Processing my first chicken ~Pictures added~

[The Red Rooster]

I'm thinking of processing my first rooster. I've tried over and over to sell him on craigslist.. and no buyers.

I feel bad about killing him.. and I am nervous. Was it that way for you too? Do you start getting use to it after a while?

Pictures will be added-if I do decide to kill him.

 

[xC0000005]

See what I had to say here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-being-able-to-process-the-birds#post_8599558

It really does get easier. Whatever you do, if the first job goes bad don't quit. I can't tell you how badly I botched one and almost quit. Don't. Learn and go on.

 

[The Red Rooster]

Very good post! Thanks.

I want to raise some cornish crosses so I can have some organic chicken meat. I'm hoping to get use to the killing part.

 

[v.cyr]

It gets easier in the purely technical sense, as you learn to be more efficient at it... as to whether it gets easier in the psychological sense... I don't know... it is still as hard for me to do it now as it was the first time... I don't believe ending another creatures life should ever be easy... I still do it, but I always feel a mixture of guilt over the deed, and gratitude for what the animal has given us...

 

[the_great_snag]

The first few are hard, then it becomes routine. I've seen young kids go from crying their eyes out to wanting to help kill within a matter of a dozen birds. It was always the first job for the kids in our family to do the killing. We then "graduated" to other chores, such as scalding, plucking, gutting, etc.

My least favorite part is processing gizzards. Not because it's gross but because I've never found an easy way to do it.

 

[goldnchocolate]

See what I had to say here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-being-able-to-process-the-birds#post_8599558

It really does get easier. Whatever you do, if the first job goes bad don't quit. I can't tell you how badly I botched one and almost quit. Don't. Learn and go on.

I agree....it does get easier and unfortunately, the first one that we kill is probably not going to go as well as we had hoped. As xC000005 said....Don't quit, learn and go on.

 

[The Red Rooster]

Thank you for the reply's.

We have already done the deed. The ending was fast and he didn't suffer. I didn't like it at all.. but it's over.

This guy isn't a meat bird... but he does have some meat.

 

[goldnchocolate]

Good job!

Sometimes the worst part is the planning of it and once it's done it's such a relief.

 

[The Red Rooster]

Good job!

Sometimes the worst part is the planning of it and once it's done it's such a relief.

Yes it is. I feel better now that it's done. He lived a very good life.

 

[xC0000005]

Congratulations! If you liked doing it I'd be a little worried. You did a great job, and with some low and slow cooking will have a great meal. Take pride in a job well done, and relax. Enjoy your meal, one you have earned.

Yes it is. I feel better now that it's done. He lived a very good life.