I've thought of having meat birds but my hubby won't do the deed and my son would frown on me doing it even though I don't think that I could anyway. They would remain nameless of course and wouldn't be socialized with so as to avoid attachments. I live in SE CT but have no idea what to look for or where to look. Does anyone know where I could find the...dum dum DUMMMM....executioner?
My advice... stop calling it an executioner. Look around your yellow pages for butcher shops, or processing shops. Check out your local craigslist, or see if your local feed store knows of anyone.
Seems to me it would not be cost effective to raise meat birds if one must hire outside to slaughter.
Most folks raise them, and up here in Maine we have a wonderful processor (I have never been there, I do my own birds) that most use, it takes one hour, you make an appt, bring your crated birds, and they tell you to meet them out back, when the birds are getting processed you place them in a ice filled cooler, I believe its $2 a bird at this particular place. Don't judge folks that prefer to take their birds to an "executioner" (I thought it was cute- must be that New England humor) because when raising your own birds is so beneficial, you know what they have eaten-broiler feed with ground up animal protein or plant proteins, humanely and with dignity. You cannot be sure of that when you purchase at a store, or eat at KFC (disgrace!). I do not soak in a brine, that making less sodium intake and that is important to our family. So yes, the cost can be higher for these birds, but the rewards are greater then the cost. Also, some folks have "Processing Parties" and they seem like great fun, you did good by posting here! Good luck and happy chicken growin'
Quote:I also will be hiring outside to slaughter. Just can't do it myself, but would still like the benefit of having the homegrown meat that isn't pumped full of antibiotics. Have you tried looking in the yellow pages on the internet for a meat processor? You might have to drive a ways to get to one, but there should be something around there. Try advertising on Craigslist that your are looking for one.
I also am considering raising meat birds but I know I could never to the processing myself. I thought I was the only one who would be looking for an outside processer!! I also am (well will be after the move) in connecticut, so let me know if you find your "executioner."
My apologies for the term 'executioner'. I don't want to offend anyone. What do you call a person who does their own? A butcher? Processor? Handy? I don't even know how to begin to prepare myself for ending the life of an animal. I've had to put a couple cats to sleep because of progressing disease and I cried so much I nearly couldn't drive home. However 'utilitarian' the birds are, taking time to care for them, feed them, and keep them entertained, even for a couple months, takes an emotional toll for me. I could probably do most of it short of cutting the vein in the neck and the decapitation. I don't want to watch them die. I'm still looking for someone to process the birds for me. I found one link to a place in Providence, RI but I have yet to contact them. I may have to find someone locally who does their own who can also do mine. The whole process is fairly inexpensive. If I spend $37 for 25 birds (McMurray Hatchery), $60 for chicken starter and finisher poultry feed and say $2.50 to process each bird (which is on the high end price wise from what I've found, $62.50. Even if I spent $100 to process them all, its worth it). That comes to $160 total. A fresh whole fryer chicken at the cheaper of the local grocery stores is $2.79 per pound on sale. Even if each bird is only 6 pounds after processing, that comes to 150 pounds. At store prices, that's a grand total of $418.50 (on sale of course)! . Mine rounds out to barely over $1 per pound. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. If I kept them a bit longer, I'd save even more! Its worth the expense to NOT be....the one with the knife.
Hi..i live in mass...and i cant find an Executioner around us either!....and..i really...really dont wanna have to do it either....i'd pay the money in a second..to avoid it all....but...i fear, because i cant find a place around here..i WILL be the one with the knife!......
You may not have an actual company near you but check with the local folk, aCooperative Extension agent, or even a agriculture college (I've contacted UCONN who happens to have a CE agent there). I'd love to have meet I've raised and I will continue looking until I do. Also check with your local butcher shops for references (butcher shops for other meats won't do poultry).
You might try going and watching someone else do a few birds themselves. Then, if it still freaks you out to do the killing but could do the other parts of processing, you might want to ask someone who hunts and processes their meat to do the "killing" and decapitating for you and then you actually do just the processing part yourself. While I have no issues with doing my own myself now, it was pretty overwhelming at first. I thought I couldn't do it, either. You might not have as much trouble with it all, if you stay focused on your actual goal of good, fresh, high quality meat. Getting someone to help me who didn't seem to have a problem with it, kinda eased me into the whole concept with less trauma. Now I can do it by myself without any help. The killing is definitely the worst part, and still is.
