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

[3 NH reds]

Killing cones are great having them restrained. I use a Havalon knife with the disposable blade, razor sharp. I just make one prick in the neck where the jaw line is and bleed them out. Quick and easy. Blood goes straight to the ground no big mess.

 

[off-grid hen]

Lets just say I'll be single (very unexpectedly) again soon.

EDIT:
I was supposed to come home for a visit in the middle of my 6 month education and work experience resume builder allowing me to find genuine work here in China. Instead, I got screwed out of everything built over these years and didnt even get back what I had at the beginning of the relationship.

You've been very helpful to many on this forum. Though I don't even know you, I feel like I should extend my sympathies to you in this tough time.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Has anyone used the small captive-bold gun powered by rubber bands?

Doesn't someone on the board use a bb gun or something like that?

Thanks.

 

[Chambertin]

Feelings are appreciated.
Never comprise your standards and always listen to your instincts.
Making a compromise on that level is never worth it.

I'll bounce back and have great motivation to do something really impressive (that pays well) to rub in their faces now.
I've had a few ideas that were kicked back and lost in time that I can revise.

Really going to miss my chickens, no bringing them with me, total blackout on chickens right now.
Sucks.

I will give one piece of advice about butchering, the best tool you have are your hands.
The inside of a chicken has just enough room for the average person (mine are just a little too big but I can still do it) to put their hands in the cavity with all the innards intact and break the membranes and couple blood vessels leading out to the muscles. It would be quite an experience for most, and maybe a little much for others. However its so so fast, clean, easy and the absolute best way to dress a bird without contaminating anything.

I cut open the back end using special care to leave the "pope's nose" & rectum attached. Then slide a hand in slowly working down the keel side. It will separate easy and you can get a finger to kind of poke around the opening for the neck. With the other hand (and finger out of the way) open up that area and disconnect the wiring going up & out on the neck end. Now you can kind of spin your hand around the walls of the cavity, on the back end you will feel the connections for the lungs. The connections break pretty easy, but you might need to use the back end of a spoon if you have weaker fingers to push and break them. Once that's tip the body right side up and everything slides out. Grab the bits that you want to save, pull the lungs off the top of the inside and you are done.

Wish I could do a video, so much easier to watch, but I'm not going to have any chickens whatsoever soon, let alone too many roosters.

 

[Kassaundra]

Has anyone used the small captive-bold gun powered by rubber bands?

Doesn't someone on the board use a bb gun or something like that?

Thanks.

I use a pellet gun, works great for me. I still put them upside down in a kind of killing cone set up to confine and let them relax and so my aim is true and point blank.

 

[Kassaundra]

Chambertin, sorry about the up coming changes in your life, hope for the best for you in the future.

 

[off-grid hen]

Chambertin, BYC isn't going anywhere. When you get chickens later, no matter how much later, post your video.

I have small hands and I stick my hands in the cavity and scoop around the edges, it works really well. For me it was easier on the 3.5 lb bird (dressed weight) than it was my jumbo monsters at 6.5 lbs dressed weight. Maybe it's cause my hands are smaller.

So happy with my meatie experiment that I have 20 freedom rangers in the brooder that are 2 weeks old. AND I have been trading eggs for local pork, lamb, and beef. I am averaging 1 meal with store-bought meat every other week for my family.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Lets just say I'll be single (very unexpectedly) again soon.

EDIT:
I was supposed to come home for a visit in the middle of my 6 month education and work experience resume builder allowing me to find genuine work here in China. Instead, I got screwed out of everything built over these years and didnt even get back what I had at the beginning of the relationship.

 

[Chambertin]

Chambertin, BYC isn't going anywhere. When you get chickens later, no matter how much later, post your video.

I have small hands and I stick my hands in the cavity and scoop around the edges, it works really well. For me it was easier on the 3.5 lb bird (dressed weight) than it was my jumbo monsters at 6.5 lbs dressed weight. Maybe it's cause my hands are smaller.

So happy with my meatie experiment that I have 20 freedom rangers in the brooder that are 2 weeks old. AND I have been trading eggs for local pork, lamb, and beef. I am averaging 1 meal with store-bought meat every other week for my family.

Awesome!
Yeah hand size makes a big difference, with my "wolf paws" I can get a turkey from bled out to dinner ready in no time.
I traded some eggs for simple things like screws with the local hardware guy when I build and improved the coop on the roof, was such a great feeling. I can only imagine how proud you must feel. Kick-butt job!

EDIT:
The worst part of this whole experience is losing the ability to start over with my chickens. I have a couple that are perfect for the next stage of what I want to play with color and size wise. My silkie is a MONSTER at almost 10 pounds and you just cant get that in the US and is nearly impossible here. Plus he has the 1 in 100 white plumage that is passable (now 1 in 1000 or more) because about 30% of his offspring have it too.
That's freaking priceless here and probably back home too.
I'd pay 500 just to have him legally imported, just him!

Its bad enough when you lost what you had in a relationship, but to have the government take away the rest.
Crap in a hat.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I use a pellet gun, works great for me. I still put them upside down in a kind of killing cone set up to confine and let them relax and so my aim is true and point blank.

Thank you for responding--I was hoping you would chime in. You had previously sent in pictures of your set up that I didn't pay much attention to because there were other ways I was going to do it. I'm leaning towards what you do. Can you post that again? Or PM me with the details?

Thanks so much!