Raising & Butchering?

[Mysimplewyominglife]

I have only owned chickens for roughly a year and really like having them (even tho my yard went from nice and over grown with grass to a mud pit) I liked them so much I hatched some eggs last year. But to make a long story short someone claimed I had nothing but roosters ( had 6 got rid of all but 1 in early Dec 2017) and complained about noise. after that my normally nice rooster started getting mean only towards me tho so I decided to rehome him (he should be going in a week or 2) and I decided because he is about 7-9 months old to see if he might be breeding with my girls all 14 of them.

Last week I put 21 eggs into my 30 egg incubator and all of them I can see into (have some really dark brown layers) and all are growing so I guess a at lest a 50% fertility rate? But as everyone knows it's a 50/50 for males and female and at the present time money is a little tight (think meat eater to vegan over night to save money) so I will have to make the best use of any males hatched and will be making a special hut and pen for them.

So my questions are:
1:Best thing to feed males to get them to bulk up faster (with out real harm to them).
2:Best method to dispatch (I'm more use to the idea of the throat cut or complete removal of the head in one go)
3.Best knife type/brand.

 

[YdogsflY]

A high protein feed would be fine. Something around 20% protein. If you can get some fish meal, mixing a little in a lower protein feed for the first week or two would help. 16-20 weeks you should butcher for a more tender meat. Also they might not be crowing by that point.

Separate pen for the boys growing out is a very good idea.

Using a sharp straight edged hatchet to take the head off works well. Some people like to use tree pruners (loppers). I tie them to a tree by their feet and slice the throat. A good sharp fillet knife works well.

There are videos online (youtube) that show different methods. Just pick one and give it a go.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

A high protein feed would be fine. Something around 20% protein. If you can get some fish meal, mixing a little in a lower protein feed for the first week or two would help. 16-20 weeks you should butcher for a more tender meat. Also they might not be crowing by that point.

Separate pen for the boys growing out is a very good idea.

Using a sharp straight edged hatchet to take the head off works well. Some people like to use tree pruners (loppers). I tie them to a tree by their feet and slice the throat. A good sharp fillet knife works well.

There are videos online (youtube) that show different methods. Just pick one and give it a go.

Thanks for the heads up I did go to youtube saw a guy tie a bird of by it's feet and do a clean cut into the main vein in it's neck but wonder if this would be thought of as human as some want you to stun the thing before the final end.. hard to think people use tree pruners tho.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Forgot to add anyone know of a decent way to pluck a bird? cuz there is no way I can afford a plucker machine and I'm sure if things kick off i.e end of the world/survival mode you aint going to have one of them lol

 

[BantyChooks]

Thanks for the heads up I did go to youtube saw a guy tie a bird of by it's feet and do a clean cut into the main vein in it's neck but wonder if this would be thought of as human as some want you to stun the thing before the final end.. hard to think people use tree pruners tho.

Euthanasia
This is geared for euthanasia but the data applies to butchering too. Look for the ON article especially.

Forgot to add anyone know of a decent way to pluck a bird? cuz there is no way I can afford a plucker machine and I'm sure if things kick off i.e end of the world/survival mode you aint going to have one of them lol

Skinning works well, dry plucking too if you have good hands. I don't like the look it gives the finished bird though.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Saw a guy dip a bird in really hot hot water and he was able to like brush the feathers off is that possible?

 

[BantyChooks]

Saw a guy dip a bird in really hot hot water and he was able to like brush the feathers off is that possible?

Yes, that's called scalding if you'd like to look it up.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Thanks BantyChooks not sure what it was call and if it was something that could really be done.

 

[member 373180]

I have terrible aim so don't trust myself with a hatchet etc. I break neck by hand and then lop off head using a pvc cutter, works really well and more manageable one-handed compared to tree loppers.

When scalding, aim for water temp around 150 degrees F and then pull on the wing or tail feathers to see when they come out easily, plunge into cold water and plucking is easy as wiping off the feathers. Try not to let your scald water get above 160, I found that it really starts to stink then, and you risk over cooking the skin which leads to tearing while plucking.

 

[BantyChooks]

I have terrible aim so don't trust myself with a hatchet etc. I break neck by hand and then lop off head using a pvc cutter, works really well and more manageable one-handed compared to tree loppers.

When scalding, aim for water temp around 150 degrees F and then pull on the wing or tail feathers to see when they come out easily, plunge into cold water and plucking is easy as wiping off the feathers. Try not to let your scald water get above 160, I found that it really starts to stink then, and you risk over cooking the skin which leads to tearing while plucking.

I use pipe cutters too, but I don't do cervical dislocation beforehand because I don't have the arm strength to do it on the giant roosters.