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

[fisherlady]

oh how do you "DRAIN THEM"

I have not done it myself, for our purposes it hasn't been something I felt the need to do, though I was tempted to. I was able to just process instead. I think it is a more practical thing to do for someone who isn't able to process at a moments notice or if the bird really needs more growing time.

The process of doing it is pretty basic. you need a large volume syringe (30-50cc) with a larger bore needle (14-18 gauge). alcohol or betadine to clean the area for the needle entry.
Hold the bird securely, pick an area midway between the point of the ribcage and vent, clean it very well, insert needle to just under skin, draw back on plunger to withdraw fluid. Do not move the needle around once you penetrated into the abdominal cavity, you don't want to risk lacerating internal organs, you want it to be as minimal an amount of trauma as possible. Most needles can be disconnected from syringes by twisting. If you have the bird held still and have someone helping you or are familiar with handling needles you should be able to disconnect the syringe when full without moving the needle, you can then empty the syringe and hook it back to the needle and pull any remaining fluid.

If you have never used a needle and syringe before you should get a couple of extra ones and practice with one by piercing a thinner skinned orange or the skin of a piece of chicken from the store. It will give you a bit of experience handling the syringe before using it on a live bird.

The process is explained on byc in a couple of threads on ascites I have found during research.

Edit to add...when you have finished draining the amount you wanted you will withdraw the syringe directly back out. The hole will be small enough it shouldn't bleed actively, though you may get a drop or two of blood or fluid. Wipe the area clean again and I would put a dab of antibiotic ointment on the site, and or a squirt of blu-kote. Treat the area like you would any other small puncture wound.

 

[sideWing]

oh how do you "DRAIN THEM"

Too soon?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have not done it myself, for our purposes it hasn't been something I felt the need to do, though I was tempted to. I was able to just process instead. I think it is a more practical thing to do for someone who isn't able to process at a moments notice or if the bird really needs more growing time.

The process of doing it is pretty basic. you need a large volume syringe (30-50cc) with a larger bore needle (14-18 gauge). alcohol or betadine to clean the area for the needle entry.
Hold the bird securely, pick an area midway between the point of the ribcage and vent, clean it very well, insert needle to just under skin, draw back on plunger to withdraw fluid. Do not move the needle around once you penetrated into the abdominal cavity, you don't want to risk lacerating internal organs, you want it to be as minimal an amount of trauma as possible. Most needles can be disconnected from syringes by twisting. If you have the bird held still and have someone helping you or are familiar with handling needles you should be able to disconnect the syringe when full without moving the needle, you can then empty the syringe and hook it back to the needle and pull any remaining fluid.

If you have never used a needle and syringe before you should get a couple of extra ones and practice with one by piercing a thinner skinned orange or the skin of a piece of chicken from the store. It will give you a bit of experience handling the syringe before using it on a live bird.

The process is explained on byc in a couple of threads on ascites I have found during research.

Edit to add...when you have finished draining the amount you wanted you will withdraw the syringe directly back out. The hole will be small enough it shouldn't bleed actively, though you may get a drop or two of blood or fluid. Wipe the area clean again and I would put a dab of antibiotic ointment on the site, and or a squirt of blu-kote. Treat the area like you would any other small puncture wound.

thank you, it makes sense, I was thinking scalpel slicing, never even thought of needles lmao!!! I must be evil!!

Too soon?

ok, SW is evil...... and I should have known, this post would be here waiting for me lol






oh..... female weighed in at 8.4 last night it was dark only grabbed one, hopefully not a waterlogged one

if its not raining will have a better look tonight, had a busy afternoon and eve yesterday.

 

[sideWing]

thank you, it makes sense, I was thinking scalpel slicing, never even thought of needles lmao!!! I must be evil!!




ok, SW is evil...... and I should have known, this post would be here waiting for me lol






oh..... female weighed in at 8.4 last night it was dark only grabbed one, hopefully not a waterlogged one

if its not raining will have a better look tonight, had a busy afternoon and eve yesterday.

Sorry SS.

If your pullets are over 8 lbs I would say it's time to harvest. Your cockerels should be over 9. Nice job!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Sorry SS.

If your pullets are over 8 lbs I would say it's time to harvest. Your cockerels should be over 9. Nice job!

oh good!

trying to figure out when to do them! ugh seems I may have to being the process on my own, I am off tomorrow after doc appointments and then hubs can come help. but kids bday part prep and then party is Sat and then we are off to take him Sunday on a surprise trip to an indoor water park for two days!!! then hubs leaves thurs for the hunting trip, so looks like I have no choice but to pull up my man pants tomorrow. thank God the chicken plucker came. that was my worse fear with my recent wrist surgery to be honest. I can do everything and grab a bag of ice and keep them cool as I go in a cooler with salt water and ice until help comes. I will not press myself go at a pace I want to and things will go ok.

I will do fine, always do best when I am alone anyways, things always go smoother and faster for some reason.

 

[sideWing]

oh good!

trying to figure out when to do them! ugh seems I may have to being the process on my own, I am off tomorrow after doc appointments and then hubs can come help. but kids bday part prep and then party is Sat and then we are off to take him Sunday on a surprise trip to an indoor water park for two days!!! then hubs leaves thurs for the hunting trip, so looks like I have no choice but to pull up my man pants tomorrow. thank God the chicken plucker came. that was my worse fear with my recent wrist surgery to be honest. I can do everything and grab a bag of ice and keep them cool as I go in a cooler with salt water and ice until help comes. I will not press myself go at a pace I want to and things will go ok.

I will do fine, always do best when I am alone anyways, things always go smoother and faster for some reason.

The plucker will be a life saver!

You can use cold hose water to keep them cool if you have a barrel or clean garbage can. We had a guy process some of ours this season and he would cut the arteries, bleed them, pluck them, cut off the head and lower legs and then drop it right in a barrel full of cold water from the hose. He would do 30 or so like that and then when they were all in the barrel he would start the next step and dress them. Then throw them in another barrel of cold water to wait for final cleaning and bagging. Kept them cool, workable, and kept the bugs down a lot. No ice, no muss, no fuss.

 

[fisherlady]

The plucker will be a life saver!

You can use cold hose water to keep them cool if you have a barrel or clean garbage can. We had a guy process some of ours this season and he would cut the arteries, bleed them, pluck them, cut off the head and lower legs and then drop it right in a barrel full of cold water from the hose. He would do 30 or so like that and then when they were all in the barrel he would start the next step and dress them. Then throw them in another barrel of cold water to wait for final cleaning and bagging. Kept them cool, workable, and kept the bugs down a lot. No ice, no muss, no fuss.

Similar to our process, but we use an old large cooler, cold hose water for the initial chill, then another cooler with cold hose water plus a bag of ice. We did get a couple of big plastic half barrels which work well for it also, though I prefer the cooler for the second part, since it does stay colder.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

The plucker will be a life saver!

You can use cold hose water to keep them cool if you have a barrel or clean garbage can. We had a guy process some of ours this season and he would cut the arteries, bleed them, pluck them, cut off the head and lower legs and then drop it right in a barrel full of cold water from the hose. He would do 30 or so like that and then when they were all in the barrel he would start the next step and dress them. Then throw them in another barrel of cold water to wait for final cleaning and bagging. Kept them cool, workable, and kept the bugs down a lot. No ice, no muss, no fuss.

idk, I think I would have to gut them right away, we always do our game in the field no matter it big or small, just dont seem right even with cold water. I guess its a metal thing eh

 

[sideWing]

idk, I think I would have to gut them right away, we always do our game in the field no matter it big or small, just dont seem right even with cold water. I guess its a metal thing eh

Yes!

 

[fisherlady]

idk, I think I would have to gut them right away, we always do our game in the field no matter it big or small, just dont seem right even with cold water. I guess its a metal thing eh

Sally, our plucker works better with 3-4 birds in it at a time, seems like they roll against the sides better when there are multiple birds in it. So if you need to process some try to do groups of 3 or 4. Cut and drain them, scald and pluck all at once, stash in cold water and then gut them and put into the second container with ice water to finish chilling. Then do the next group of 3-4. This way none go without being gutted for long and you aren't overwhelmed.