The start of my chicken tractor

[MonsterClucker]

Good luck!!!!

Im excited to see how it all comes out!

 

[chicken pickin]

So the deed is done. We got all 26CX done in the one day. I didnt think we would get through them all. It was our first time doing anything like this so we were so slow moving in the early part of the day. We had help thankfully from my family. It was me, my husband, my mother, my father and my 2 brother in laws. I am so thankful for all their help and they stuck with us even in to the late hours of the night. Ive got to say this was a hard process and Im not sure if we will do it again I need time to let it all sink in. I was ok yesterday during the whole thing even did the cut on the second chicken. But this morning emotions rolled in and time will tell. I really hope these chickens are the tastiest chickens Ive ever had becase I will be so upset if they dont turn out good. I told my family to lie to me and tell me they were the best chickens they have ever eaten lol. We will have our first family chicken dinner on wed or thurs for a family of 14.

I have yet to weigh them I will do it today or tomorrow. But they all look fantastic and so big Im proud of the job I did raising them.

 

[chicken pickin]

Here are a few pics

CX 6weeks 6days(I could have held off til 8 weeks but this weekend was convenient for help)













This was our set up, the pic of the kill rack was before we started. we ended up not using the milk jugs and only the pink bucket in the middle(the milk jug seemed way to small)

This pic is after we built the rack

This is right before we started but then last min decided to take off the milk jugs and only use the bucket. We moved one of the concrete blocks and bagged buckets under it. Also the scalding pot to the right.

This is what we set up for plucking, cleaning ect. We also had 2 more buckets of clean water to either end of the table, to the left to rinse feathers while plucking and to the right to rinse clean after gutting.

This is what we used for an ice bath. After it was filled with water we added tons of ice and this is where the chickens sat until i drained then dryed them and bagged them.


And this is all 26 bagged and in the refridgerator for their rest period of about 3 days. Then they will head to the freezer minus 2-3 that I will be cooking probably on thurs.

Tomorrow I will add the weights and the details of my cost per pound (after the cost of the chicks and the feed and any other items to raise them) And also the amount of feed they went through etc.

 

[JoshU]

Here are a few pics

CX 6weeks 6days(I could have held off til 8 weeks but this weekend was convenient for help)













This was our set up, the pic of the kill rack was before we started. we ended up not using the milk jugs and only the pink bucket in the middle(the milk jug seemed way to small)

This pic is after we built the rack

This is right before we started but then last min decided to take off the milk jugs and only use the bucket. We moved one of the concrete blocks and bagged buckets under it. Also the scalding pot to the right.

This is what we set up for plucking, cleaning ect. We also had 2 more buckets of clean water to either end of the table, to the left to rinse feathers while plucking and to the right to rinse clean after gutting.

This is what we used for an ice bath. After it was filled with water we added tons of ice and this is where the chickens sat until i drained then dryed them and bagged them.


And this is all 26 bagged and in the refridgerator for their rest period of about 3 days. Then they will head to the freezer minus 2-3 that I will be cooking probably on thurs.

Tomorrow I will add the weights and the details of my cost per pound (after the cost of the chicks and the feed and any other items to raise them) And also the amount of feed they went through etc.

I am sure those pics will help a lot of people. Good Job!

 

[MonsterClucker]

I think you did a really good job! They were super big and healthy. I'm sure they taste great. I'm glad Igot to watch this grow out. It was fun to watch. I'm sure your fam is going to love the chicken. I've heard the taste is really different from store bought chicken.

Mine are still growing. I'm going to take the ones that are heavier first. Then ill let the littlest ones grow out a little longer.

I can't wait to see the pictures!

 

[MonsterClucker]

Haha posted when u were posting.

Wow I need to build a rack ASAP. Looks like it made things pretty easy. How was the gutting part? Dis you use a lung remover or just by hand? I'm kinda nervous about that part. I don't want to cut the crop open or something else ans spoil the meat.

Any tips you could throw my way?

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Great job! Loved seeing all the progression shots from chick to chicken dinner.

 

[chicken pickin]

Thank You All for the good feed back!!!

Gutting wasnt too bad actually it was the killing I had a hard time with. I followed the step by step instructions that another BYC member post from her processing at home blog. Ill post the link at the end. For the gutting you need to open up the vent area and put your hand inside and kind of cup your hand and carefully seperate the membrane between the intestines and the body. Once the membrane is broken all the way around you reach all the way in, the heart is all the way in side cup your hand around everythin and once the heart come loose you can pull everything out in one swoop. For the lungs I didnt use a lung remover. I bought a tomato huller and I used that part of the time to scrap out the lungs and the other part I scraped them out with my fingers. either work just fine. Dont buy a lung remover they cost like $30 the tomato huller is great and cost between $3-6 and fingers work great to and they are free. lol.

Monsterclucker when do you process?


Here is the link I used for help
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-process-a-chicken-at-home

 

[MonsterClucker]

I think I'm gonna start with the big guy who's having trouble standing and wobbling around, maybe this weekend. Then ill just get the rest done over the course of the next 2 weeks. They'll be between 9-11 weeks old. They are going in 7 weeks?

Wow your meaties were young! They really got up to size quick.

I think the main reason my birds are not as big as yours is because they free range. I don't think free rangers grow as fast. They are out of the pen every morning at 7am-9pm. They don't spend much time at the feeder.

I've done experiments for a day or two, leaving them in the pen majority of the day and they do stay at the feeder more. So I understand why now. I'm also mixing their chick starter with scratch and grain so they aren't getting just the high protein crumble at high amounts.

Im not upset about it. It actually works out with my busy schedule. I did start building a tractor today. When everything greens back up out here, I'm gonna tractor some and see my results with that.

Thanks for the link. I saw that one before. I'm gonna reread that and a few other guides again before I make the plunge.

Did you get the tomato huller at walmart?

 

[chicken pickin]

My CX were one day short of 7 weeks so yeah they were young stll. And mine were free ranged. The tractor was just to house them through the night. They stayed out roaming the yard from 8am-8pm daily. And the grass from the tractor spot does grow back SOOOO much greener. All the browned tractor spots from a few weeks ago are now a thick long dark green. And the tomato huller I bought online on Amazon. They had a stainless steel one I liked so I ordered it with the knives I ordered for processing.

This another good link to step by step processing Dont know if you have seen this one
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-eviscerating-cutting-up-your-chicken-graphic