Question for backyard processors....what would you trade?

[becky3086]

We may all be happy to work for $6 an hour soon. I myself would just be happy for a job right now, sigh.

 

[freemotion]

Ahhh, self-employment....It has it's downsides, (sometimes my boss is a real #*@&#) but I wouldn't trade it for all the paid vacations I don't get. My version is turning every trip into a write-off!

At least those of us with laying hens and meat chickens won't starve....

 

[the1much]

<<<<<<<<<<< will work for food

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I surely understand the different life-paths. My own and my DH's have a bit of divergence in recent years, but we manage to work through any differences. Good for you, having the forbearance to let your DH just be himself, as you go through your own changes.

I just recently began killing my own meat. I've always plucked and processed, but now I take responsibility for the actual "deed" as well. Next will be hunting, as my path includes evolving into a huntress, at least for a time, maybe the rest of my life, we'll see!

I don't use commercial processors for two reasons, one being that it's a long drive for me, and I don't have enough cages or crates for a lot a birds at once. I'd have to haul all the birds to the processor, then hang around town until time to pick them up, it would still be an all day affair, plus I'd be paying somebody in order for me to be hung up all day. The other is the expense. At anywhere from $3 to $4.50 per bird, I just can't afford it. It already cost more than the store-bought birds to raise them. I can deal with that, because of the fact that I know I'm getting free-range meat, no chemicals, and I know they were humanely raised. But to add that much more expense, I just can't do it. If I kill them myself, I can do 3-4 a day, when my DH is at work, and not have to spend a whole day at any one time. If I hatch my own for meat, and raise only a dozen or so at a time, I can manage it without letting them get so old as to be tough. If I do let them go until they're tough, I cook them in the crock pot, or pressure can them.

Commercial processors use mechanical pluckers, so killing and plucking them yourself wouldn't really be a help to them. Besides, that's the hard part, and then the evisceration should only take a few minutes, so you'd be doing the hard part, then paying or trading for them to do the easier part to finish. In addition, once you get them plucked, you need to get those carcasses emptied out and cooled as soon as you can.

Maybe you could work alongside your neighbor, have him teach you, and share the meat with him?

 

[freemotion]

Yup, that is what I am thinking, working alongside him. It is not a commercial processor, just a neighbor who used to raise rabbits and sell them, processed, to restaurants. Next door neighbor, no hauling involved, we could do the job on either property....probably his, since there is an in-home daycare on the other side of me.

If I pluck while he kills and guts, at least the first time, I am thinking I would get used to the process. Maybe I would do some gutting the next time. Maybe I would weild (sp?) the axe the third time....then on my own after???

So with this arrangement, how many birds would you give him, if we worked together the first time, with him doing the nastier part of the job? Let's say we did 10 smallish turkeys?

 

[the1much]

with your help,, i would give him 2 of the 10 ,,, and your goin bout this the right way,, least your willing to TRY,, and you might find out, the plucking is way worse, is grosser, and more stinky to do,, then the gut'n

 

[skeeter]

I think its a pretty sad state of affairs when neighbors or family cant help each other without a huge payoff,if you lived next door to me we could knock that job out real quick,then maybe you supply the lunch and a home cooked dinner sometime,but no cash or your expensive chickens,well maybe one, instead of a cooked supper.if more people would take care of each other this would be a much better world to live in,
ok im done

 

[freemotion]

Where do you live?

 

[the1much]

Quote:
thats what their doing,,, the dude is HELPING her process her birds,,, and she's HELPING him by putting food on his table,,,,, sounds like a great way of living.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

When I got my meat birds last spring, I'd never processed ANYTHING before. Dad came over and helped. We only did a few ourselves; it was too big of a job for dad. Afraid to tackle the rest on my own, I asked around at the feed store and found neighbors nearby that were willing to come help do the rest for $5/bird (plus a free one - had 7 left to do).

After they left, I realized that it wasn't so bad if done right, and now I feel confident to do it myself. Did 3 young roosters yesterday! Once you learn how, you'll feel better about it. I still hate and have a hard time with the axe (wrung their necks first yesterday) but it's a necessity to be able to do it yourself.