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

[Sally Sunshine]

 

[BCMaraniac]

Are these yours?????

 

[fisherlady]

Just checked the tracking on the shrink bags from cornerstone. They will be here Thursday. Order Monday, ship Tuesday, arrive Thursday.....can't beat that!!! I was going to package my birds from Saturday tomorrow, using the vacuum sealer......think I will wait one more day, and try out the shrink bags.....

I'm going to vacuum seal the birds we cut up... and will probably find bags for the ones we leave whole for roasters. We LOVE our vacuum sealer. Has made a world of difference in how long food lasts in the freezer!

Looks like a good option for meaties if you aren't worried about predators. would be nice to be able to move it around frequently to avoid the build up of mess they can make.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: No not mine, Ali couldn't upload so she emailed it to me.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: oh wow that's fast!

 

[tadpole98]

Quote: Haha I am serious!!

I didnt think they were supposed to get like that before week 8?? lol

Take pictures of the processing? lol I would if I could, but that would mean Im not slitting/defeathering/degutting/packaging the birds.. My hands will be too bloody

(btw, my avi is our dairy cow peaches in her stall. Gone a'Milkin!)

 

[tadpole98]

Quote: Haha I am serious!!

I didnt think they were supposed to get like that before week 8?? lol

Take pictures of the processing? lol I would if I could, but that would mean Im not slitting/defeathering/degutting/packaging the birds.. My hands will be too bloody

(btw, my avi is our dairy cow peaches in her stall. Gone a'Milkin!)
I forgot to say how we keep our birds!

We usually have them in a pasture pen because otherwise they are sitting in their poo all day. Have to time everything right before spring hits too hard and all the predators come out real bad. :/

 

[kacklinkelly]

WELL - we need an emoticon (if that's what you call them) for post processing. Like someone laying on the couch with a glass of wine in their hands
completely wiped....

Yesterday, one of the cornish x hens just couldn't move on her legs at all. She was fluttering her wings and kind of scooting around.
This morning when I checked on them, she was sitting up straight on her bum so as not to get stepped on by the others. I've known
all day that today was the day. The kids where I work were asking me why I'm so serious today and if everything is OK. I didn't
realize it was on my mind that much. I stopped at goodwill on the way home and found a huge pot for boiling. When I got home,
she couldn't even make it to the food without wobbling and fluttering so I told her it was time.

I am by myself so I think that helped with my nerves. I was able to set everything up. Start to finish took me about a little over
an hour but I had to take a breather after just about every step. She was the tiniest and I am surprised she hung in there this long.
I was kind of hoping she would croak on her own

early on until I was completely psyched up and ready to go. But NOOOOO.

Regardless, I managed just fine, everything is cleaned up and I am sitting with all of you with a glass of wine and ready for bed
at 8pm

just because I'm emotionally spent. There was great learning in this experience and I am fortunate and feel
a sense of completion that I have learned another skill. It really is an art to do it correctly. I have not graduated to art level yet.
Thanks for being there and onward we go. I have 3 more that I am hoping will make it another two weeks for size.

I barely got a pound of meat off this little one. Will soak her in some buttermilk and fry her up in a couple of days and see
what's what.

 

[fisherlady]

WELL - we need an emoticon (if that's what you call them) for post processing. Like someone laying on the couch with a glass of wine in their hands
completely wiped....

Yesterday, one of the cornish x hens just couldn't move on her legs at all. She was fluttering her wings and kind of scooting around.
This morning when I checked on them, she was sitting up straight on her bum so as not to get stepped on by the others. I've known
all day that today was the day. The kids where I work were asking me why I'm so serious today and if everything is OK. I didn't
realize it was on my mind that much. I stopped at goodwill on the way home and found a huge pot for boiling. When I got home,
she couldn't even make it to the food without wobbling and fluttering so I told her it was time.

I am by myself so I think that helped with my nerves. I was able to set everything up. Start to finish took me about a little over
an hour but I had to take a breather after just about every step. She was the tiniest and I am surprised she hung in there this long.
I was kind of hoping she would croak on her own

early on until I was completely psyched up and ready to go. But NOOOOO.

Regardless, I managed just fine, everything is cleaned up and I am sitting with all of you with a glass of wine and ready for bed
at 8pm

just because I'm emotionally spent. There was great learning in this experience and I am fortunate and feel
a sense of completion that I have learned another skill. It really is an art to do it correctly. I have not graduated to art level yet.
Thanks for being there and onward we go. I have 3 more that I am hoping will make it another two weeks for size.

I barely got a pound of meat off this little one. Will soak her in some buttermilk and fry her up in a couple of days and see
what's what.

Sorry you had to process before you wanted, but you certainly made the right call and you did well! Seems odd to say 'Congrats' in a way, but in another it is very appropriate.

You did good, and I'm glad you were able to. I hope the other 3 go till they are the size you want. I'm sure this one will be great fried up for you!

 

[BCMaraniac]

I'm going to vacuum seal the birds we cut up... and will probably find bags for the ones we leave whole for roasters. We LOVE our vacuum sealer. Has made a world of difference in how long food lasts in the freezer!
Looks like a good option for meaties if you aren't worried about predators. would be nice to be able to move it around frequently to avoid the build up of mess they can make.

The last ones we processed that I left whole, I put in vacuum sealer bags, and they were just a little scrunched, but I definitely think that is the way to go with cut up chicken. Did you notice that Cornerstone farms has the little pads to put on bone ends like legs/wings to prevent puncture of the bags? I didn't order any, but I probably should have, because I lost the seal on one of my vacuum sealed birds....gotta use that one first.