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

[chicken junky]

Hi I am wanting to raise chickens to eat and maybe ducks and having an extremely hard time getting used to the idea of my boys becoming dinner, any suggestions???? I just bought a farm and am going to raise my new chickens and organic garden and live of the land as much as possible, but how do you take those beautiful sweet roos and kill them??? This is important since I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease 2 years ago I want off all the crappy medications and to eat to live (I know that sounds hokey) but I can't figure how to go from saver of my animals to eater of my animals. How old are they before you butcher them and is there someone who can do the deed for me? Once they are gone I will be fine but killing them....... Help anyone

 

[fisherlady]

Hi I am wanting to raise chickens to eat and maybe ducks and having an extremely hard time getting used to the idea of my boys becoming dinner, any suggestions???? I just bought a farm and am going to raise my new chickens and organic garden and live of the land as much as possible, but how do you take those beautiful sweet roos and kill them??? This is important since I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease 2 years ago I want off all the crappy medications and to eat to live (I know that sounds hokey) but I can't figure how to go from saver of my animals to eater of my animals. How old are they before you butcher them and is there someone who can do the deed for me? Once they are gone I will be fine but killing them....... Help anyone

It is a decision you need to make based on need and practicality. Did you read through the first part of the thread? Many other folks came here with the same problem. It isn't 'easy', but it is a practicality.

To answer your other questions... age at butcher is based on breed, size and what you are butchering for (aging layers, bred just for meat birds, heritage roo extras?) and those factors are also addressed earlier in this thread, but in general it is from 8 to 18 weeks for the meat birds and extra roosters, any age for roos and hens who become extras or quit doing their jobs.

There are folks who offer butcher service for a fee, but they aren't real common, so unknown if there are any in your area or not. Best to ask around to other local farms and if other folks in your area raise chickens. Local butcher shops may do it or know who else may do it. To have someone else do it you will still have the benefit of birds you raised yourself (to your dietary and care preferences) though you will be loosing out some on the economical benefits. It is your decision and may help you 'ease into things' if you aren't able to do it all yourself yet. You may also find someone local who will come to your place and help you do it on site so you can learn yourself with the benefit of having an experienced person on hand to guide you through.

 

[Beekissed]

Hi I am wanting to raise chickens to eat and maybe ducks and having an extremely hard time getting used to the idea of my boys becoming dinner, any suggestions???? I just bought a farm and am going to raise my new chickens and organic garden and live of the land as much as possible, but how do you take those beautiful sweet roos and kill them??? This is important since I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease 2 years ago I want off all the crappy medications and to eat to live (I know that sounds hokey) but I can't figure how to go from saver of my animals to eater of my animals. How old are they before you butcher them and is there someone who can do the deed for me? Once they are gone I will be fine but killing them....... Help anyone

Just gotta get your mind in the right place and think about things logically and you'll eventually get there. It's a process. Get it? Process!

I slay me!

 

[fisherlady]

Just gotta get your mind in the right place and think about things logically and you'll eventually get there. It's a process. Get it? Process!

I slay me!

I think you must have been an ALF fan!

And yes, it is a process... and one which is definitely worth the effort!!

 

[chicken junky]

I have my brain in the right place but when the signal goes to my hands to do the job it goes haywire. I have an Amish neighbor who processes turkeys, where I got mine and thought about asking him to help in exchange for some meat. Don't know if he would be interested but thought it might be worth a try. I have read through but how exactly does the cone thing work and what do you do? Don't hold back gore does not bother me so I figure I should be able to do this especially with my bully rooster. But I have 5 extra roosters and more babies in brooder and 21 eggs in my bator. If I can do this I plan to raise some meat birds as well. Thanks for comments. I have a little time since they are pretty young still

 

[Beekissed]

I think you must have been an ALF fan!

And yes, it is a process... and one which is definitely worth the effort!!

I was!

Why don't we ever see reruns on that show...it was a classic.

I have my brain in the right place but when the signal goes to my hands to do the job it goes haywire. I have an Amish neighbor who processes turkeys, where I got mine and thought about asking him to help in exchange for some meat. Don't know if he would be interested but thought it might be worth a try. I have read through but how exactly does the cone thing work and what do you do? Don't hold back gore does not bother me so I figure I should be able to do this especially with my bully rooster. But I have 5 extra roosters and more babies in brooder and 21 eggs in my bator. If I can do this I plan to raise some meat birds as well. Thanks for comments. I have a little time since they are pretty young still

The cone thing just makes for both hands free and reduces the physical evidence of the body going through the process of dying~ which is just the body going into a flight or fight reflex as the blood volume gets down to a certain level. It doesn't mean they are in pain but there is always a certain level of bodily distress/malfunction~even in us humans~as each system shuts down as the creature dies. That cannot be avoided, so keeping things contained a good bit with the use of the cone keeps the bird from displaying more violent nerve impulses than it ordinarily would if left to hang free.

Being born is the same way, just in reverse..it's all very natural but it's just our minds that turn it into something more dramatic than it really is. It seems longer but it is usually done in 10-15 seconds if you are doing it right.

After placing the bird in the cone, you just put a little traction on the beak/head downwards to stretch the skin of the neck taut, place a very sharp knife below the jaw line, on the area where there are very little feathers and make a deep cut. Make it deep. You don't want to have to saw on that. Pulling the skin taut there will prevent your knife having a sawing action on that loose skin.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have my brain in the right place but when the signal goes to my hands to do the job it goes haywire. I have an Amish neighbor who processes turkeys, where I got mine and thought about asking him to help in exchange for some meat. Don't know if he would be interested but thought it might be worth a try. I have read through but how exactly does the cone thing work and what do you do? Don't hold back gore does not bother me so I figure I should be able to do this especially with my bully rooster. But I have 5 extra roosters and more babies in brooder and 21 eggs in my bator. If I can do this I plan to raise some meat birds as well. Thanks for comments. I have a little time since they are pretty young still

A pellet gun, that is how I am able to do the deed. I have processed several now and it does get easier, but I still would be having issues if not for the pellet gun.

 

[chicken junky]

maybe I can do it with our pellet gun cause I don't think my beretta would leave any chicken to eat

Something about the bleeding with knife that seems cruel, with a pellet in right place should be instant I hope. Thanks. I went to zoo school and they showed a video of animals being cut and bled before getting processed and it was very disturbing watching lamb and cows being hung upside down and bled so maybe that is why I am having a problem, still gives me the heebie jeebies. So much I was a vegetarian for several years until I went home to p's and they eat meat every night and I realized there is a reason we are the top of the food chain and dug in.

 

[ronott1]

maybe I can do it with our pellet gun cause I don't think my beretta would leave any chicken to eat

Something about the bleeding with knife that seems cruel, with a pellet in right place should be instant I hope. Thanks. I went to zoo school and they showed a video of animals being cut and bled before getting processed and it was very disturbing watching lamb and cows being hung upside down and bled so maybe that is why I am having a problem, still gives me the heebie jeebies. So much I was a vegetarian for several years until I went home to p's and they eat meat every night and I realized there is a reason we are the top of the food chain and dug in.

It is important to bleed them though.

 

[chicken junky]

Why? So basically I need to woman up huh?