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Check the state thread for your State and see if there is someone close to you willing to help you.

I helped a local BYCr last Summer.

What do you mean state thread? Is there a thread specifically for Texas?

 

[wlhtx]

Where are you in TX?

 

[ronott1]

What do you mean state thread? Is there a thread specifically for Texas?

This is one:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/44/texas

Texas is a big state, so there may be threads for the different areas. Local social threads are a great way to meet others with chickens. It is nice meeting others like us--my family thinks I am a crazy chicken guy so it is nice to talk with someone that is crazy like me too.

 

[Kassaundra]

Posting so I can find this again and catch up on this thread

 

[jajeanpierre]

Where are you in TX?

San Antonio area.

 

[mithious]

Hi all, just wanted to pop in, as I just am getting back into chickens. Been near 20 years. My late husband used to do the killing and I processed, so now I am going to have to do it all.

VERY glad there is a thread on here, as I will need it, come fall! I know how, that is not the problem, the killing is. I have decided to get a killing cone but have never used one before. We used to process them like the old days with my Daddy. with an axe. So will need some help and support. I don't know if it's a girl thing or what, but no matter how many times I used to hunt or process livestock, I would cry during the killing. Then get on with the rest with no problem.

I am a bit nervous, and do not have the money to send them out the first time...I am only going to process extra Roo's this fall, as I started late this year and have 15 BR's that will be 3 weeks from hatch, Sunday. I know I am going at this way fast and have some time, BUT...I need that time to get my head and mind right to do this!

I DO NOT name my chickens. I just call them "chickens". So that part is ok. My Daddy told me to never name my food. I just don't know where the jugular vein is in the chickens neck and would have to virtually cut the whole head off. I couldn't stand them being hurt and not killed because I didn't know this method and I can't use the axe anymore...can't chase down the chickens...my husband used to just hold them by the legs till they stopped with the nerves stuff.

So any words of wisdom for me? I do NOT take a life lightly, but need to supplement my grocery bill and this was my way of doing that. Next year I plan to raise some for meat, providing one or more of my hens goes broody for me. This year is eggs and breeding stock. But I will have atleast one Roo that I will have to process, as I only want one for breeding and am going to wait to pick the right one, so mostly stew meat. But one other might be a cockerel too, so might have to process two.

Thanks all, and am VERY grateful for this thread and for BYC and all of you!!!!

 

[ronott1]

Hi all, just wanted to pop in, as I just am getting back into chickens. Been near 20 years. My late husband used to do the killing and I processed, so now I am going to have to do it all.

VERY glad there is a thread on here, as I will need it, come fall! I know how, that is not the problem, the killing is. I have decided to get a killing cone but have never used one before. We used to process them like the old days with my Daddy. with an axe. So will need some help and support. I don't know if it's a girl thing or what, but no matter how many times I used to hunt or process livestock, I would cry during the killing. Then get on with the rest with no problem.

I am a bit nervous, and do not have the money to send them out the first time...I am only going to process extra Roo's this fall, as I started late this year and have 15 BR's that will be 3 weeks from hatch, Sunday. I know I am going at this way fast and have some time, BUT...I need that time to get my head and mind right to do this!

I DO NOT name my chickens. I just call them "chickens". So that part is ok. My Daddy told me to never name my food. I just don't know where the jugular vein is in the chickens neck and would have to virtually cut the whole head off. I couldn't stand them being hurt and not killed because I didn't know this method and I can't use the axe anymore...can't chase down the chickens...my husband used to just hold them by the legs till they stopped with the nerves stuff.

So any words of wisdom for me? I do NOT take a life lightly, but need to supplement my grocery bill and this was my way of doing that. Next year I plan to raise some for meat, providing one or more of my hens goes broody for me. This year is eggs and breeding stock. But I will have atleast one Roo that I will have to process, as I only want one for breeding and am going to wait to pick the right one, so mostly stew meat. But one other might be a cockerel too, so might have to process two.

Thanks all, and am VERY grateful for this thread and for BYC and all of you!!!!

It is great that your are here and working on processing so soon. It sounds like you will be fine.

There is a list of equipment in the first part of the thread. Add some tissues so that you can get the crying part out of the way after the killing and then get to work on plucking and Dressing.

Keep coming here for support!

 

[mithious]

Thanks so much!!! I will be coming here often, as I NEED to do this! I have been reading through the posts and have learned cutting the head off, even in the killing cone is ok, so that made me feel a little bit better. I'd rather that, than not do it right!!! I also read that it's about 6 more weeks till the time for slaughter, so that really isn't very long!

Atleast I can start slowly, with the one or two cockerels I need to dispatch this year.

Thanks so much for the support and will definitely pick up those tissues before hand!!!