**Sort of poll** How do YOU process your birds?

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

If you have a pressure cooker, they make WONDERFUL soup!

 

[Poler]

The Best way that ive found to pluck the feathers is before you dunk the bird, ruffle its feathers against the grain so that they are all standing on end. This allows the scalding water to get right down to the source. The water needs to be about 150 degrees and you'll dip for about 70-90 seconds. I think its a good idea to sway the bird back and forth in its bath, but I'm not really sure if it has any real affect on it, its just what I usually do.

Then just put on some rubber tipped gloves and start plucking, I helped a friend Randy with his birds and we managed to process all 13 of the birds he wanted done in about 2.5 hours. He had a really good setup.

Or an easier way to pluck is to build a Whiz Bang Chicken Plucker (maybe $300 bucks). Heres the video

 

[97cv]

Can you please give me your opinions on this article .

http://www.backyardpoultry.com/articles/chicken_for_food.pdf

This may also sound strange, But I would like to practice the proper neck break. I'd like to use something standard everyone has. How many #2 pencils do you think I should use. 4 ?

I'd like to have this down as best as possible beforehand. This will ( when the time comes) be the first time I have every killed anything like this.

 

[greyfields]

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$3.50 per bird

In order to sell them, in my State, they have to go through a state inspected processor. It's a nice excuse for not doing it myself.

 

[dirtdoctor]

97CV WELCOME!!

As for practice, do you play tennis? Its like hititng the ball, you must FOLLOW THROUGH.

My Job places me in the responsible postion of dispatching wildlife. breaking the neck is fast and efficient. When you do it, do it with alot of gusto!! Yell if you have to. But do it firmly and quickly. I use a metal pipe, 1/2inch diameter and strike quickly just below the base of the skull. If you are unsure of your success, do it again. equal hardness and speed.

I use a Carbon Dioxide chamber to put down other critters, they just go to sleep. But for the meat birds sublection of the head and neck is good.

best to you
Jack

 

[fullhouse]

Take to poultry processor, $2 per bird if you just want it whole.

 

[SandraMort]

WHOA, that's a lot! That jacks up the cost of raising the bird almost to as much as buying it from the store. So much for saving money

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[SandraMort]

Whole... meaning with the feathers and guts still on/in it? Or just not quartered and ready for the freezer?

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[fullhouse]

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Whole, like I could put in the oven and bake it, no feathers, insides, or head.

 

[SandraMort]

How about contacting someone... 4H maybe... to arrange a barter (processing for some of the birds)? Would that be even too crazy to suggest?