sending out for processing

[homecatmom]

I have read all the posts on processing your meat birds, however I am still hesitant. I am more of a "let me watch and help you do it once or twice" kind of gal. I called a poultry processing place here in So.Cal. and they have not returned my call for two days. One of the questions I have is when I drop live birds off for processing, will I be getting my birds back? How do you know this? I have just over 9 weeks left till Thanksgiving, and by then I could be getting eggs from my layers and freezing birds for family for Christmas (nothing says "LOVE" like a frozen chicken..lol) I'm just wondering how you all deal with the off site processing. Thanks.

Cathy

 

[silkiechicken]

I say do it yourself. lol.

Honestly, it's not that bad at all. Save yourself a few bucks per bird.

 

[homecatmom]

I just may. Bubba did a couple of his meat birds and he said it wasn't too bad. plucked one and skinned the other. The innards are what I'm leery about. It may be ok if the nosey neighbor doesn't invite herself over. We had some immigrants slaughter a goat at the curb in front of their house last year and that set the whole neighborhood into a lather...I personally found it educational and interesting.
Cathy

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Which part are hesitant about, dispatching the bird or dressing it? If you follow some of the tutorials that have been linked to here it just takes a little practice.

 

[greyfields]

I sell meat birds so I have to use a processor. And mercifully for the birds. They do the job better and quicker than I can.

 

[homecatmom]

Quote:
More concerned bout dressing it. Don't want to make a mistake and get myself or someone else sick or anything.
Cathy

 

[Mac in Wisco]

It's no different than safe food handling when cooking for dinner. You just have to discard of some parts first... Keep your work areas and utensils clean and get them in ice water right away.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Cleaning the bird is not a big deal. If you've cut up a chicken
you bought from the store it really isn't much different.

I'm still a newbie at it but thanks to some great advice from members
here I've gotten through it a few times now. Tommorrow morning
I will be processing up to 4 roos and 2 hens (thinning the flock and
filling the freezer). The worst part for me is I let them become pets.
BIG MISTAKE!

You can do it.

 

[silkiechicken]

If you withhold feed for 12 hour prior to butcher, the innards are easy to deal with and won't be full of yuck. There is a HUGE difference in the amount of guts of a full and hungry chicken. To make it quick, just kill, skin and gut. No stinky messy feathers and you get to the meat fast.

 

[mdbucks]

Silkie chicken, I thought I read 24 hours just read this post is 12 hours enough to clean out most birds?