Tips for butchering/processing alone??

[Mellowmalt]

Good luck with this. It's something I can't do easily either.
Thing is if you don't do it they will just eat too much and take up too much space, they are also worth money to you so with all that in mind I'm sure you will be able to do it cause if you don't you'll just have bigger issues so get it done, know it isn't easy for most people but actually doing it is not hard, just getting ourselves to do it.
Just please whatever you do don't let the chickens watch what you are doing. That would be my tip, it will stress them out so keep them out of sight while processing each one.

 

[Molpet]

Good luck with this. It's something I can't do easily either.
Thing is if you don't do it they will just eat too much and take up too much space, they are also worth money to you so with all that in mind I'm sure you will be able to do it cause if you don't you'll just have bigger issues so get it done, know it isn't easy for most people but actually doing it is not hard, just getting ourselves to do it.
Just please whatever you do don't let the chickens watch what you are doing. That would be my tip, it will stress them out so keep them out of sight while processing each one.

Ha the butchering doesn't bother mine... They line up at the fence begging for scrapes.
What bothers them is catching,, some give an alert and everyone gets upset, even if they can't see what is going on.

 

[Parront]

Ha the butchering doesn't bother mine... They line up at the fence begging for scrapes.
What bothers them is catching,, some give an alert and everyone gets upset, even if they can't see what is going on.

Chasing the chickens is what scares them. Mine love treats, too! They come up to eat out of my hand, so I just reach under them with the other hand and pick one up. The greediest cockerels are usually the one I want to process any way . . .

 

[Molpet]

Chasing the chickens is what scares them. Mine love treats, too! They come up to eat out of my hand, so I just reach under them with the other hand and pick one up. The greediest cockerels are usually the one I want to process any way . . .

Mine are raised by broodies and are wild. Can't get close to them unless in the coop. They know a predator has them and warn everyone

 

[thehomesteadwitch]

You might want to check with your county's agricultural sector. I know here where I live (NC) my county offers the plucking machine, broiler (to loosen feathers before plucking), and kill cones to borrow! You just have to pick them up at the place they keep them.

 

[Anycockildo]

I cut a hole in the bottom of a big folgers coffee plastic can, for my kill cone. For me, it worked well processing the 4 birds at the same time, I had the kill area, set up my dipping pot on my fire pit, and threw the heads, feathers and offal in the fire. birds were all stacked on before and after cardboard. bagged the livers and hearts for the cats, the necks and feet for soup washed and bagged the processed birds with the hose. After the kill site I was able to work comfortably from my chair.

We ate 2 of them Saturday night. Grilled over the open firepit. Extremely tender. Kids said it was the best chicken ever. RIR's at 13 weeks. Weren't real big but very tasty.

 

[Parront]

We ate 2 of them Saturday night. Grilled over the open firepit. Extremely tender. Kids said it was the best chicken ever. RIR's at 13 weeks. Weren't real big but very tasty.

BBQ is my favorite for the young guys. Crock pot for the older ones, ~14-16 weeks fall off the bone good!

 

[B-Goock]

I do mine by myself most of the time.
The night before I wait till they are on the roost. Easy to catch then.
Pla e them in a doomed brooder I built. A dog kennel or something like that will work. They don't need food or water cause I take care of them in the morning.
I already have my stuff I always use. Scalder. Plucker. Cooler filled with some water. Butcher table. Etc. Set up in the garage the night before.
Get up start scalder. Ice in the cooler. Go dispatch. I usually do 5-8 cornish at a time or about 10 heritage.
Check my scalder temp. Go back & load them into the wheelbarrow. If the scalders not at temp may go inside have a quick breakfast or check the other birds feed/water.
Then it's go time.
I cut mine up in pieces I want and separate them into different containers. Wings. Leg quarters. Wife always wants boneless breast. Then carcass for stock.
I let my pieces rest in my garage fridge for a day, clean up mess, & make stock that morning.
Next day I do vacuum sealing & freezer.

 

[Molpet]

The night before I wait till they are on the roost. Easy to catch then.

When I grab one at night they scream and everyone flys off the roosts bashing into the walls.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Because byc is no longer giving me notifications for threads, I didn't realize that people were posting here