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

[BCMaraniac]

QUESTIONS because I don't have time to go back and refer again.....


Let sit in the fridge for 2 days in WATER OR NO WATER?

Also do I let the liver and heart sit in water no salt for the same time?




I did hatchet the wings off at the second joint before I dunked him because the pot is little and well, it was easy.
We counted to 45 (seconds) swirling in the pot of soapy 150 degree water and the feathers just fell out and the skin didn't rip.



It was great to have a bucket of soapy water with a little bleach in it as chickens do have a yuck chicken smell, it was nice to get rid of the odor off our hands after plucking. And the acv dunk took it away from the bird itself! THANK GOD!

I just pat mine dry inside and out with a paper towel and then put them in a large ziplock bag(they make gallon and 2 gallon ones for big birds). If you are planning on using a vacuum sealer, you can seal them, then just sit them in the fridge for a couple of days before putting them in the freezer. As for the livers, no need to sit in water, just bread 'em and fry 'em! I don't know if the gizzard and heart need to sit or not....wouldn't hurt....just put them in a sealable container in whatever water is let on them after rinsing. Put them straight into the pot if you are using them to make chicken stock. My husband eats the livers, and I eat the hearts and gizzards.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

ok DH back.... 3 more...... to gooooooo

 

[BCMaraniac]

yes and I can remove the tissues as they were not needed....

BUT I CAN SAY this.....
I had an extremely short fuse as I was setting things up, I kept telling myself, darm straight I DO NOT HAVE TO LIKE this but I need to do it, I told the kids to run for the lives and stay out of my way! Seriously stressful before hand and then when the life was gone, it was better and I told everyone to breath and take our time and we all did so very calmly, little luke was the only one grossed out, Harmony was so into it, the freak child girl! LOL

Perhaps that means she is going to be a doctor one day. A deer ran out in front of my brother late one night and he killed it....so he called the game warden, and after he came out, he gave the deer to my brother(it was summer, and I was home from college). So he field-dressed it before he brought it home about 4am.....I heard him whisper, "Mom....", and I heard him tell her what had happened. Well, I jumped up, and got right in the thick of things. We had a bench swing in the back yard on a frame like a child's swing set, so we took the swing down and used the frame to hang the deer. I helped Mom skin it, cut it up, package it........and then I asked her if she would fry me some of the tenderloin for breakfast!!! I went on to medical school.....so you never know about Harmony......

 

[Elke Beck]

Btw I put in cone DH did deed

Congratulations! You did it! It is not fun, but it is definitely doable. And you have the knowledge that your carefully raised bird did not suffer at the hands of uncaring strangers.

 

[ozexpat]

that was a tall roo!

 

[chicksooner]

pictures, note cone size BEFORE we had the chicken in it and after, ooops! that was the most traumatic of it all, wanting to do it fast and then having to screw around with the stupid cone!







TOOK 15 minutes before the slice to get the stupid cone right size,
we had to cut off about 8 inches of it!


TIME : 13:45













TIME : 14:05

First one LF cochin roo = 20 minutes from slice to fridge EXACTLY

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

OMG I am so stinkin proud for you!!! So we have not done it yet but I think I will on Tuesday after I take kids to school. 20 Mins for the first must be some kind of newbie processor record! Enjoy your victory!

 

[wingstone]

QUESTIONS because I don't have time to go back and refer again.....


Let sit in the fridge for 2 days in WATER OR NO WATER?

Also do I let the liver and heart sit in water no salt for the same time?




I did hatchet the wings off at the second joint before I dunked him because the pot is little and well, it was easy.
We counted to 45 (seconds) swirling in the pot of soapy 150 degree water and the feathers just fell out and the skin didn't rip.



It was great to have a bucket of soapy water with a little bleach in it as chickens do have a yuck chicken smell, it was nice to get rid of the odor off our hands after plucking. And the acv dunk took it away from the bird itself! THANK GOD!

I put in ziploc bag, no salt or water and rest in fridge for a day or 2..... the only time I use salt water is for wild game.

If things work out for you and the kids and hubby are ok with the meat, you may think about doing this more often, if so, i have some huge pots that come from butcher shops, i would sell you one cheaply if interested.....these are the big kettles like soup kitchens use....

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: really? COOL! Good for you!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: oh I wish I could say not suffer..... I am going to write my horror story, was the 2nd bird....

DONT LET CONFIDENCE HIT YOU IN THE BUTT! Is the lesson learned today.......

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: oh wow Awesome Wing! your so kind my friend! you know I have to admit I seriously want these three turkeys in the bator to make it now!