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

[fisherlady]

thank you.  I agree.  I was not expecting the very thoughtful replies.. It was an amazing thing and I have read every one at least a half dozen times.  I sure hope I can help the next person as well as I've been helped. 

 it's supposed to rain all day.  I have a covered porch on the barn and I have everything planned from the table, lights, ice tub, knife except for the heat source for the boiling water.  I'll figure something out.  I'm just trying to detach myself from it all without procrastinating right now.  I know it's the right thing to do.  I have a big garden and I can and pickle vegetables, I have water holding tanks for watering things, and now I have my chickens.  Honestly, when I cooked my first few backyard chicken eggs it was a little weird too.  Now, I can't get enough of them and my husband has actually cooked breakfast twice because he can't wait to have those eggs.

I talked to my son, and apologized to him.  I told him that if he wanted to do his experiment, with turning one loose then I would let him do it, but not on  this first rooster.  I told him that the idea shocked me and that I took out that shock on him and made it sound like a judgement and that I was wrong for doing that, but that if I were honest about it I was curious if they really ran around after they were dead too.  I don't really want to see it, but I imagine it happening. I told him he could do it only one time because it damages the meat from bruising and he agreed... then He accepted my apology.

Thinking about you today!! I can't do the smiley things with my phone or I would send you a hug!!

For the hot water...you can heat it in the house and pour it into a cooler to take it to the barn. just heat it well over the 150*-160* used for scalding so that the heat loss that happens during the trip to the barn is accounted for. You can even plan to time it so hubby or son bring it out after the first bird is dispatched.
An alternative is to heat the water in pots on a grill and then pour them into the cooler.
A cooler will keep water hot for a decent time...if it is really chilly you can cover the cooler with an old blanket to help insulate it more.
If I am doing birds that are muddy or dirty (meaties are notorious for it) I will do a 'pre-wash' set up. I do a large bucket of hot tap water, 110*-120*, and add a squirt of dawn and a half cup or so of bleach. Bird goes from cone to the pre-wash tub to be swished around so the heaviest dust and soil is removed. I like that it keeps my scalding water cleaner and the scald water gets through to the base of the feathers easier.

 

[Bazy]

That is a good plan!

I will be checking in on the thread on Saturday.

Glad your husband is being suportive. I will be around on Sat too

. The first one is the hardest, I know I do best not to think about it too much and just do what needs to be done.........then break down and cry afterwards

We'll be here to walk you through it!!!

Agreed! You aren't alone. Tell us all about your worry, your mistakes, your tears. Heck, tell us the color and consistency of your bile if it will make you feel better (though I think pictures of your bile may be a bit much.

). I actually got through the first time by arguing with my husband. It was a valid reason, mind you. But it kept me from focusing on what was going on. In August I did my first two turkeys. I was fine throughout the whole thing (shocked me!) and can't wait to eat them!

Oh that's a great idea, after dusk. Tomorrow I will be processing one roo and one drake... Never done a duck before and never my own birds... I think I will cry. It's seen too me it's going be harder to do only two birds.... They will seem so individual rather than doing a large group when it all just turns into a flow, head down, *** up.... Just work.
My DH ( until recently a vegetarian ) will do the killing I the holding and processing... Any advice on the ducks processing would be appreciated, wish me luck and swift clean kills.

If you're going to do it at dusk, and it's your first time (and you're doing it outside), make sure you have plenty of supplemental light.

The last batch I did I started too late in the day, and it's really not pleasant to do when you don't have enough light. everything takes longer.

Bazy- I think you've gotten all kinds of sensitive and terrific advice.

Each processing day when I wake up, I feel the dread. The best thing I can do is get up and start what needs to eventually be done. I would be miserable all day if I waited until evening.

Instead, I'm up with the chickens and have been known to dispatch my first one with 15 minutes of coming awake.

Just another way to cope. Be kind to yourself and good luck tomorrow. I'll be thinking about you.

I hope everything goes well for you today Bazy! The weather has really been rainy this year here too. I almost did a face plant slipping to go feed my muscovies trying to keep my dp meaties from that area, they pick on the ducks feathers. 4-6 more weeks until I am 30 birds lighter.

We definitely need a plucker and cone. And more ice coolers. I looked at our cooler and my bf forgot to empty it when we came back from camping the first week of august. Ewww.

I go out and try to handle the chickens as much as I can to make them easier to catch when the time comes. But this makes me very attached to them, and I know their little personalities. I bet they are so delicious though, it might be after I can finally eat chicken again; but after I finally do eat one of mine, I'll be ordering 50 cx for spring lol. Has it been like that for many people?

Good luck today. We're headed out of town for another business event, and I gotta go tend my critters and get everyone ready for me to be gone all day.

Hey just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you today. Hope all goes smoothly and you make peace with it in your heart and don't have any sad feelings.

Thinking about you today, Brazy. This thread was created for people like you and me who have no experience with slaughter and who have a lot of emotion around the whole thing. There's technical help and emotional support in abundance here. Good luck.

Thinking about you today!! I can't do the smiley things with my phone or I would send you a hug!!

For the hot water...you can heat it in the house and pour it into a cooler to take it to the barn. just heat it well over the 150*-160* used for scalding so that the heat loss that happens during the trip to the barn is accounted for. You can even plan to time it so hubby or son bring it out after the first bird is dispatched.
An alternative is to heat the water in pots on a grill and then pour them into the cooler.
A cooler will keep water hot for a decent time...if it is really chilly you can cover the cooler with an old blanket to help insulate it more.
If I am doing birds that are muddy or dirty (meaties are notorious for it) I will do a 'pre-wash' set up. I do a large bucket of hot tap water, 110*-120*, and add a squirt of dawn and a half cup or so of bleach. Bird goes from cone to the pre-wash tub to be swished around so the heaviest dust and soil is removed. I like that it keeps my scalding water cleaner and the scald water gets through to the base of the feathers easier.

Just look at what you all did. Look at all those posts. Thank you all so much. It has been a hard day, but the deed is done. I procrastinated until everyone was asleep and went and got him. I took my nuwave cooker outside and that's how I heated the water. It took an hour and a half and my husband helped me except for killing him. I had to do that, and it took longer for him to die than I thought it would. That part was the worst and I made a mistake, but it just affected me, not my rooster and I don't want to talk about that. I couldn't bear to have him hanging by his feet, so I held his wings and lifted him a little. Made me feel better anyway. After he died, I just kept telling myself that I couldn't waste him now.

Earlier today my breeder rooster chased him all over the yard and when he caught him he wailed the heck out of his neck and shoulders...and when he was done, the hens pecked him too. Poor thing had bruises all over his shoulders and the back of his neck. That made me very upset to see the bruises.

I could not have done this without all you 'guys' support and comments. I could not get that kind of help anywhere I mentioned processing a chicken. Everyone avoided the subject or made me feel bad. He's in the fridge now in a bag, but I'm not quite sure what to do with him. Do I leave him for 4 or 5 days? He's about 4 1/2 months old. I do NOT want to freeze him. I have never had a fresh chicken before and I don't want to spoil it. He's about 3 1/2 lbs, maybe four. He looks NOTHING like a grocery store chicken.

He does look like food now. Kinda sad, but it's the reality of it.

Thank you.

 

[ronott1]

Just look at what you all did. Look at all those posts. Thank you all so much. It has been a hard day, but the deed is done. I procrastinated until everyone was asleep and went and got him. I took my nuwave cooker outside and that's how I heated the water. It took an hour and a half and my husband helped me except for killing him. I had to do that, and it took longer for him to die than I thought it would. That part was the worst and I made a mistake, but it just affected me, not my rooster and I don't want to talk about that. I couldn't bear to have him hanging by his feet, so I held his wings and lifted him a little. Made me feel better anyway. After he died, I just kept telling myself that I couldn't waste him now.

Earlier today my breeder rooster chased him all over the yard and when he caught him he wailed the heck out of his neck and shoulders...and when he was done, the hens pecked him too. Poor thing had bruises all over his shoulders and the back of his neck. That made me very upset to see the bruises.

I could not have done this without all you 'guys' support and comments. I could not get that kind of help anywhere I mentioned processing a chicken. Everyone avoided the subject or made me feel bad. He's in the fridge now in a bag, but I'm not quite sure what to do with him. Do I leave him for 4 or 5 days? He's about 4 1/2 months old. I do NOT want to freeze him. I have never had a fresh chicken before and I don't want to spoil it. He's about 3 1/2 lbs, maybe four. He looks NOTHING like a grocery store chicken.

He does look like food now. Kinda sad, but it's the reality of it.

Thank you.

You did great!

You can cook him after two days rest. If roasting, brining always helps but is likely not necessary. If you need to wait though, he will still be good on the weekend.

Tuesday or Wednesday would be perfect for chicken dinner I think.

Let us know how he tastes!

 

[Bazy]

You did great!

You can cook him after two days rest. If roasting, brining always helps but is likely not necessary. If you need to wait though, he will still be good on the weekend.

Tuesday or Wednesday would be perfect for chicken dinner I think.

Let us know how he tastes!

Can you tell me about the way you do brining please? I do not want to mess up on this chicken, and if I need to go get brining started now, I will.

 

[hennible]

Just look at what you all did.  Look at all those posts.  Thank you all so much.  It has been a hard day, but the deed is done.  I procrastinated until everyone was asleep and went and got him.  I took my nuwave cooker outside and that's how I heated the water.  It took an hour and a half and my husband helped me except for killing him.  I had to do that, and it took longer for him to die than I thought it would.  That part was the worst and I made a mistake, but it just affected me, not my rooster and I don't want to talk about that.  I couldn't bear to have him hanging by his feet, so I held his wings and lifted him a little.  Made me feel better anyway.  After he died, I just kept telling myself that I couldn't waste him now. 

Earlier today my breeder rooster chased him all over the yard and when he caught him he wailed the heck out of his neck and shoulders...and when he was done, the hens pecked him too.  Poor thing had bruises all over his shoulders and the back of his neck.  That made me very upset to see the bruises.

I could not have done this without all you 'guys' support and comments.  I could not get that kind of help anywhere I mentioned processing a chicken.  Everyone avoided the subject or made me feel bad.  He's in the fridge now in a bag, but I'm not quite sure what to do with him.  Do I leave him for 4 or 5 days? He's about 4 1/2 months old.   I do NOT want to freeze him.  I have never had a fresh chicken before and I don't want to spoil it.  He's about 3 1/2 lbs, maybe four.  He looks NOTHING like a grocery store chicken. 

He does look like food now.  Kinda sad, but it's the reality of it.

Thank you.

Good for you!
Same with my roo... It was still clean just effected me....
Had to call back up for the duck after that...
Here it is

The roo looks almost the same... Not exactly store bought, but very much like food. We will eat the duck tomorrow and the chicken the next day... Sorry I'm not sure how long it will keep in the fridge... Some one will I'm sure. Good job again!
Good job everyone.... What a day.

 

[hennible]

Haha oops didn't see ronott1's post.

 

[ronott1]

Can you tell me about the way you do brining please? I do not want to mess up on this chicken, and if I need to go get brining started now, I will.

I use Alton Browns brine recipe.

Here is a link for a turkey brine. I would cut the recipe in half since a chicken is much smaller:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/my-favorite-turkey-brine/

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Just look at what you all did. Look at all those posts. Thank you all so much. It has been a hard day, but the deed is done. I procrastinated until everyone was asleep and went and got him. I took my nuwave cooker outside and that's how I heated the water. It took an hour and a half and my husband helped me except for killing him. I had to do that, and it took longer for him to die than I thought it would. That part was the worst and I made a mistake, but it just affected me, not my rooster and I don't want to talk about that. I couldn't bear to have him hanging by his feet, so I held his wings and lifted him a little. Made me feel better anyway. After he died, I just kept telling myself that I couldn't waste him now.

Earlier today my breeder rooster chased him all over the yard and when he caught him he wailed the heck out of his neck and shoulders...and when he was done, the hens pecked him too. Poor thing had bruises all over his shoulders and the back of his neck. That made me very upset to see the bruises.

I could not have done this without all you 'guys' support and comments. I could not get that kind of help anywhere I mentioned processing a chicken. Everyone avoided the subject or made me feel bad. He's in the fridge now in a bag, but I'm not quite sure what to do with him. Do I leave him for 4 or 5 days? He's about 4 1/2 months old. I do NOT want to freeze him. I have never had a fresh chicken before and I don't want to spoil it. He's about 3 1/2 lbs, maybe four. He looks NOTHING like a grocery store chicken.

He does look like food now. Kinda sad, but it's the reality of it.

Thank you.

Congratulations. I promise that that is the worse it will get! Your bird will taste a bit different too, stronger, that is what they are supposed to look like. Also the grocery store chickens are 8 week old CX. Your roo had a good life, and you learned a great skill! Congrats again!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Just look at what you all did. Look at all those posts. Thank you all so much. It has been a hard day, but the deed is done. I procrastinated until everyone was asleep and went and got him. I took my nuwave cooker outside and that's how I heated the water. It took an hour and a half and my husband helped me except for killing him. I had to do that, and it took longer for him to die than I thought it would. That part was the worst and I made a mistake, but it just affected me, not my rooster and I don't want to talk about that. I couldn't bear to have him hanging by his feet, so I held his wings and lifted him a little. Made me feel better anyway. After he died, I just kept telling myself that I couldn't waste him now.

Earlier today my breeder rooster chased him all over the yard and when he caught him he wailed the heck out of his neck and shoulders...and when he was done, the hens pecked him too. Poor thing had bruises all over his shoulders and the back of his neck. That made me very upset to see the bruises.

I could not have done this without all you 'guys' support and comments. I could not get that kind of help anywhere I mentioned processing a chicken. Everyone avoided the subject or made me feel bad. He's in the fridge now in a bag, but I'm not quite sure what to do with him. Do I leave him for 4 or 5 days? He's about 4 1/2 months old. I do NOT want to freeze him. I have never had a fresh chicken before and I don't want to spoil it. He's about 3 1/2 lbs, maybe four. He looks NOTHING like a grocery store chicken.

He does look like food now. Kinda sad, but it's the reality of it.

Thank you.

Good job, Brazy!

In a few days, talk about what went wrong. You need to not feel guilty, but you also should want to learn where you went wrong so it doesn't happen again. We can help you with that. I learn from the mistakes of others. I've bled out some where I didn't cut both sides and they took longer to die than the books say they take. When I first started I've not cut deep enough, having to go back in and cut again. At the time it felt as if I was basically hacking away. Still, with all my blunders, my chickens really didn't suffer all that much and had a much better life and death than any store bought chicken ever did.

I processed three cockerels last Sunday and started cooking one Thursday night and ate him Friday (Coq au Vin). I, too, had not had fresh chicken and wanted to eat at least one before I froze it. I found four days after slaughter was a bit too soon after for me and I was bothered cutting him up and eating him.

I couldn't enjoy the first few chickens I processed. I forced myself to eat a few bite, but it got easier after time and a few more birds.

I've never brined a bird. I do all the processing--the killing and cleaning--while my husband helps by cleaning up and just being there. After they are cleaned and rinsed, my husband deals with everything--I just want to get the heck out of there.

I've processed a few chickens after sunset and I really like that time. Everything is relaxed. I'm more relaxed. I have an outdoor kitchen by the pool, so I don't have a problem with lighting. I've also cleaned birds in my kitchen in the house. I can't think of a worse thing to wake up to than killing chickens although I have done it, but that's just me.

Brazy, you should be very proud of yourself. You did something very brave. Kudos to your husband for being there for you.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I am going to butcher my three CX pullets and as many pioneer roos as I can on my own. I plan to leave the CX whole, I love roast chicken, but I am going to just piece the others. I have found it is A LOT easier to just cut off the breast, legs and wings, especially with the kind of scraggly ones. Wish me luck this will be my first time all by myself.