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

[Sally Sunshine]

Mine didn't stink like poop.. It smelled like wet dog.

I did not with-hold food at all prior. I'm sentimental.. Thought they should have a last supper. No problems processing, and Susan & my MIL found it easier to find the crops.

I have some images of the parts after the killing.


Out set up sucked. I'll say that much about it. We couldn't boil the water fast enough, so we instead used a kettle to boil it and used the burner to keep water hot (150F or so)


The dunk and swirl.


The mask didn't help the smell.

It was beyond freezing that day too. Something like -10F out with wind chill.


Plucking


Processing.. We have an entire album on here for the gutting part:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6336055/processing-extra-roosters-graphic/

awesome! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Wax Myrtle]

Processed Stanley the 8mo PRIR Turd today. He will attempt to flog no more children. Long live Duke the hq 'Lorp. May he be sweet and gentle to all (except small snakes, centipedes and foxes.)

With neck, no giblets, he weighs in at five pounds, twelve ounces. Gonna rest him til Monday, when he will go either into the crock pot or the pressure cooker, where he will provide at least two gallons of the best broth available. That broth will be canned with some celery, carrots and bits of meat to be kept on hand to soothe sick children.

Tip for older birds: I scalded much hotter than I would young CX - 160-165*F. This loosened feathers up really well - they wiped off in big handfuls. (I had a couple small places where the papery top layer of skin peeled a touch, but I don't care. Gonna throw it away after it adds its flavor to broth anyway.)

Will try to get a pic uploaded. I may have to wait until I get into town for a faster connection, tho.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

awesome!

 

[Alaska Fowl INC]

Sally, were your chickens caged or free ranging? Mine were free ranging and honestly I did not notice a bad smell at any time during processing. The only bad thing that happened was the very first chicken in to the cone managed to squirt some poop high into the air and it landed on me. Yep....good way to start the day. lol. Hubby was amused but I wasn't.

I had one that did the same thing...

Like I said after cleaning moose& caribou,,,,,This was easy,,,,,Heck I got two boys,,,they just as bad sometimes,,

HAHAHHAH

 

[lizanne]

Sally, were your chickens caged or free ranging?  Mine were free ranging and honestly I did not notice a bad smell at any time during processing.  The only bad thing that happened was the very first chicken in to the cone managed to squirt some poop high into the air and it landed on me.  Yep....good way to start the day. lol.  Hubby was amused but I wasn't.

It's the hot wet feather smell that gets to me. I could still smell it on my clothes when we were done.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: lol I didn't smell myself but then again, the kids pushed us away from plucking so it musta been the kids that stank! he he he

 

[BCMaraniac]

Processed Stanley the 8mo PRIR Turd today. He will attempt to flog no more children. Long live Duke the hq 'Lorp. May he be sweet and gentle to all (except small snakes, centipedes and foxes.)

With neck, no giblets, he weighs in at five pounds, twelve ounces. Gonna rest him til Monday, when he will go either into the crock pot or the pressure cooker, where he will provide at least two gallons of the best broth available. That broth will be canned with some celery, carrots and bits of meat to be kept on hand to soothe sick children.

Tip for older birds: I scalded much hotter than I would young CX - 160-165*F. This loosened feathers up really well - they wiped off in big handfuls. (I had a couple small places where the papery top layer of skin peeled a touch, but I don't care. Gonna throw it away after it adds its flavor to broth anyway.)

Will try to get a pic uploaded. I may have to wait until I get into town for a faster connection, tho.

Was this the same chicken that was on "STRIKE TWO"?

 

[BCMaraniac]

Originally Posted by carolinagirl58


Sally, were your chickens caged or free ranging? Mine were free ranging and honestly I did not notice a bad smell at any time during processing. The only bad thing that happened was the very first chicken in to the cone managed to squirt some poop high into the air and it landed on me. Yep....good way to start the day. lol. Hubby was amused but I wasn't.

That is why I have the butcher knife.....hubby gets cone duty after I bleed the bird.....and whatever goes(or comes) with it.

 

[Wax Myrtle]

Was this the same chicken that was on "STRIKE TWO"?

Yup. He struck out.

 

[Sally Sunshine]