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

[LindaB220]

Ronott- I'm planning on crossing the ac with the bresse for a bigger black meat bird carcass, caponizing and finishing them with oats soaked with raw goats milk for better eating I hope.

Sounds great. One thing I found out yesterday, La is one of three states that doesn't allow raw milk sales. FINALLY approved it. Yea.

 

[Double Kindness]

Yay Linda! I have a source of lots of raw goats milk in exchange for eggs.. good for us!

I'm going to talk with my bf tonight about going to the caponizing clinic in oct.

Only 8 bresse are shipping not 12.

 

[winteree]

I'd like to but it is illegal to fire a gun or a cross bow on my property. Somebody else would have to do it anyway since I have one heck of a time culling the cockerels from my straight run orders and hatches. No one I know is prepared to lose their opportunity for legal hunting and risk whatever other criminal charges they would face. I would like to fence the property in 6 or 7 foot high fencing, but I have to think long and hard about the cost of that. I have two acres.

Have you tried electric fencing? it would be a bit cheaper

 

[jajeanpierre]

Have you tried electric fencing? it would be a bit cheaper

The deer already crash into the wire fencing that is around my trees and bushes. I think they would trash an electric fence. I would still have to get the electric fence up about 6 feet--running a hot wire or running a cold wire is going to be the same cost. I'm thinking of running a hot wire low to deal with the fox, but I have a lot of bush and stuff around the fence line.

 

[cassie]

The deer already crash into the wire fencing that is around my trees and bushes. I think they would trash an electric fence. I would still have to get the electric fence up about 6 feet--running a hot wire or running a cold wire is going to be the same cost. I'm thinking of running a hot wire low to deal with the fox, but I have a lot of bush and stuff around the fence line.

If the deer are crashing into the wire around your trees and bushes, it's a pretty good indication they don't see it. Hang some streamers or something on it so they can.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Sounds great. One thing I found out yesterday, La is one of three states that doesn't allow raw milk sales. FINALLY approved it. Yea.

I have a goat share. Since I own part of the goat, I am legal in getting the milk. I pay for boarding/milking/feeding my goat, not the raw milk.

 

[Double Kindness]

That's how raw milk shares work in Colorado too. But someone on cl had frozen raw goats milk not for human but pet consumption so I snapped it up cheap for $3 per gallon. I'm looking into raw a2a2 milk shares.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I planned to cull two cockerels this weekend and I got brave and culled three. I HATE killing anything. This morning I crated the three rapists that were terrorizing my few free range laying hens. I left two others that had been exhibiting courting behaviors (even though they would join in the chase with the three rudest cockerels). My yard was so much more peaceful today. If I had any doubts about culling, the peace today dispelled them. I hope the two I have left are nice tempered so I can finally cull the nasty rooster I have. If they aren't, they go in the pot, too. I have another three cockerels that are almost four months old, so surely there are two nice birds I can replace the nasty bird with.

I didn't think about it and I didn't plan it. I knew I wanted to do two cuts, one on each carotid artery. I've only had the courage to cut one side before and I don't like it. While one carotid artery bleeds, the other pumps blood into the brain so they take longer to die. I managed to just do it. I used a lot more force on the cut than I've ever used and did both sides. I was much happier with how they died.

Cleaning them was a bit of a challenge because I had carpal tunnel release surgery on both hands four weeks ago. They were older than I would have liked--7.5 months. They sure weren't as hard to clean as the 11 month old cockerels I did last February.

I skinned them as I've done with all the birds I've done. One day I'll pluck them.

How tough will these birds be? They were Ameraucanas from an exhibition breeder, very slow to mature. Only two of the four pullets the same age are laying.

I'm not a happy girl tonight. I can't get rid of that smell even though I've showered and scrubbed.

 

[ronott1]

I planned to cull two cockerels this weekend and I got brave and culled three. I HATE killing anything. This morning I crated the three rapists that were terrorizing my few free range laying hens. I left two others that had been exhibiting courting behaviors (even though they would join in the chase with the three rudest cockerels). My yard was so much more peaceful today. If I had any doubts about culling, the peace today dispelled them. I hope the two I have left are nice tempered so I can finally cull the nasty rooster I have. If they aren't, they go in the pot, too. I have another three cockerels that are almost four months old, so surely there are two nice birds I can replace the nasty bird with.

I didn't think about it and I didn't plan it. I knew I wanted to do two cuts, one on each carotid artery. I've only had the courage to cut one side before and I don't like it. While one carotid artery bleeds, the other pumps blood into the brain so they take longer to die. I managed to just do it. I used a lot more force on the cut than I've ever used and did both sides. I was much happier with how they died.

Cleaning them was a bit of a challenge because I had carpal tunnel release surgery on both hands four weeks ago. They were older than I would have liked--7.5 months. They sure weren't as hard to clean as the 11 month old cockerels I did last February.

I skinned them as I've done with all the birds I've done. One day I'll pluck them.

How tough will these birds be? They were Ameraucanas from an exhibition breeder, very slow to mature. Only two of the four pullets the same age are laying.

I'm not a happy girl tonight. I can't get rid of that smell even though I've showered and scrubbed.

I have been plucking and skinning them. The next ones I will pluck because they are young Pita Pintas.

I was eying them tonight--They get big fast so next week will likely be it for them.

It will be perfect--processing two will take less than an hour.

Oh, sorry to not answer. Pressure cook them or slow cook in a crock pot.

At that age, they sometimes get a texture like chuck steak. I cooked a Delaware that was about that age and he was tender cooked in the pressure cooker.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Oh, sorry to not answer. Pressure cook them or slow cook in a crock pot.

At that age, they sometimes get a texture like chuck steak. I cooked a Delaware that was about that age and he was tender cooked in the pressure cooker.

Thanks. I'm going to try making Coq au Vin.

How long should let them rest? Five days?

My hands are so sore and tired. I had carpal tunnel release surgery on both a month ago and processing three cockerels took their toll on them. I can barely type.