Shrink wrap bags for processed poultry

[Wild Vitality]

If you cut the bird apart at the joints, carefully, you won't have sharp bits to poke holes. Try to avoid breaking bones. Also, don't leave the bag in the water for as long. This is what works for me when I bag rabbits. Try to layer the pieces so any sharper bits aren't next to the plastic.

 

[BCMaraniac]

I bought bags from Cornerstone, but have had trouble using them successfully. Since we just have a few birds I didn't buy the stapler and staples and tied the bag. I used the correct sized bags. I think I followed the instructions pretty closely, but it took longer than the instructions noted for the air to exit and the bags to shrink and several of the bags broke open near the birds' "leg bones" or the wing tips popped through. I ended up using two bags (and this is after discarding the ones that popped, so three?) on each bird which is a little expensive. If anyone has found a way around these problems, please let us all know.

Cornerstone has "bone guards" to prevent sharp edges from popping through the bags:

http://www.cornerstone-farm.com/equipment/poultry-packaging/bone-guard

Hope this helps.

 

[bwmichaud]

I like the look of the bags, but we will probably be keeping our birds in coolers while they are waiting to be sold and I'm not sure that would be a good idea with those bags since they say not to put them back in water after you wrap and label them.

Email Nadya at Nadya's Poultry. Her email is [email protected] She sends out a free piece of tubing and free zip ties with her shrink bags. The tubing is used to seal the bag without poking a hole in the bag. She would be able to explain what type of tubing it is. You just put the tubing into the cavity of the chicken and it extends through the open top of the bag. You then seal the bag right around the tubing with a zip tie. Dip the bag into 200 degree water and remove it just like you normally would. Pull the tubing out of the bag and tighten the zip tie completely. Now you have a shrink wrapped chicken without a silly hole poked in the bag. The air comes out of the bag much faster this way as well. I'm able to pack the chickens in ice chests this way without water leaking back into the bags through that hole you would normally poke. You can find her shrink bags at www.nadyaspoultry.com/shrink-bags and they're cheaper than everyone else. Great service and they have helped me out by answering all of my stupid questions.

 

[TexasPoultryShr]

We started using some bags that are 65 micron thickness. Bones will not puncture through. I cut our large Turkeys into 1/4 to cook on the grill and in the smoker and they also fit in the 10x16 bags. We have been helping small farmers, FFA and 4h students for years.

T E X A S P O U L T R Y S H R I N K B A G S dot C O M

 

[ctwhite]

You can find this tubing (white/opaque) in your local Hardware store (Lowes or Home Depot). It will be in the plumbing section on a spool, sold by the foot. the tubing must be HDPE!!! this is the same as many of the white cutting boards.

 

[SmokinChick]

I like the look of the bags, but we will probably be keeping our birds in coolers while they are waiting to be sold and I'm not sure that would be a good idea with those bags since they say not to put them back in water after you wrap and label them.

Don't put them in water! Put them ON ice. And it should be a clean cooler and ice. Open the drain so water escapes. High and dry.
Good luck

 

[animalsRawesome]

Poultryshrinkbags.com is where I bought my bags. They work great for rabbits, too.

X2. I have ordered from them three or four times. They are great. My customers love the bags, they are easy to use, and Poultryshrinkbags are awesome! As far as the price, they get much cheaper when ordering large amounts... I got enough to last me a few years and cut the cost literally in half! Can't say enough good about them!!!!