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

[BullChick]

Butchering day... Just need a bit of support. I have done it more than a few times but it doesn't seem to get easier. The hardest to do are my own birds vs ones others have raised.
-sigh-
I'm looking forward to great soup and a calmer coop though.

Just focus on the money you will save, the happiness (and health too) of the girls that will have more room and less stress.
The full freezer, delicious food. The knowledge that you are doing things right. The boys were happy, healthy, had sunshine and fresh air. They are dying with dignity.

 

[the poppster]

Yes I agree...but I have to get into the right mind set...then just do it. Calmly and quickly and quietly with as little fuss and flapping as possible. I've got 5 meaties growing up in their own grassy area with plenty of shade and partial sunshine....a nice clean chicken tractor with clean thick wood shavings for bedding to sleep safe and sound at nite and during the day, if they want. I give them treats occasionally, a bit of Apple or tomato...but the thing that gets me, besides their unbelievable growth rate....down right freaky! It's that they are so dumb...and your mind says chicken....but their behaviour is all "Chick" just babies....big lumbering, clumsy, silly, babies...they are so extra helpless...I'm not looking forward to butchering them...not that I ever look forward to butchering anything...I will get over it...at the rate they grow, in a few more weeks, doing them in will be a kindness....

 

[Turk Raphael]

http://offalgood.com/2007/09/delicious-cocks-combs/

I don't think I'll bother with the candied cock's combs myself, but to each their own, eh?

We love cock's combs but we par-boil them then batter and fry.

Most people ruin chicken liver as a bit of thread hi-jacking...They just roll them in flour and fry, making a very hard crusty thing to try and chew. I think they are better if they are dropped into boiling water for about 4 minutes, drain, shake in spiced flour and fried hot and fast...leaving them nice and crispy on the outside but still easy to chew and flavorful on the inside.

 

[JayJo]

Well I processed my own birds for the first time today. Two ten week old cockerels. One was starting to crow and I live in an urban neighborhood so it was time. My eight year old boys helped. I'd been talking to them about it, and after I'd slit the birds' throats and had one de-feathered so you could see it was just a regular chicken, I asked if they wanted to help with the rest and they said yes. It was hard, but also interesting, for all of us. We all have a much better appreciation for where our food comes from now. We have a couple of older ladies to do too but we'll wait until they molt. Not my favorite part of having chickens, but a necessary part for the way that I want to do it.

 

[fisherlady]

Well I processed my own birds for the first time today.  Two ten week old cockerels.  One was starting to crow and I live in an urban neighborhood so it was time.  My eight year old boys helped.  I'd been talking to them about it, and after I'd slit the birds' throats and had one de-feathered so you could see it was just a regular chicken, I asked if they wanted to help with the rest and they said yes.  It was hard, but also interesting, for all of us.  We all have a much better appreciation for where our food comes from now.  We have a couple of older ladies to do too but we'll wait until they molt.  Not my favorite part of having chickens, but a necessary part for the way that I want to do it.

Good job, never easy but a necessity (in my opinion) for livestock/flock keepers to know how to do....and kudos for teaching the youngsters about it also!

 

[BullChick]

Well I processed my own birds for the first time today.  Two ten week old cockerels.  One was starting to crow and I live in an urban neighborhood so it was time.  My eight year old boys helped.  I'd been talking to them about it, and after I'd slit the birds' throats and had one de-feathered so you could see it was just a regular chicken, I asked if they wanted to help with the rest and they said yes.  It was hard, but also interesting, for all of us.  We all have a much better appreciation for where our food comes from now.  We have a couple of older ladies to do too but we'll wait until they molt.  Not my favorite part of having chickens, but a necessary part for the way that I want to do it.

So proud of all of you!

 

[HeritageHenNut]

Processing for the first time tomorrow...very glad to have a friend there to help me to make sure I don't screw it up. My first meat bird experiment was 4 hatchery white Turkeys. It's a little intimidating but wish me luck! I've got them penned up for the night with just water to help clear their systems and in the morning we're taking a ride to my friend's place.

 

[rebrascora]

Good luck. It sounds like your friend is experienced so that should really help and give you confidence.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Processing for the first time tomorrow...very glad to have a friend there to help me to make sure I don't screw it up. My first meat bird experiment was 4 hatchery white Turkeys. It's a little intimidating but wish me luck! I've got them penned up for the night with just water to help clear their systems and in the morning we're taking a ride to my friend's place. 

Hope all goes smooth and easy for you!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

We're finally down to our last few cockerels to butcher. We've done around 22 over the past month or so. We have 6 set aside to do today and that only leaves 6 left to do next week sometime. It's so hard to get motivated though, never a fun job. The flock is going to be so calm and relaxed after all this is over though.