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

[fisherlady]

I think I might be able to do the pellet gun in cone I just have this problem with the whole knife jugular thing. Maybe after a few thousand it won't bother me so much. Was talking to my vet today and she said she can't do it either unless it is suffering then it is nothing for her. So I told her I would break their wings and bring them to her to finish off. She told me she would teach me how to set their wings.

I have no doubt you will be able to get the job done, half the battle is getting your head wrapped around the thought of using animals you raised for meat. You already did that, so now you just need to find a method you can do OK with. It will happen and we will be here if you have more questions or run into trouble with any parts of it.

If you can, find someone in your area that processes their own and volunteer to help for the experience. Watching or participating when they aren't your own animal may help you also. Ask at the vet's office and your local feed store if they know of anyone in the area who butchers birds. Post on your state's thread here on BYC (in the 'Where are you' part of the forum) and see if anyone who processes their own birds lives near you... it would be worth a day trip to gain the experience.

 

[chicken junky]

Thanks so much everyone I will look around some more Sunday since we are going to gun show tomorrow. I was thinking of cow and pig too but my family is already whining but I will win if it is really important, which we know it is. I am going to come to terms and make peace while the roosters grow some more, it would really help if they were mean but they love to come see me and get chest rubs, not good they must know I plan on eating them and they are trying to schmooze me to their side.

 

[ronott1]

Thanks so much everyone I will look around some more Sunday since we are going to gun show tomorrow. I was thinking of cow and pig too but my family is already whining but I will win if it is really important, which we know it is. I am going to come to terms and make peace while the roosters grow some more, it would really help if they were mean but they love to come see me and get chest rubs, not good they must know I plan on eating them and they are trying to schmooze me to their side.

Yes, you can do it!

Start slow with one or two. Set the date but do not worry if you cannot do it on that day. Try again the next day. It will get easier.

Families are funny. They complain a bunch until they eat one for dinner. The chicken you raise yourself is so tasty!

 

[cassie]

Yes, you can do it!

Start slow with one or two. Set the date but do not worry if you cannot do it on that day. Try again the next day. It will get easier.

Families are funny. They complain a bunch until they eat one for dinner. The chicken you raise yourself is so tasty!

Through no fault of my own, I became the designated chicken processor. I had 25 meaties that had to go to freezer camp. I did them two or three per day until they were all done. At three per day, a number I could handle, it only took just over a week to get them all done. Starting small is a great idea. By the way, it goes faster as you get more practice and get better at it.

 

[KrazyChromatics]

hey im looking into getting a bb pistol to do my birds on my own (we already butcher our own, DH just lops their heads off and then we pluck and whatever its no big deal) but i want to do my own on my own, and i just dont trust my aim or force right yet so i want to do the bb gun, and im looking online for one but idk what FPS would be efficient for a point blank? how hard can their little heads be? and there wont be any returns otherwise i would buy one and just practice with a head lol

 

[Kassaundra]

hey im looking into getting a bb pistol to do my birds on my own (we already butcher our own, DH just lops their heads off and then we pluck and whatever its no big deal) but i want to do my own on my own, and i just dont trust my aim or force right yet so i want to do the bb gun, and im looking online for one but idk what FPS would be efficient for a point blank? how hard can their little heads be? and there wont be any returns otherwise i would buy one and just practice with a head lol

When I decided to get a pellet gun for this, I asked around to several people I know personally who all had extensive knowledge of guns and hunting, they said as close to 1000 fps as possible. I also read on other forums, many people reporting success w/ 600fps. I went w/ a rifle size gun to get the higher fps. I do not know if there is any diff in the effectiveness of bb vs pellet.

 

[KrazyChromatics]

idk im mean if anything it would stun them enough to cut the throat ... i tried that once just as is and wasnt happy with it it was kinda traumatic lol id rather give myself a couple secs to get it right and not worry about the bird... but im also in the market for a good set of butcher knives for each task..

 

[Arielle]

Hi I am wanting to raise chickens to eat and maybe ducks and having an extremely hard time getting used to the idea of my boys becoming dinner, any suggestions???? I just bought a farm and am going to raise my new chickens and organic garden and live of the land as much as possible, but how do you take those beautiful sweet roos and kill them??? This is important since I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease 2 years ago I want off all the crappy medications and to eat to live (I know that sounds hokey) but I can't figure how to go from saver of my animals to eater of my animals. How old are they before you butcher them and is there someone who can do the deed for me? Once they are gone I will be fine but killing them....... Help anyone

Having raised sheep for many years and now chickens--- step yourself thru the process. Find someone that can process them for you. Learn to cope with this first. I always put my emotions in "freeze" mode and focus on loading the livestock. I also focus on the nutritional benefits for my family. I hear more and more on a nutrition based forum that commerically produced meats are contributing to MANY of our diseases both mild and severe. Beekissed has also extolled those values of truely clean meat. To eat to live will be your best ally in this fight against Crohn's.

Collect them as a group, and not focus on an individual. Don't eat a pet. I can still remember a lamb named Cocoa sitting on my plate 20 years ago-- I could not eat Cocoa. I don't kill and eat pets. Which also means don't name too many !lol

When I paid the bill at the processors for 37 chickens-- I felt I could save my family money by butchering my own meat. I pick the day, put my emotions on hold, and push thru . . . .and say a prayer of thanks to every bird. Every bird. With experience the process of butchering will become easier. As for emotionally? . . . Not any easier. I continue because I know the meat is healthier for my kids. And me.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: My children always ask which is it? Ours or the grocery store's? The sotre bird was ok to eat. THen when I raised up the cornishX, suddenly THAT was alright to eat.

THey are learning to eat what is cooked.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

question, anyone that built a temp hoop house for meaties can you have a look at this one and let me know if its a workable one please? http://wholeviewfarm.blogspot.com/2013/07/building-hoop-coop-how-to-construct.html