The Cost of Processing

[terri9630]

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After processing a chicken there isn't much left over. It all goes in a trash bag and out to the dumpster here. We schedule the butchering for the day before trash pick up, no disposal problems.

 

[ssbs]

On small numbers of birds it is more economical to do it yourself. It isn't hard. The first time I tried was a few weeks ago, and I did about 20.. I'd do it again if I had more birds

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I just find that is too much money. I'd just do it myself, before spending that much. I can invest the difference in my coop in some other way.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I agree with Terri9630 -- if it's just the issue of what to do with the waste then you should still be able to handle it in your back yard. With each chicken you have about a cup of blood, a handful of entrails, and maybe a lunch bag's worth of feathers. I put it all in a garbage bag, maybe doubled so it doesn't drip. If it's more than a day before the next garbage pickup I might keep it in a cooler with ice until it's time to bring it to the curb in a can. Some folks even do some/all of their processing indoors.

 

[cabincrazyone]

Thanks everyone for all of the help.
I've had day dreams of raising chickens at the cabin all summer long, and processing them up there at the end of fall. But it's just not possible. I have to spend too much time at home. Raising them at home will have to be a smaller scale, say four DP hens. Because I anticipate my wife weirding out about the processing, I wanted to see what it'd cost to hire it done.
Thanks again.

 

[speedy2020]

$4 here.

 

[CDennis]

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[averytds]

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I did everything but the killing for all of the load of meatbirds we did in the kitchen. It was just too cold outside. Brought them inside in dish tubs 2 at a time. Scalding pot on the stove right next to the sink. Plucked and eviscerated right at the sink with a strainer. Step on trash can with lid lined with grocery bags for the feathers/feet/heads and a stockpot lined w/ a couple of grocery bags and a lid for the guts. Livers and gizzards went right into tupperware in the fridge. Cleaned birds went back outside into water filled tubs. Hot and cold running water, no ice needed, no bugs, minimal smell (only when lids opened) and minimal clean-up (tie up/throw away the grocery sacks, wash pot/utensils, rinse out sink and a quick wipe-down with clorox clothes).

I just ordered real killing cones so I may set things up to do everything inside. Unless I tell them, my neighbors wouldn't have a clue. Taught a fellow BYCer how to process about a week ago on a bantam roo. She controlled him while I controlled his head for the bleed out and we did it all at her kitchen sink.