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

[wingstone]

Quote: Sally, as little as 5 years ago, i would have agreed with hubby, but after processing my own food for so long, the arthritis in my hands does not allow me to do more than 2 a day, especially if it's cold out,,,,..
keep gathering your equipment, the more you can have handy the easier it makes the whole process, I use disposable blades only because they are cheap, and well, hubby does not let me have to many sharp objects....I can help you out with some larger pots if you plan to continue doing this.....

don't forget to post when you finally have that chicken dinner, that will be the next step........in my house they will not eat store bought chicken,,,,,yes they can tell immediately.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: Sally, as little as 5 years ago, i would have agreed with hubby, but after processing my own food for so long, the arthritis in my hands does not allow me to do more than 2 a day, especially if it's cold out,,,,..
keep gathering your equipment, the more you can have handy the easier it makes the whole process, I use disposable blades only because they are cheap, and well, hubby does not let me have to many sharp objects....I can help you out with some larger pots if you plan to continue doing this.....

don't forget to post when you finally have that chicken dinner, that will be the next step........in my house they will not eat store bought chicken,,,,,yes they can tell immediately.
Oh I sure will Wing!

I may not freeze one, I may just begin a brine, that is ok right? not freezing it? I really want to make a whole one, the others I will cut and ziplock.

 

[wingstone]

someone else will have to help you out with the brine, I never did that, most of mine get done whole then split up after dinner,,,,usually some ground up for chicken salad, but i am only feeding two nowadays, there's always leftovers, we eat alot of chicken salad for lunches, lunch meat is to pricey.

If you have a pressure cooker, they are really good that way, even old birds.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

someone else will have to help you out with the brine, I never did that, most of mine get done whole then split up after dinner,,,,usually some ground up for chicken salad, but i am only feeding two nowadays, there's always leftovers, we eat alot of chicken salad for lunches, lunch meat is to pricey.

If you have a pressure cooker, they are really good that way, even old birds.

I do and I may try that way first since they are 7 mo roos, I will probably make potpie with the drippins and all then as well.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I would think anyone with a kind and gentle heart taking an animals life should have some sort of guilt at some point and this has been discussed in this thread in quite some depth. I certainly don't regret asking friends to help explain the process. I was not raised on a farm, nor is my Daddy a chicken farmer, nor do I have close "chicken" friends. I appreciate you all so much. I have learned so very much along the way in just a few days on this thread.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Personally, I felt as though this thread was relatively lighthearted, and made the best of an uncomfortable situation, Men are the hunter-gatherers, and women are the nurturers. Therefore women need to talk through those situations that are outside of their comfort zone. It is how we are made. Here is the difference in men and women in a nutshell:

A husband goes out with friends. When he returns, his wife asks, "What did you talk about?"
A wife goes out with friends. When she returns, her husband asks, "What did you DO?"

 

[mlaff]

I am so happy I came across this. We bought one chick to try processing out on to see how it goes. We have 4 kids and they are very attached to your chickens. So our Cornish mix is our "testing" bird. We have had it for a week and so far everyone is doing great with the idea. My youngest goes in and plays with the chicks everyday. She will pick it up and say "you are my food". I think she has to talk herself into it, i know i do. I believe that they should know where their food comes from and do not lie when it comes to it. I have decided to teach them self sustainability. My daughter has corrected people at rural king when they say something untrue about chickens. One worker said the sick bird was going to be taken to the back so that they can get it better. My six year old looked at him and said " don't lie. I know you will kill it. Thats just what you have to do with chickens." Our friend is teaching my husband how to kill and clean it. That way when we get more he can do it himself. I loved to know that I wasn't the only one feeling a little guilty about it.

I will definitely be coming back to this thread to research when we start doing everything ourselves.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I am so happy I came across this. We bought one chick to try processing out on to see how it goes. We have 4 kids and they are very attached to your chickens. So our Cornish mix is our "testing" bird. We have had it for a week and so far everyone is doing great with the idea. My youngest goes in and plays with the chicks everyday. She will pick it up and say "you are my food". I think she has to talk herself into it, i know i do. I believe that they should know where their food comes from and do not lie when it comes to it. I have decided to teach them self sustainability. My daughter has corrected people at rural king when they say something untrue about chickens. One worker said the sick bird was going to be taken to the back so that they can get it better. My six year old looked at him and said " don't lie. I know you will kill it. Thats just what you have to do with chickens." Our friend is teaching my husband how to kill and clean it. That way when we get more he can do it himself. I loved to know that I wasn't the only one feeling a little guilty about it.

I will definitely be coming back to this thread to research when we start doing everything ourselves.

So glad others can learn along with me, its hard when you haven't been raised as such.
And I intend to turn it around and make my kids more aware of life as it surrounds them and do my job as a parent to provide a healthy lifestyle for them.

 

[Wax Myrtle]

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! 3 more to go after a stress break

Awesome! Wow, you are so freaking fast! Or, hey, wait... I am so freaking slow! What's your cone made from?

 

[foxflower]

Good job Sally and family!

As far a I remember there is no need to freeze the bird, just be sure to let it rest long enough in the frig prior to cooking. Freezing is just for longer term storage. I didn't soak mine in the fridge either, just in ziploc bag, but I certainly read that other people regularly soak them in brine. Must be personal preferance and the amount of room in your frig.