To send to abbatoir or to do it myself, that is the question...

[pdpatch]

The first bird we did after many years of not doing any. took about 45 minutes, the third bird of the day to 20 minutes. That's from catching the bird to putting in Ice water for cool down. You also need to have the equipment to do it properly.

Such as:
1. some way to kill the birds

2. a scalder ( a turkey fryer works and cost $30 to $50, plus a propane tank if you don't have one). You don't need a scalder but it sure helps a lot.

3. Plucking them (anything to hange them on, and something to put the feathers in).

4. Good knifes ( $25 to $150 or if you have time to go to pawn shops or garage sales as little as $5 for a good set)


So if you don't have the time to get everything ready, and the time to do it. It would be better to take them to the processor. Generally a processor will freeze them the same day, the meat it much more tender if you keep the birds iced down for 24 to 48 hours before freezing. So I would get them unfrozen and bring them home in several ice chest.

Other reasons to have some one else do the processing:

1. Just can't do the killing

2. Hands to big to reach inside the bird to remove the internal organs.

3. Can't handle that felling putting your hand inside of a warm body.

4. Don't have the time, ( it can take from 15 minutes to 1 hour per bird).

Reasons to do it your self:

1. I have the time, and the equipment to do it.

2. I am a DIY person, if i can not do it myself them it won't get done.

3. We Live on a Homestead, and just do it.

4. Can't find a processor.

5. I thought it was part of raising meat birds for our selves.

Tom

 

[MissPrissy]

We could not find a processor here last year when we did our birds. With just 2 of us (DH and myself) it was a 2 weekend job that took the entire day from daylight to dark to complete.

After the dispatching, plucking, eviscerating there was the clean up of everything we used, the burning of the leftovers (feathers etc). When everyone was showdered and bleach was used to rid the smell from our skin and hands I was the one left to stand at the sink and have to rewash, pick pin feathers etc.

I have never been so tired in all my life.

This year - I found a processor. I will gladly drive and hand him over $3.00 per bird. They will be butchered, bagged, labled and flash frozen.

 

[freerange freaks]

I also figure out the cost it would be for me to do the deed. I try to estimate how long it would take me to process the birds and however much I make per hour. It always ends up that sending the birds to the abattiore is quite a bit cheaper. Remember, time is money.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I want to be a homesteader, and do it all myself. Just one of my idealistic thoughts about life on a farm. but dear hubby looks at the #s and says in less than two hours of him working, we could pay to have it done.

i truly want to do it at home, but not completely by myself

Skeeter, I pm'd you too. Sorry, the only tricounty area I'm in is the Essex/Kent/lambton area in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Thanks for the offer though, or if you're up for a road trip....?

 

[cjeanean]

Quote:
LOL!!! I mean a chair to sit in, hold the chicken in your lap, and pluck. And yes, dip means scald. personally I don't think it's worth paying someone to do what I can do myself, unless it's something terribly difficult and impossible to do myself. and at least I know where my hands have been and that if I drop a freshly plucked chicken on the floor that I'll keep the five second rule! LOL!!! When my dad would come back from hunting with my brothers it wasn't unlikely for my mom and I to have to pluck and clean 4-6 ducks in an evening, IN THE KITCHEN cause of how cold it was outside. It was not fun, no, but it's definately worth it to me. Time is money, yes, but experience is too!!!

 

[Salt and Light]

Quote:
What a great saying....

I'm with those people who despise paying someone to do something.

My neighbor pays someone to clean his house, mow his yard, put salt in his water softener, clean his horse stalls, etc. I just don't get it.

 

[cajunlizz]

Well , either he is a workaholic , or he is lazy , or just sharing the wealth ? LOL

 

[MissPrissy]

How about this -

Choose 5 birds. Clean them start to finish yourself. Take them in the house. Do the last once one over and bag them for your freezer.

If the job wasn't too bad for you then do them yourself.

If the stench in your skin and the length of time was overwhelming send them to the processor.