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

[lanaschix]

@Fire Ant Farm and @Beekissedthank you so much for your beautiful and insightful posts. I slept on it and feel much, much better today. Fire ant, I think for me it was 2 things - one is the same as you - that trust and love issue. That he sat so still and so trusting in my arms with little to no fear. But I see now that what we did was loving and respectful. The other is that I am a physician - my whole career is dedicated to the preservation of life. However, I'm a big fan of hospice and a good death. I'm not trying to compare the value of human life to chicken life at all but just saying i appreciate that death has its place.

 

[Beekissed]

That is so true. As much as we would like to deny it, death comes to each and every creature and it's the manner of the living and dying that makes all the world of difference. That we can be there when that creature is born, watch it live its life to the full potential of its species and design, then give it a calm and peaceful death while its still in good health and in well being....that is a priceless opportunity and full of responsibility. To me it has a deeply spiritual side and I feel honored to be a part of it all.

 

[mossyroo]

Our first flock was 11 Australorps that unfortunately included 4 roos. We processed all of them except Sydney (since he was now the only roo, I could differentiate and give him a name.) When the Wife pulled the first one out of the freezer our 3 yo granddaughter asked, "Is that Sydney's bub (brother)?" She hadn't seen the processing but somehow made the3 connection. She didn't seem upset and enjoyed the soup.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

7th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

SPREAD THE NEWS PLEASE!
COPY PASTE and INVITE!!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1074649/the-7th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long#post_16418440​

 

[trudyg]

This is the link posted (I think on p 554?) earlier in this thread. She uses scissors to kill/decapitate! Fast !

 

[LeafBlade12345]

This is the link posted (I think on p 554?) earlier in this thread.  She uses scissors to kill/decapitate!  Fast !

I think severing the head may be a little much for some, but I find it less stressful for the birds, so I may try this technique.

Regards,
Leaf

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

This is the link posted (I think on p 554?) earlier in this thread. She uses scissors to kill/decapitate! Fast !

WOW!!!!!!!

I have some super strong scissors. I'm going to try this next time I cull. Anyone have any comments on what would be the upper age for this, and whether the flesh would be blood free enough?

- Ant Farm

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I think severing the head may be a little much for some, but I find it less stressful for the birds, so I may try this technique.

Regards,
Leaf

Exactly.

 

[jimbob86]

This is the link posted (I think on p 554?) earlier in this thread. She uses scissors to kill/decapitate! Fast !

Exactly like skinning a pheasant ..... but we always preferred chicken with the skin on, so we scalded and picked them. Wild pheasants' skin is so thin that it adds almost no protection for the meat in the skillet .....our chickens' skin was much thicker, and had a good layer of fat under it ......

As for "scissors" ..... a sharp pair of bypass pruners, like for pruning rosebushes or blackberries, will do nicely on any chicken fit for frying ...... old birds need loppers or a hatchet.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Exactly like skinning a pheasant ..... but we always preferred chicken with the skin on, so we scalded and picked them. Wild pheasants' skin is so thin that it adds almost no protection for the meat in the skillet .....our chickens' skin was much thicker, and had a good layer of fat under it ......

As for "scissors" ..... a sharp pair of bypass pruners, like for pruning rosebushes or blackberries, will do nicely on any chicken fit for frying ...... old birds need loppers or a hatchet.

OMG, how did I not think of this?!!!!

Next cull will be so much easier!!!!!

- Ant Farm