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

[Amina]

The conservation of difficulty idea really strikes a chord with me too. It makes me think that I should probably be the one to kill her, rather than giving her to someone else to do it. She is most comfortable with me and would be the least stressed.

 

[Beekissed]

I loved that theory too....says it all and is exactly how I see America today...everyone wants to shove the hard stuff off on other folks. I was raised a little differently and, though I don't deliberately set out looking for difficulties in my life, I don't shy from them either. My Mama always taught me that, if you have a hard job to do, get it over with and don't leave it to someone else if you want it done right.

I feel it's an honor and a responsibility to be the one to kill my own good animals and I wouldn't trust it to too many other folks out there...maybe my mother or a few of my boys...but certainly not to a stranger. My animals seem to trust me and I like to think I am worthy of that trust.

 

[Tomtommom]

I love your brevity!! AND your thoroughness....ahem.

I agree with all but one on that list...I still name the birds if they have earned a name and, though I don't get too attached to kill them, I don't allow detachment either. I treat all the animals the same, be they destined for meat or laying and then meat.

You said it. Detachment feels wrong.

I look at my little boys and smile, they're having a good time right now. I know the time will come that their life has to end, but for now.. those little boys are having a blast! Ofcourse, part of me hopes I am wrong and I have more pullets than I think, but they are treated the same.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
No, I do the quail like you do.
It's the extra roosters that I do hanging from a fence and taping up.
I'm having a vision of a rooster hanging from every picket on my 150 feet of fencing-- and it aint a p retty sight. lol Something along the lines of white washing but in red.

Quote: I'm with you!! Our local grocery STOPPED putting out the marked down produce. We shop at a cheaper store to get better prices on top quality produce. Sure mis the mark down. NEver knew if we would have 4 # of broccali or cauliflower of mushrooms. Kept my menu felxible for what was on sale. Sure do miss it.

My husband just holds our birds while processing. Taping them seems like it would add stress?


Any one have experience with the waxing I posted the other day???
Can't get a response here or on the duck thread

Just based on the theory of it it would add time to the procesing-- I wouldn't even consider it. I pluck by hand and by using boiling water I can pluck quickly. My hands get tired after 3, and a few too many feathers are left on the 4th. I'm not as picky as I used to be about freahers. lol

My featherman equip has arrived !!! Woohoo

Niiiiiiiiiiccccccccce !

Quote: I don't cut the grass anymore-- the chooks do it for me, yeah.

Last summer I bought a meat rabbit for the price of 3 BO pullets. I still have the rabbit.

Quote: LOL-- I never thought of rabbit looking like a cat, but it does-- ewww. In france the blue legs are left on the bresse to proove it is a bresse-- we just are not used to meat this fresh!! lol

I will add, a fox recently killed my fifth chicken, and I got to it right afterwards and processed it and gave it away to a friend of a friend, who hunts. Unfortunately I don't think I could make arrangements to give the barred rock to the same person, so that's probably not an option again. The processing went just fine, but then, I didn't have to kill that chicken. The fox did the hard bit for me. :/

What a great start!!

 

[Arielle]

I loved that theory too....says it all and is exactly how I see America today...everyone wants to shove the hard stuff off on other folks. I was raised a little differently and, though I don't deliberately set out looking for difficulties in my life, I don't shy from them either. My Mama always taught me that, if you have a hard job to do, get it over with and don't leave it to someone else if you want it done right.

I feel it's an honor and a responsibility to be the one to kill my own good animals and I wouldn't trust it to too many other folks out there...maybe my mother or a few of my boys...but certainly not to a stranger. My animals seem to trust me and I like to think I am worthy of that trust.

I wish your momma had been my momma-- I could have learned a whole lot more than I have. Love your wisedom Bee.

 

[Beekissed]

I wish your momma had been my momma-- I could have learned a whole lot more than I have. Love your wisedom Bee.

Thank you!

I was blessed to have a GREAT Mom....she was and is a true pioneer woman and taught me so many things. I owe a lot of who I am today to her and her wisdom and she learned quite a bit from my paternal grandmother, so it's a wonderful chain of women teaching women....then I had to go and have three boys!

 

[Arielle]

LOL Girls are much tougher than boys. lol

I'm teaching my boys the best I can. THeywill pluck-- with gloves on!! lol

 

[Tomtommom]

I wish my front yard was fence, I would totally let the girls keep the grass down... but the city is all "no fences in front yards"

 

[Coralietg]

I wish my front yard was fence, I would totally let the girls keep the grass down... but the city is all "no fences in front yards"

We had to fence the front after chickens kept getting hit by cars, but we live in the country. Funny thing is, we spent thousands fencing the front but didn't finish the back by the carport. Chickens went around to eat berries in the road, one got hit by a car, driver came after us for $500 bumper damage.

And these chickens were supposed help us out with cheaper eggs

 

[BCMaraniac]

I wish my front yard was fence, I would totally let the girls keep the grass down... but the city is all "no fences in front yards"

How are you feeling today?