Things I learned today during processing...

[helloroe]

I love what you learned and I love the help you have. Great way to raise the kids so they understand and dont get shocked in a few years in school. My daughter was known for correcting teachers when they tried the tales adults tell kids. I was always proud of her for being a realist.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Chasing chickens is poor-paying work. They have evasive tactics most NFL players would envy. I train (accustom) my chickens to come running to the sound of cracked corn being shaken in a can. If one gets out & I want them to return, I usually only have to shake the corn can. I can get it to come close enough to grab, or at least go into a cage to get the corn tossed inside.

I confine my candidates for processing in a small cage where they receive no food, just water for their last 18 hours or so. It makes them easier to grab when it's their turn. But if one escapes I can get them to return by shaking the corn can.

 

[Dogfish]

I build a small holding pen next to the kill station, 6'x6', with 3' sides on three sides, and a 2' side on the entry side. 4 t-posts and some fencing scraps.

Awesome getting help from the young ones.

 

[Beekissed]

I pick my chickens up in the coop the night before and truss their legs and lay them in the deep litter~no chasing and resulting adrenaline rush in the meat. The next morning I load them into a garden cart and wheel them to the executioner's station....

We hung ours for plucking also and this makes everything easier.

 

[Charles07]

Indeed.

My birds are very well trained and most can be picked up by the 3 and 5 year olds.

These birds, unfortunately, were given to me by a lady from TSC the night before. The day before that I was at her store buying feed and she asked me, "I have 5 free roosters that are 16 weeks old, want 'em?".

Next thing I know I have a chicken sprinting across my yard.

NFL tactics...funny!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Chasing chickens? I WISH I had to chase my broilers. They chase me!

They know I'm the "food lady" and I can hardly walk when I go out there because I get mobbed!

 

[Schultz]

Quote:
You too?

I'm not the food "lady" but food "guy" is just the same I guess

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Quote:
You too?

I'm not the food "lady" but food "guy" is just the same I guess

Yes! And they don't learn, because I step on a few every day!