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

[winteree]

I know this is a bit off topic but does anyone have tips for culling Peking sized ducks? I have never culled a duck in my life and frankly I'm a bit lost any help would be greatly helpful

 

[hennible]

Oh look at this

I found this video helpful

 

[winteree]

Oh look at this

I found this video helpful

I love matts vids I didn't know he had that video he truly is a wealth of knowledge I wish I had a plucker but I only have to do 2 ducks and 3 roosters so I guess it isn't that bad

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I understand your feelings here. I had an English Orpington that despite rear trimming and keeping her back end clean, ended up with maggots in her rear. I tried to save her, washed all I could find out and separated her. The next morning, when I checked on her, the smell of necrotic tissue was overwhelming. I realized that she could not be saved and needed her put down ASAP. I couldn't bring myself to do it, she was a huge bird, and I was terrified of botching it and causing her to suffer more than she already was. I called my step dad, and he drove up and dispatched her for me. I had the hole already dug, and we just laid her in it and buried her.

There are certain birds that just melt their way into your heart. Of course, those special ones are the first we lose to predators too.

I found out afterwards that hens that have laying issues can change their poop, causing more attraction from flies. Her poop was like tar in the end, but at the time, I didn't know any better. She was never a fantastic layer, so that wasn't any indication either.

This was her:

What a beauty. I just adore Orps!

 

[katbriar]

Bazy- I think you've gotten all kinds of sensitive and terrific advice.

Each processing day when I wake up, I feel the dread. The best thing I can do is get up and start what needs to eventually be done. I would be miserable all day if I waited until evening.

Instead, I'm up with the chickens and have been known to dispatch my first one with 15 minutes of coming awake.

Just another way to cope. Be kind to yourself and good luck tomorrow. I'll be thinking about you.

 

[Bazy]

Bazy- I think you've gotten all kinds of sensitive and terrific advice.

Each processing day when I wake up, I feel the dread. The best thing I can do is get up and start what needs to eventually be done. I would be miserable all day if I waited until evening.

Instead, I'm up with the chickens and have been known to dispatch my first one with 15 minutes of coming awake.

Just another way to cope. Be kind to yourself and good luck tomorrow. I'll be thinking about you.

thank you. I agree. I was not expecting the very thoughtful replies.. It was an amazing thing and I have read every one at least a half dozen times. I sure hope I can help the next person as well as I've been helped.

it's supposed to rain all day. I have a covered porch on the barn and I have everything planned from the table, lights, ice tub, knife except for the heat source for the boiling water. I'll figure something out. I'm just trying to detach myself from it all without procrastinating right now. I know it's the right thing to do. I have a big garden and I can and pickle vegetables, I have water holding tanks for watering things, and now I have my chickens. Honestly, when I cooked my first few backyard chicken eggs it was a little weird too. Now, I can't get enough of them and my husband has actually cooked breakfast twice because he can't wait to have those eggs.

I talked to my son, and apologized to him. I told him that if he wanted to do his experiment, with turning one loose then I would let him do it, but not on this first rooster. I told him that the idea shocked me and that I took out that shock on him and made it sound like a judgement and that I was wrong for doing that, but that if I were honest about it I was curious if they really ran around after they were dead too. I don't really want to see it, but I imagine it happening. I told him he could do it only one time because it damages the meat from bruising and he agreed... then He accepted my apology.

 

[hennible]

I love matts vids I didn't know he had that video he truly is a wealth of knowledge I wish I had a plucker but I only have to do 2 ducks and 3 roosters so I guess it isn't that bad

Yeah the plucker is amazing... I'm only doing one roo and one drake but if I ever have a bunch to butcher it would be handy...
A little soap in the water helps with the duck plucking and make any processing smell better.

 

[Double Kindness]

I hope everything goes well for you today Bazy! The weather has really been rainy this year here too. I almost did a face plant slipping to go feed my muscovies trying to keep my dp meaties from that area, they pick on the ducks feathers. 4-6 more weeks until I am 30 birds lighter.

We definitely need a plucker and cone. And more ice coolers. I looked at our cooler and my bf forgot to empty it when we came back from camping the first week of august. Ewww.

I go out and try to handle the chickens as much as I can to make them easier to catch when the time comes. But this makes me very attached to them, and I know their little personalities. I bet they are so delicious though, it might be after I can finally eat chicken again; but after I finally do eat one of mine, I'll be ordering 50 cx for spring lol. Has it been like that for many people?

Good luck today. We're headed out of town for another business event, and I gotta go tend my critters and get everyone ready for me to be gone all day.

 

[lindsey8980]

Hey just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you today. Hope all goes smoothly and you make peace with it in your heart and don't have any sad feelings.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Thinking about you today, Brazy. This thread was created for people like you and me who have no experience with slaughter and who have a lot of emotion around the whole thing. There's technical help and emotional support in abundance here. Good luck.