The Old Folks Home

[Wickedchicken6]

Wow, that is probably a good idea. Gives me a little hope. I love my poor mangled truck.

 

[NotAFarm]

They are Delawares and are not big--They are about 12 weeks old but I have to get red of them because they are crowing--Neighbors have turned me in to the code enforcer this year already...

At least Delawares are a duel purpose breed.
I have 8 EE cockerels from the EHL that are starting to crow. Options are to try and get someone to take them to the local sale or take them to the local processing place. I don't know if it is worth the processing fee of $2.25 apiece for the size they are.

 

[ronott1]

At least Delawares are a duel purpose breed.
I have 8 EE cockerels from the EHL that are starting to crow. Options are to try and get someone to take them to the local sale or take them to the local processing place. I don't know if it is worth the processing fee of $2.25 apiece for the size they are.

I process them but could send them off to a place in Sacramento. They have minimum charge amount though. 8 would be the same as 15 and then they are about $2.25 per chicken.

 

[perchie.girl]

I been busy lately.....
http://s1143.photobucket.com/user/perchiegirl/slideshow/Jewelry?sort=3

Dipped into the world of Copper. .... and I like it

 

[perchie.girl]

I process them but could send them off to a place in Sacramento. They have minimum charge amount though. 8 would be the same as 15 and then they are about $2.25 per chicken.

There are no processing places around me... Sigh... So when its time I will have to do it myself. Actually I will prefer it...

deb

 

[BantyChooks]

I process them but could send them off to a place in Sacramento. They have minimum charge amount though. 8 would be the same as 15 and then they are about $2.25 per chicken.

That's not half bad. I might have to look into those places as an option for when I really don't want to kill 20 extra roosters.

 

[ronott1]

Yes!
This place you drop of the chickens and come back a couple of hours later and they are ready for pickup.

 

[Beer can]

that is a great idea have that with broccoli also

The mangles are supposed to have the same nutritional value as grain and were used for stock feed, chicken feed, humans even survived off them way back. Laura Ingals Wilder's newest autobiography out recently she had even mentioned them as the best feed for laying hens in the winter. I've been wanting to give them a try for a long time now. I figure I'll just feed the tops in the fall then toss a beet in as they eat them this winter, some that feed them say they stick them on a big nail in the coop and let the chickens peck them. I've always had pumpkins and cabbage for them in winter but these should have more substance to them as feed. IDK?

I am pretty sure my truck is toast. It was a t bone type accident which pretty much guarantees a bent frame. I had so many good times in that truck and i felt good driving it. Rode great. Now i need to find another truck before my husband goes to Canada later this month or i will be stranded here. Sigh.

You could always if you really wanted to, buy the truck back after they total it, cheap, if there is a loan on it. Or if you own it you keep it anyway. Body shops can straighten the frame. Get a different cab and body parts. Have it inspected and you will be able to drive it again. Just will say on title and on carfax if you sell it that it was totalled in it's history.

Nice to see another positive review on it. About how much hand pressure is needed?

I used to just cut off the head with tree lopers and wanted one of those cutters cause heard they work great. Preferred the garunteed instant kill head off.
I actually now am liking just a sharp filet knife jugular slice in a cone, and walk away for a bit. Works just as good and just as humane.

Dude!!!!!!!!



The pain!

Because of wife complaining, feed bills, or something else?

All the above Lol! And chicken math.
I just have to cut back somewhere and getting rid of the giant's is something I don't want to do but someone has to go and I'm completely for sure never getting rid of these naked necks. Most awesomest dual purpose birds ever. Excellent layers, great meat, super hardy, first ones out of the coop into the snow this below freezing winter. And of course heat doesn't even phase them. Plucking them is a joke so easy, they are actually more naked than they look. Feathers are in strips and patches and poof out to cover the naked, most of the legs breast and vent are feather free once you dunk them and start pulling. And no hair what so ever, no hair to try to pull out or singe. Easiest birds I've ever plucked. Meaty and tender too. We roasted up our big yr old black/red rooster a couple months ago. Was surprised how good it was at that age.
I can always get the white giant's again down the road someday.

 

[Beer can]

Gee, It's interesting to hear what people use to kill their chickens. We've always used an axe. I like the hatchet idea. Better control if it's only one doing the job. My axe handle is bent now anyway.

@superchemicalgirl The is what we do so we're holding the chicken by the legs.
We use a chunk of railroad tie. Hammer a nail in one side.
Use a length of cord to create a girth hitch for the chickens neck.
Make a knot further down from the hitch to hook on the nail so the chicken's neck is positioned squarely on the tie. Hold the chicken by the legs (we also hold the ends of the wings), hook the knot on the nail and pull slightly so the neck is stretched over the tie.
Saves your hand from the hatchet. Cord is quick release from the head.
We use plastic baler twine and usually do it as a two person job, but it works well for one.

That's how I used to do it, but flopping squirting blood everywhere, advertising to predators. We used a tree stump or block of wood.
Really like my method now, have to take pics and document next time.
55gal plastic barrel top cut out with a heavy plastic bag inside. Cone made out of a bleach jug sheetrock screwed inside. Bird in cone, stretch out neck and slice jugulars with sharp filet knife walk away for a minute. All blood in barrel. Cutting board fits on top of barrel. BBQ grill next to with ready hot scalding water on side burner. Garden hose wash off and soak bird first, not only cleaner but I think it takes the hot dunk much quicker with a wet bird, dry bird floats and you have to push it down, quicker much better skin, too much time in the scalding water makes for precooked tougher skin. On to the cutting board for plucking and gutting, all goes into the barrel, cutting board is offset so everything just drop in. NEXT.
It's up high also so easier on the back.
Take garbage bag out when done and no mess. Hose the barrel cone and cutting board off, good till next time.
Bag goes to the dump.
I've even tossed the bag into our extra fridge before if I could not run to the dump right off.
No fuss no muss.

 

[Beer can]

Yes!
This place you drop of the chickens and come back a couple of hours later and they are ready for pickup.

Have them here also. Had a truck driver mention using one, many chickens and turkeys. I didn't think it was worth it at the time, he said he dropped them off, swung back through later, all in bags. Probably well worth it if you figure in your time doing it yourself.