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

[Sally Sunshine]

Give them to me!!!!!!! (I'm a bantam lover!) LOL!!

where are you located?

 

[BantyChooks]

Silly Sally.
What do they look like? I am curious about them as a breed I might even like to keep as a pet rather than meat. Are they really fat?

 

[chicken pickin]

I have a few more Barred Rock males that need to go, and SOON. I was wanting to hold on to them for a bit longer to have them more mature before selecting my breeders, but man do they crow WAY to early in the AM. On a normal day they start at 430, this morning I heard it at 330AM. And I do have close neighbors. I think 2-3 more males need to join the freezer this weekend. Now to get hubby to give me a hand, that's the tough part.

I also have a little male Silkie that I have no need for but I cant eat him... Im either stuck with him cause Im a sucker for cuteness or he needs to get rehomed.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have a few more Barred Rock males that need to go, and SOON. I was wanting to hold on to them for a bit longer to have them more mature before selecting my breeders, but man do they crow WAY to early in the AM. On a normal day they start at 430, this morning I heard it at 330AM. And I do have close neighbors. I think 2-3 more males need to join the freezer this weekend. Now to get hubby to give me a hand, that's the tough part.

I also have a little male Silkie that I have no need for but I cant eat him... Im either stuck with him cause Im a sucker for cuteness or he needs to get rehomed.

did you process @Chicken Picken I think you said you did on another thread?

 

[chicken pickin]

did you process @Chicken Picken I think you said you did on another thread?

I did process last month, 5 Barred Rock males. I still have 4 BR males left and its just too noisy now so 2 more need to go soon. I think I made me selections just got to figure out if Im rehoming the 2 or processing. I also have a CL male and I think 2 SIlkie males

to much noise going on here for my close neighbors.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I did process last month, 5 Barred Rock males. I still have 4 BR males left and its just too noisy now so 2 more need to go soon. I think I made me selections just got to figure out if Im rehoming the 2 or processing. I also have a CL male and I think 2 SIlkie males

to much noise going on here for my close neighbors.

Thats why we did so many extras as well. now we are growing all these male CCL out from the halloween hal, they will take a few months till crowing and then we can sell or process come spring! will work out good for us. I am the opposite, I would sooner grow out during winter and sell during the summer! others dont like to grow stuff during winter, I dont care, we have backup generator, we got them covered!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

So, I have 2 boys that need butchered today. Usually, my husband uses a hatchet but he's not going to be here this morning and I'm debating on doing this myself for the first time. I've never actualy killed a chicken on my own and I'm uncomfortable using the hatchet. I was thinking of using an exacto knife and just cutting the jugular. My question is, how deep do I cut? I can do everything else on my own for sure but I'm very nervous about this part.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

So, I have 2 boys that need butchered today. Usually, my husband uses a hatchet but he's not going to be here this morning and I'm debating on doing this myself for the first time. I've never actualy killed a chicken on my own and I'm uncomfortable using the hatchet. I was thinking of using an exacto knife and just cutting the jugular. My question is, how deep do I cut? I can do everything else on my own for sure but I'm very nervous about this part.

I do this part and I make two cuts, I pull the head backwards and up towards the tail and then slice the neck. at the side of the neck just a tad right and then I do the left side, word of caution is dont try to do it fast, CALM CALM hold steady wear a glove so you dont slice your own fingers take your time and slice till the blood runs out. do this on both sides


there is a wonderful video I found that showed this... I will see if I can find it... if your calm and hold the head back and up tight, slice deep and make sure the blood is running and dont let go before you do the other side you will do good. let me see if its in the short cuts to this page link on the OP.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:

Neck Cutting

Birds should be bled Neck cutting must sever both of the carotid arteries or the vessels from which they arise. This method is recommended to ensure death occurs before consciousness can be regained. A sharp, clean knife should be used to cut across the front of the neck just below the head.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I hold their head different than that shows though, I hold the head so the neck is at its tightest point.