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

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I was reading that some stab the throat and then cut to make sure they can get through the jugular????? anyone????

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Okay, horror story. On Sunday I was going to do the last three of my CX because as of this Thursday they will be 9 weeks old, and they are getting too big. I put the biggest into my cone, and he barely fit, but he seemed to be calm and staying in so I decided to move forward. I turned away to pick up the knife, and the bird flipped himself out of the cone and onto the garage floor. Did I mention I do my butchering in the garage because my neighbors are close and I don't want to freak anyone out? So this bird smacks down hard on the cement, then stands up and wheezes. I figured I better do it quick, so I put him back into the cone and quickly slit his throat, making sure that I held onto his legs right after I cut him. I fumbled when I set down the knife, so it fell into the garbage bag under the cone that the chicken was bleeding out into. I became a little distracted by having a wicked sharp surgical steel knife in play, so I let go of the chicken, which was almost dead so, of course, had a major spasm and flopped out of the cone onto the floor...again! Blood was splattered over an area about 8 feet in diameter. I quickly grabbed the bird and jammed him into the garbage bag as he did the death flailing they do. He managed to get his wings tangled up in the garbage bag. Finally, he stopped moving, so I untangled him from the bag and put him back in the cone, then, as he was dripping blood over me, I was able to fish the knife out of the bag. The knife had cut a slit in the side of the bag on its way down, so there was blood leaking from that. I finished that bird up, granted the other two a stay of execution, and spent about an hour cleaning up the mess.

I am sure that one day I will look back on this and laugh, but that day is not today.

I wont laugh, I can soooo see this happening!

I PROMISE to be WELL prepared so this DONT happen!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I am so terrible.... Confession----

I just posted my Blue Cochin roo and two hens for sale all for the sake of saving "Blues" life. I have issues!
Uggg I wish they would have been able to process this week and not next! Heck by then I wont have any to process!
I know I can do this! I think

maybe. I wish they were Cornish for sure!

 

[Wax Myrtle]

I was reading that some stab the throat and then cut to make sure they can get through the jugular?????  anyone???? 

Yes, sort of like this. Deepish stabbing slash under the ear at the jawline. And I need to correct something I typed earlier out of reflex - despite common thought, we aren't aiming for the jugular vein. We want the carotid artery.

 

[Wax Myrtle]

I am so terrible....  Confession----

I just posted my Blue Cochin roo and two hens for sale all for the sake of saving "Blues" life.  I have issues!
Uggg I wish they would have been able to process this week and not next! Heck by then I wont have any to process! 
I know I can do this! I think maybe.  I wish they were Cornish for sure!

Hugs. (Dunno the phone-impaired code for the hugging smilie.)

I got lucky, in a way. The first two birds I processed were nasty, small child chasing and flogging cockerels. It was a satisfying process, and just hearing my 3yo scream over and over in my head made it easy. The first few purpose-raised meat birds I processed were a bit harder, since I had no "vendetta" against them. They were so tasty tho, that even my kind hearted daughter took her first bite, ran up and hugged me and said "Can we order more broilers SOON, please?"

Another word of caution, tho - never leave yourself just one meatie. Someone else upthread had the perfect description for the CX: sweet dullards. I injured myself on processing day once, (not a processing-related injury, btw) and quit with one broiler left in the pen. He kinda turned into a pet. :-/ Got Eeeenormous. I think I'd still have him if not for a truly freak accident where he managed to get stuck in a natural trap involving cane plants and thorny vines.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: gotcha!

Quote: oh wow

 

[paridisefarm2009]

I have been reading again..... yeah me, go figure

anyways.....

Jean you made slitting the throat look so easy, but I keep reading horror stories about people starting and trying to slit the throat and failing! saying its thick and you they couldn't get through enough to make the bleed, and some even had to run for a sharp scalpel!

also some even use a hatchet and the darn thing bounces off the neck of the bird!

Anyone have any horror stories to share?

If you know what your doing it is easy But I have had a few times I didn't get the right spot ad had to do it again And this last round I guess I cut too deep and fast I almost Just took the things head Right off so That was a little horrific , I remember the first just plain ol rooster I tried to kill my son and I are out there trying to use a ax , yea I don't recommend that Because some one has to hold the bird and well if you are nervous or are not sure you can probably chop the person holding the bird , then when I didn't chop the head off the bird got up and flopped all over that yard , talk about nightmare city , all of this was over 3 years ago I didn't know about scalding or anything Now I have had a lot of research and practice and am a pro at this I don't even think about it I Just do it, and fill the freezer with yummie goodness

 

[paridisefarm2009]

I have to say just because some people raise chickens it doesn't mean they have the stomach to kill them , I have a hard time with my own blood or my kid getting stitches I almost passed out in the hospital and same when I had to have a spider bite on my arm drained I almost hit the floor.
But I just go right out there and Kill a chicken if I need to I have no problem getting rid of a aggressive rooster and Just baring it in the ground , same with raccoons and possum's I can shoot them No problems there , Just don't show me My own blood ! So maybe I can work in a slaughter house But not in a city morgue

 

[chicksooner]

According to Julia Child, both.

Here is a link to a Coq au Vin using a real rooster instead of a fryer http://sunstonefarmandlearn.com/2009/10/25/favorite-rooster-recipes-coq-au-vin/. Coq au vin means Rooster with Wine. You need to use a good quality wine for this recipe, like a nice burgundy.

That sounds delish. I loved Julia Child

 

[chicksooner]

Okay, horror story. On Sunday I was going to do the last three of my CX because as of this Thursday they will be 9 weeks old, and they are getting too big. I put the biggest into my cone, and he barely fit, but he seemed to be calm and staying in so I decided to move forward. I turned away to pick up the knife, and the bird flipped himself out of the cone and onto the garage floor. Did I mention I do my butchering in the garage because my neighbors are close and I don't want to freak anyone out? So this bird smacks down hard on the cement, then stands up and wheezes. I figured I better do it quick, so I put him back into the cone and quickly slit his throat, making sure that I held onto his legs right after I cut him. I fumbled when I set down the knife, so it fell into the garbage bag under the cone that the chicken was bleeding out into. I became a little distracted by having a wicked sharp surgical steel knife in play, so I let go of the chicken, which was almost dead so, of course, had a major spasm and flopped out of the cone onto the floor...again! Blood was splattered over an area about 8 feet in diameter. I quickly grabbed the bird and jammed him into the garbage bag as he did the death flailing they do. He managed to get his wings tangled up in the garbage bag. Finally, he stopped moving, so I untangled him from the bag and put him back in the cone, then, as he was dripping blood over me, I was able to fish the knife out of the bag. The knife had cut a slit in the side of the bag on its way down, so there was blood leaking from that. I finished that bird up, granted the other two a stay of execution, and spent about an hour cleaning up the mess.

I am sure that one day I will look back on this and laugh, but that day is not today.

This sounds like something I would do.

LOL, come on by any time, any of y'all. Gimme a day or two heads up via PM, tho, please, so I can clean up the school clutter (and vacuum up the confetti the kids like to make...) Be warned, though, my house is...very lived in.

(Oh, and you must like cats! And maybe be prepared to take one home with you...)
I won't share any of my horror stories, except to warn you that everyone is likely to have one. Best advice I can offer on the knife is sharp, sharp, sharp. One with a point. The jugular is deep than you'd expect - bleeding out should not be a matter of minutes, but a matter of seconds. When you cut, make haste slowly. One or two extra seconds making sure you hit the mark is harder for you, but better for the bird.

Long funny story but my neighbor stole my mouser. I love my neighbor but I could really use a mouser as I have had a couple recent visitors in the house. Oh and I have a very lived in house too.

I am so terrible.... Confession----

I just posted my Blue Cochin roo and two hens for sale all for the sake of saving "Blues" life. I have issues!
Uggg I wish they would have been able to process this week and not next! Heck by then I wont have any to process!
I know I can do this! I think

maybe. I wish they were Cornish for sure!

I only have 3 roosters left. I keep trying to get rid of them on CL but i can't give them away. DH would be ticked. Oh and if I am going to eat these guys I am going to have to invest in some big pots