We did it!

[NurseNettie]

5 roosters headed to the freezer. Our first. They're 19/20 weeks old. We meant to do it a few weeks ago, but with weather and work schedules, this was the weekend. Hubby works nights, and the plan was to begin at 2 pm today. We separated 6 roos yesterday, and got everything ready. Well, when I woke up this morning, hubby wasn't in bed, and shortly thereafter came in and said "it's done- only 5, come out when you're ready". Seems he was worked up about doing the deed all night at work that he needed to get it over and done with right off.
We both started plucking one each, when he looked at me with super heavy eyes and said " I'm really beat, can I go to bed?". Poor guy-- I think he had a major adrenaline rush then crashed! He slept for 10 hours straight.
Anyhow-- I plucked and cleaned them all. Had some trouble with 2 of them, and ended up skinning them, and cannot for the life of me pluck the wing feathers. I dry plucked- and next time I'll try the dunking in hot water--- maybe that will make the difference- but I wanted a full "session" doing the dry plucking so I can compare next time around.
I've got the 5 in a big pot full of saltwater in the fridge. Tomorrow, 4 will go in the freezer, 1 will go in the crockpot. I've got 1 bunch of celery left in the garden waiting for it!!

For those who are wondering what happened to #6.... He's back in the coop. We had, unfortunately given him a name to differentiate him from our blind chicken-- they're our only white chickens... So hubby just said "take your friend back to his home".. hee hee...... as long as he's a good boy and doesn't cause trouble, I guess we've got a pet

 

[Opa]

Congratulations and raising your first meat birds. If you get to tired of plucking, try skinning them. It's much, much faster and easier.

 

[dangerouschicken]

Great job! I love it when they are all done, you look at them and think, WOW I just provided my family with meat! It is such a primal thing. I am really proud of you

And yes, really HOT water does help loosen the feathers.

 

[NurseNettie]

Thanks folks!
Dangerous, I'm proud of myself too. It felt good when I was done, and by the third one, I'd foundthe "right" spot to put them, right height for them to be and had the "pluck" down pretty good. The whole time I was thinking that it's not bad, easier than I thought, and by the end I was nearly drooling thinking how good they looked

It took me almost 3 hours to do 5.. Not sure how good that was as far as time, but I think I did well