Processing in the summer

[jdywntr]

I've always been lucky enough to be able to process my birds in cooler temps but due to some poorly chosen hatch times (by me and the hens) I have several ducks that really need to go.

Even at 5 am, the temps are now in the high 60s or low 70s here. I always set up the night before. I don't have a plucker and since I process more ducks than chickens I skin all of my birds.

Unfortunately, I have no help as hubby is a bit put off by the whole process and while he says he'll "help" I usually end up having to stop him from releasing a bird, telling them to run for their life

. Funny he has no problem eating them though.

Any tips for processing in warm/hot weather? I'm worried about flies.

 

[Life is Good!]

After processing in both early winter and hot summer - I think I prefer the hot summer!

Not sure where you set up to process....we use 1/2 of our garage (back the car out)....feed the water hose through a window - stuff newspaper or other such squishy material into the remainder of the crack in the window, put a couple box fans on the floor (to blow on lower legs - helps keep us cooler) and away they go into Camp Frigidaire!

While the flies do manage to get in to 'help' us, we've got a cooler with ice water to place the birds in after processing (or I take into house right away and finish cleaning and bagging indoors). The flies are most attracted to the garbage bag, not the cone or blood bucket. We also skin our birds, faster that way.

We typically process anywhere from 5 - 9 birds at a time. When the flies are bad, we do 5. If they're not so bad, we'll do 9.

Why do I prefer warmer weather? The warmth of the bird isn't so awful to me in summer. Seeing the steam rise off the carcass in the cool of fall is more gross to me. Not sure why, just is. The smell isn't as intense in warmer weather to me either.

Good luck with your ducks! I know they'll be wonderful for the table!

 

[redsoxs]

I prefer a cool fall morning but I've processed in the July and August heat as well. Just make sure you have a chilling tank with some nice cold water - particularly if you are doing a bunch. Don't want them going bad on you! Good luck and have fun!