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

[Bethel3330]

Do them when you are ready for them... taking on too many projects will take away from this and your first foray into meat birds can seem overwhelming just on it's own... late summer is a good time to start!  It will be here before you know it. 

In the meantime, check at your local feed stores and farm supply places to see if anyone local raises meat birds, since it is so common in the spring you may find someone.  If you do, then go pick their brain for info and see if you can watch or participate on one of their butcher days (if they are experienced)  This would shorten your learning curve dramatically and will help you to know what to expect when you are doing it at your own place.

that's a great idea! I didn't think of that. Yes, I know several I can probably go learn from. One I've bought meat from before and another who I've yet to meet personally but who runs a co-op that I participate in (my husband always gets stuck picking things up). I'll try and do that!

 

[Coralietg]

Thanks! Great advice. Well, I've got my order in for 15 cx for late summer. I'm gathering all the info and tools I can to prepare for this venture. I'm the type to worry less, the more I know and the thought of processing my own birds used to really bother me. But I got behind a commercial turkey truck on the interstate Tuesday and it reminded me why we want to do this.
Is it funny that they will arrive very near my birthday? LOL
I wish we could raise some now but we're swamped and don't have housing for them yet.

Definitely don't want to get yourself overwhelmed, they are surprisingly a lot of work. I have a tractor with meat chickens, a brooder with smaller chicks, the laying flock outside, young 7-9 week chickens outside, plus another 15 meat chicks free ranging. In this mix I also got a lab puppy, two kids, a partner that works 48 hour shifts and I'm pregnant. I am an idiot, and I'm very tired. Lol.

15 is a great number to start with! That's how many our first order was (plus a free one).

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

You have a lot on your plate!! You are allowed to be tired, and you certainly are NOT an idiot. You are managing just fine, even if you don't think so. You are juggling a lot of things at once--- kudos.

 

[Bethel3330]

Definitely don't want to get yourself overwhelmed, they are surprisingly a lot of work. I have a tractor with meat chickens, a brooder with smaller chicks, the laying flock outside, young 7-9 week chickens outside, plus another 15 meat chicks free ranging. In this mix I also got a lab puppy, two kids, a partner that works 48 hour shifts and I'm pregnant. I am an idiot, and I'm very tired. Lol.

15 is a great number to start with! That's how many our first order was (plus a free one).

oh lordy, girl, I get tired just reading that! Our other pets (2 dogs, 4 cats and an aquarium), the fact that we live 45 minutes from my work and having a little boy not yet in school is why we waited until now to get chickens at all. Of course now the little man is in soccer so that takes up some free time.
I used the reasoning that at least these new additions will provide food. Lol
Congrats btw!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I know this thread is about processing chickens, but I could use some encouragement. Monday, day after tomorrow, I'll be processing some rabbits. I've never done rabbits before, and I'm a bit apprehensive about it. I've passed the chicken challenge, but could use some moral support for the bun one. Thanks!

I know I'm late in this, but my friend raises meat rabbits. She uses a rubber mallet to knock them out, then bleeds them. I have not seen it done, so I don't know the exact process, that is just what she told me.

Quote: Mine had more pinkish tint too. I started to get worried, then didn't see it get worse.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have 11 meaties in the freezer. They are 9 weeks old now. We did 7 last Tuesday. DH took care of killing 6 of them, and I told him I wanted to try the last one. It did not go as well as I had hoped.

I didn't swing right (I'm a bad swing with a hammer too) and I didn't get all the way through. I quickly repositioned it's head and got a clean hit the 2nd time. DH dispatched 4 last night and I got them processed. We have 11 still left to do. (lost one with a bum leg)

They plucked fairly easily with the right temperature of the water. I was shocked at how large their hearts were. And things are a bit more "gushy" in there, compared to a 6 month old rooster. I was also shocked by how big some of them were when done. Some looked like small turkeys. They didn't look that big alive.

I am looking forward to trying them soon!

 

[katbriar]

You all are smart and creative folks. So here's a "what should I do" question.

I have a layer flock of nine that have two 10'x 14' stalls of a three sided horse shed. The fronts are screened in with hardware cloth and the two stalls are divided by chicken wire in which there is a pop door. One stall has a framed in coop in the back third. The pop door opens into the stall not outside.

I have a 12' x 12' hoop house that's separate from the shed. I'd like to use it to grow out some meat birds a couple times a year. But it would also be a way for my layer flock to get a little more sun if I attach it right to the existing shed.

Any thoughts on how I should fasten it to one of the outside walls (wood) of the shed? I am thinking I don't want to cut a hole in the wall that is the back of the coop. I'm afraid of setting up a winter draft.

What am I not thinking about that might be important?

I should add that I can't free range my birds. I have too many predators and need to be extra careful. In fact my existing shed is floored and aproned with hardware cloth.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Beekissed]

You all are smart and creative folks. So here's a "what should I do" question.

I have a layer flock of nine that have two 10'x 14' stalls of a three sided horse shed. The fronts are screened in with hardware cloth and the two stalls are divided by chicken wire in which there is a pop door. One stall has a framed in coop in the back third. The pop door opens into the stall not outside.

I have a 12' x 12' hoop house that's separate from the shed. I'd like to use it to grow out some meat birds a couple times a year. But it would also be a way for my layer flock to get a little more sun if I attach it right to the existing shed.

Any thoughts on how I should fasten it to one of the outside walls (wood) of the shed? I am thinking I don't want to cut a hole in the wall that is the back of the coop. I'm afraid of setting up a winter draft.

What am I not thinking about that might be important?

I should add that I can't free range my birds. I have too many predators and need to be extra careful. In fact my existing shed is floored and aproned with hardware cloth.

Thanks for your thoughts!

A hoop house? Easy...big fencing staples right to the wall and then cut a pop door into that space. A pop door will provide good ventilation and if you are worried about drafts, just put a deflector wall in front of the pop door, on the inside of the barn, so they have to walk down a little hallway to get out.

 

[ronott1]

I have 11 meaties in the freezer. They are 9 weeks old now. We did 7 last Tuesday. DH took care of killing 6 of them, and I told him I wanted to try the last one. It did not go as well as I had hoped.

I didn't swing right (I'm a bad swing with a hammer too) and I didn't get all the way through. I quickly repositioned it's head and got a clean hit the 2nd time. DH dispatched 4 last night and I got them processed. We have 11 still left to do. (lost one with a bum leg)

They plucked fairly easily with the right temperature of the water. I was shocked at how large their hearts were. And things are a bit more "gushy" in there, compared to a 6 month old rooster. I was also shocked by how big some of them were when done. Some looked like small turkeys. They didn't look that big alive.

I am looking forward to trying them soon!

Good Job!

The size is a Cornish thing. They are tight and compact without tons of feathers.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I agree-- they are all meat and few feathers.

Nice job on the effort Happy Chooks!! We never do anything perfectly the first time--practice will improve your skills. Congrats on getting the job done.