sending your birds out to be processed

[Hopefulloflove]

Ok...Thank you! I will do that! FOR SURE..I would be outraged...I wonder if there is a way that you could tell? Like mark your birds somehow? lol

 

[mandelyn]

We have two processors near us, one is "drive through" style, to be sure you get YOUR birds back. You bring coolers and ice, and the birds, you move along the vehicle line as the birds go through, with windows so you can see everything.

Another one isn't as "fancy" and has a reputation for not giving back the correct birds. And they charge more. The better one is $2.75 for a chicken.

 

[gg706]

Anyone know of anyone processing near Columbus, GA? I would like to be sure that I get my birds back , so someone reputable. I would even prefer someone to come to my house and do the butchering. I would be able to help with some of it, just not the killing part. I would skin most of the bird with the exception of the legs.

 

[lilstar]

I'm a newb at this.. please forgive my ignorance What exactly does processing include? Does it mean you bring them a dead chicken, and they return it to you basically ready to cook? I had it in my head that sending them away for that would cost too much to be worth it, but if it was under $3 a bird.. well, yeah, that sounds worth it!

 

[snowflake]

depends on were you live , we have some Amish people that don't live to far, I bring the birds,live in the AM and pick them up later in the day ready for the freezer. $2 ea. if I only have a few I well stay and watch. Don't know what it would be were you live. I am in MI. Ask around maybe at the feed store. They may know some one

 

[jerryb]

start asking around, you will find someone. call your count extension office, or the 4-H office, or the ag agent, feed mills you will find someone. if nothing else hang a flyer at the feed mill and maybe another home grower would want to work with you on a processing day to get both your birds done.

I have one place near me that does chickens for the public. Its an amish owned free range poultry farm. you just make a processing appointment and drop the birds in the morning. you can pick them up fresh that day later or go the next day and get the all vacuum sealed and frozen. prices range from $2-$3 depending on how many you bring and how you want them returned. I would do my own if I had the gear, but at $2 a bird I could never pay for the gear. Maybe I could set up a chicken processing trailer to rent out with cones, a scalder and a plucker?? Nah that is too much like work.

this year I am going to raise some straight run DP birds and take them in when they get to young fryer size. I am guessing around 16-20 weeks. we like a smaller bird than the typical cornish cross you get at the market so I am going to try this.

Jerry

 

[gg706]

You raise the birds then take them in (alive) to be butchered, plucked, guts removed, etc. and packaged ready to go to the freezer.

I'm a newb at this.. please forgive my ignorance What exactly does processing include? Does it mean you bring them a dead chicken, and they return it to you basically ready to cook? I had it in my head that sending them away for that would cost too much to be worth it, but if it was under $3 a bird.. well, yeah, that sounds worth it!

 

[gg706]

All very good ideas Thank You for the advice!

start asking around, you will find someone. call your count extension office, or the 4-H office, or the ag agent, feed mills you will find someone. if nothing else hang a flyer at the feed mill and maybe another home grower would want to work with you on a processing day to get both your birds done.

I have one place near me that does chickens for the public. Its an amish owned free range poultry farm. you just make a processing appointment and drop the birds in the morning. you can pick them up fresh that day later or go the next day and get the all vacuum sealed and frozen. prices range from $2-$3 depending on how many you bring and how you want them returned. I would do my own if I had the gear, but at $2 a bird I could never pay for the gear. Maybe I could set up a chicken processing trailer to rent out with cones, a scalder and a plucker?? Nah that is too much like work.

this year I am going to raise some straight run DP birds and take them in when they get to young fryer size. I am guessing around 16-20 weeks. we like a smaller bird than the typical cornish cross you get at the market so I am going to try this.

Jerry

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Whole foods market sells organic, free range chicken for 2.50 a pound.
I can't buy chicks, ship, feed and house them for that.
To add the cost of paying for processing, I just have to do it myself.

 

[mama24]

I have mine processed in Siler City, NC at Chaudhry Halal Meats. I have done it myself but prefer to take it to them and be done with it. I pick them up three days later and they are in vacuumed sealed bags with labels. You can have them flash frozen or not. I think you can pick them up early if you want them fresh, not frozen.

They slaughter and clean them the first day. Let them rest over night before final processing and bagging. I leave mine whole. I get a seperate bag with all the livers in it.

Siler City is only a hour and a half from Benson.
Maybe you have a processor closer to you.

Darin

How much does this place cost? Can you give me their contact info? I am in SE Guilford, so it's not too far at all to go to Siler City!