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

[Sally Sunshine]

Sally, if you change sources on your next batch follow the same feed and care routine you did for this batch through the first 6 weeks and adjust as necessary after you get a good reading on their growth rate.
Each new batch of birds is a new learning experience.

will do, when should we place our spring order? I have brooder outside with heat ..... yay me!!! lmao I dont want to be processing in heat and flies!! this was a perfect amount for the area too! now if they last until the next batch gets processed it should work wonderfully right! thanks again!

 

[fisherlady]

will do, when should we place our spring order? I have brooder outside with heat .....  yay me!!!  lmao    I dont want to be processing in heat and flies!! this was a perfect amount for the area too! now if they last until the next batch gets processed it should work wonderfully right!  thanks again!

We got ours the last week of February and it worked out perfectly because we were processing the first week of May so the mess was done before hot weather and fishing season.
It is nice enough weather in April to process any 'failing' birds outside also.

 

[fisherlady]

We did keep ours in our crib brooder for the first week or so in the house so we could check them more often, then out to the shed.

 

[Bridebeliever]

Question from a newbie!

Everything I have seen on processing chickens show slitting the neck and poking the brain! Eeek! I don't think I can do it! What happened to the old fashioned wood block and off with the head? The thing I fear about slitting is that I won't do it right and it'll suffer! I figure head completely off=completely dead.
I have 9 chicks and I think two might be roos...ugh...and yes, I'm already attached to their little personalities!

 

[fisherlady]

Question from a newbie!

Everything I have seen on processing chickens show slitting the neck and poking the brain! Eeek! I don't think I can do it! What happened to the old fashioned wood block and off with the head? The thing I fear about slitting is that I won't do it right and it'll suffer! I figure head completely off=completely dead.
I have 9 chicks and I think two might be roos...ugh...and yes, I'm already attached to their little personalities!

If you go back to the beginning of the thread there are numerous methods discussed along with their pros and cons.
Search 'pellet gun', 'broomstick method', 'killing cone' to refine your search if you don't find what you are needing in the early part of the thread.

 

[Bridebeliever]

If you go back to the beginning of the thread there are numerous methods discussed along with their pros and cons.
Search 'pellet gun', 'broomstick method', 'killing cone' to refine your search if you don't find what you are needing in the early part of the thread.

I did read a lot in the beginning, its a lot of weeding through discussions and I didn't really find the answer...call me lazy, I thought I'd just ask.

I know all about the killing cone and I really like that idea. I was wondering about using something to just take their head completely off. Maybe I should start another thread with a poll. I just want to know what "most" do.

 

[fisherlady]

I did read a lot in the beginning, its a lot of weeding through discussions and I didn't really find the answer...call me lazy, I thought I'd just ask.    I know all about the killing cone and I really like that idea. I was wondering about using something to just take their head completely off.  Maybe I should start another thread with a poll. I just want to know what "most" do.

The top 3 methods seem to be the cone, broomstick and pellet gun (while they are in a cone)
You can combine methods a bit by using a cone and a much heavier knife and cutting clear through to the spine, nearly severing the head...advantage of taking head off completely is the understanding that it cuts off all nerve conduction immediately, downside is bird flopping and bruising meat if you don't need it restrained in some way, which will also cause extensive blood splatter.
Some folks use the broomstick to sever the spine and then hang them immediately to cut the neck and allow them to drain.
I prefer to just place them in the cone and cut them, with a sharp fillet knife or scalpel it is quick and simple and draining the blood does improve the rest of the process and meat appearance in my opinion.
Coning and doing a head shot with a pellet gun is also quick and simple and can be explained further if it is of interest to you.

 

[Bridebeliever]

The top 3 methods seem to be the cone, broomstick and pellet gun (while they are in a cone)
You can combine methods a bit by using a cone and a much heavier knife and cutting clear through to the spine, nearly severing the head...advantage of taking head off completely is the understanding that it cuts off all nerve conduction immediately, downside is bird flopping and bruising meat if you don't need it restrained in some way, which will also cause extensive blood splatter.
Some folks use the broomstick to sever the spine and then hang them immediately to cut the neck and allow them to drain.
I prefer to just place them in the cone and cut them, with a sharp fillet knife or scalpel it is quick and simple and draining the blood does improve the rest of the process and meat appearance in my opinion.
Coning and doing a head shot with a pellet gun is also quick and simple and can be explained further if it is of interest to you.

Thank you! I was thinking of using the cone and completely taking the head off. I guess I didn't know if that makes processing harder? I think I've seen that after the 150 degree bath and then de-feathering the next thing that's done is head off. Thankfully I do have a friend that has meat birds. I invited myself over to her house next time she processes so I'll get a really good dose of what it's like!

 

[fisherlady]

Thank you!  I was thinking of using the cone and completely taking the head off.  I guess I didn't know if that makes processing harder?  I think I've seen that after the 150 degree bath and then de-feathering the next thing that's done is head off.  Thankfully I do have a friend that has meat birds.  I invited myself over to her house next time she processes so I'll get a really good dose of what it's like! 

Taking the head off when in a cone is possible but would really a very strong hand with good accuracy, a chopping block certainly gets the job done but it is undoubtedly messier and still requires good aim and a strong swing...hesitation can cause unpleasant issues.
Aiding your neighbors will be the best way to see if you are comfortable doing doing it.

 

[sideWing]

I have a pair of meat sheers that I thought might work well for it. I use the cone and knife method, but if you wanted to sever the spine a good pair of meat sheers might work great.