Yellow Jackets being an absolute bother

[Weetamoo93]

Does any one have tips for keeping yellow jackets away while processing? I was battling them yesterday and got stung once (somehow only once). Greedy little critters were not content with the parts I'd set aside and kept trying to check where my hands were working.

I was probably quite comical looking as I hosed everything on my processing table, repeatedly, screaming "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

 

[MamaPoult]

Oh I hate those things!! I'm not sure if this would necessarily work for you case but I like to put diatomaceous earth on the ground to discourage them from making nests. I wonder if you could sprinkle some around where you work?

 

[Weetamoo93]

Me, backing away from my table for the umpteenth time: Mom, is there a patron saint of wasps?

My Mom, calmly minding my kids: I don't know.

Me: how about the patron saint of MENTAL BREAKDOWNS - GET AWAY FROM ME, DAGNABBIT!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't have any suggestions for dealing with them while you are butchering. But when you finished I'd make a serious effort to find that nest and eliminate it before you did any more butchering. There has to be a nest nearby.

 

[Weetamoo93]

I don't have any suggestions for dealing with them while you are butchering. But when you finished I'd make a serious effort to find that nest and eliminate it before you did any more butchering. There has to be a nest nearby.

I'm pretty sure it's not on my property, unfortunately. I'm hoping an armadillo finds it for me.

 

[Weetamoo93]

On a lighter note, enjoy my conga line/summoning circle of the three cockerels from yesterday.

 

[Molpet]

I normally start processing at dawn before the yellow jackets get out.

I bought yellow jackets traps. There's different ones for West and East of the Rocky's. The bait that comes with doesn't attract them right away. I put raw chicken bits in them and it works.

 

[Weetamoo93]

I normally start processing at dawn before the yellow jackets get out.

I bought yellow jackets traps. There's different ones for West and East of the Rocky's. The bait that comes with doesn't attract them right away. I put raw chicken bits in them and it works.
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I'm not an early morning person, so I'm strongly considering after dark until they are inactive for winter.

Oooo! I'll check that out if they get worse. I only really noticed them yesterday during processing; I'm thinking they're trying to get the queens ready for hibernation.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

On a lighter note, enjoy my conga line/summoning circle of the three cockerels from yesterday.

Beautiful! How do you cut the necks off? The lady that processes mine cuts the heads off but they come to me with the necks still attached. What do you use to remove the necks so close to the body?

 

[Weetamoo93]

Beautiful! How do you cut the necks off? The lady that processes mine cuts the heads off but they come to me with the necks still attached. What do you use to remove the necks so close to the body?

I used the shears that came with a "Pioneer Woman" knife set this time. Most the time I angle in with my knife to sever the muscles, trying to aim between vertebrae, and then twist which is admittedly tricky. The shears required more force which drew concerns about blade integrity, but the job was less slippery.