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

[Happy Chooks]

A friend of ours is looking to buy a plucker. My DH asked last night if I want to go in 1/2 with him. Ummmm, yeah!

 

[Arielle]

A friend of ours is looking to buy a plucker. My DH asked last night if I want to go in 1/2 with him. Ummmm, yeah!

 

[Coralietg]

Yet another question

We are processing the last 7 females today, 2 down so far. They are covered in lots of "hair" like feathers. How do people deal with those? I've heard singeing the feathers off, but wouldn't that make the chicken smell like burnt feathers?

 

[Crickett]

The smell doesn't enter the meat, and goes away.

 

[Coralietg]

The smell doesn't enter the meat, and goes away.

Ok, very good to know! Should we singe after plucking? Is a regular lighter OK to use?

 

[Crickett]

Ok, very good to know! Should we singe after plucking? Is a regular lighter OK to use?

You can use a bic or one of those aim and flame type. Just remember a bic lighter is going to get hot after a bit. I'd pluck as much off as possible first, then go over it quick for the "hairs ". Less time for the lighter to get hot, plus less stink. Be sure to do the singe part either outside, or with a good ventilation.

 

[Coralietg]

You can use a bic or one of those aim and flame type. Just remember a bic lighter is going to get hot after a bit. I'd pluck as much off as possible first, then go over it quick for the "hairs ". Less time for the lighter to get hot, plus less stink. Be sure to do the singe part either outside, or with a good ventilation.

We are processing outside thankfully! He used a blow torch, worked well and is quick without marking the skin. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Tomtommom]

Starting to think I don't have as many cockerels as I thought I had... what a nice surprise! The two white rocks (although I am not sure they are even white rocks) are 1 1/2 times as big as the others and have a full comb/wattle assembly... the barred rocks are just sprouting tiny little wattles and they're all the same age.

Guess I wont need a new freezer after all

 

[LindaB220]

Starting to think I don't have as many cockerels as I thought I had... what a nice surprise! The two white rocks (although I am not sure they are even white rocks) are 1 1/2 times as big as the others and have a full comb/wattle assembly... the barred rocks are just sprouting tiny little wattles and they're all the same age.

Guess I wont need a new freezer after all

Yes, my white rocks are 7 wks old and big. Bigger than Golden Comets and Delawares. That's a surprise . I like it though. Go ahead and get the freezer if you can. You'll need it.

 

[Tomtommom]

You wouldn't expect a huge difference between white and barred rocks, though?

Following the 'sex guess' guidelines, I have a few with dark fronts to their legs, and more black than white in their barring... which are supposedly pullets. I always go by the amount of pink/red in the comb at an early age and how big the comb is... but it seems it doesn't work that way in barred rock, as the combs stopped developing