You don't have to do them all at once

[Mrs. K]

And really it works better if you don't, or it did for me. I finally am getting some confidence in processing my birds. A lot of trial and error, and some experience. But I have always been a 'all or nothing' kind of gal. And I did harvesting chickens like that too. This year, discussing it with a woman that did this for decades, she said she never did them all at one time, but rather over a couple of weeks.

She pointed out that they grow unevenly, so as they start to get big, she does the bigger ones. This removes the competition, and allows the others more feed, and more time to grow a bit more.

But it also allowed me to do them ALL BY MYSELF. I am a 61 year old woman. A week ago, I harvested 6. Skinned those. Today before 10:00 I had three done, these I plucked. It was really rather relaxing. I have always had help before, and I always felt so rushed to get this big job done. Today, I just worked at my own pace, had more patience getting a perfect scald...did the plucking by hand, not a problem with the meat birds. The yellow film came off, got a good pluck, pretty carcasses when I was done.

And the mess was not too big, I use an old feed bag, putting handfuls of feathers in there, and offal. I use a lot of newspapers, rolling up feathers and starting with a clean sheet part way through. Oh and I got this idea from a you-tube, I put each bird in a 5 gallon bucket, kept them cleaner, contained, and kept the mess in one place.

I didn't feed for 12 hours, but just 20 minutes before, I gave a little bit of grain, made getting that crop out much easier.

I am getting better, I will never do 12 again in one day. And I think that is easier on the freezer too.

Mrs K

 

[RUNuts]

And really it works better if you don't, or it did for me. I finally am getting some confidence in processing my birds. A lot of trial and error, and some experience. But I have always been a 'all or nothing' kind of gal. And I did harvesting chickens like that too. This year, discussing it with a woman that did this for decades, she said she never did them all at one time, but rather over a couple of weeks.

She pointed out that they grow unevenly, so as they start to get big, she does the bigger ones. This removes the competition, and allows the others more feed, and more time to grow a bit more.

But it also allowed me to do them ALL BY MYSELF. I am a 61 year old woman. A week ago, I harvested 6. Skinned those. Today before 10:00 I had three done, these I plucked. It was really rather relaxing. I have always had help before, and I always felt so rushed to get this big job done. Today, I just worked at my own pace, had more patience getting a perfect scald...did the plucking by hand, not a problem with the meat birds. The yellow film came off, got a good pluck, pretty carcasses when I was done.

And the mess was not too big, I use an old feed bag, putting handfuls of feathers in there, and offal. I use a lot of newspapers, rolling up feathers and starting with a clean sheet part way through. Oh and I got this idea from a you-tube, I put each bird in a 5 gallon bucket, kept them cleaner, contained, and kept the mess in one place.

I didn't feed for 12 hours, but just 20 minutes before, I gave a little bit of grain, made getting that crop out much easier.

I am getting better, I will never do 12 again in one day. And I think that is easier on the freezer too.

Mrs K

Amen!

I'm plucking 5 a day and that is almost too much. 20 down and 31 to go! I agree, this shouldn't be rushed, but work at your own pace. I've found my limit and I'm comfortable with that.

And I can't believe you're 61! You don't sound a day over 30.

 

[Mrs. K]

What a lovely compliment. Thank you.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I didn't feed for 12 hours, but just 20 minutes before, I gave a little bit of grain, made getting that crop out much easier.

Seriously.. you just told my basic story.. congratulations on your accomplishments and thank you for sharing!

Getting crops out has been my biggest challenge. I cannot wait to try your tip.

I'm going so much slower than you still.. on heritage birds, plucking only 2-3/day.. and was definitely thinking about managing my hatch schedule next year to allow for continual processing. Set a 15 eggs every 6 weeks.. get 6 pullets to sell for feed $ once identifiable and 6 cockerels to process.. keeping a couple of the best pullets to replace some older hens.. Essentially 1 bird a week for the table... and hope like heck I can be diligent about using that many... Plus see how that works out pasture and flock wise.. but it SOUNDS doable. I always watch for size but harvest first according to attitude.. the most challenging part for me of heritage.. BUT I like the birds!

I started with help and needed the support, but also recently quit inviting any over. I agree that while it's still not an actually enjoyable task it is very relaxing and ultimately rewarding.. and the FREEDOM to not depend on anyone else's schedule is possibly one of the best reliefs.

Then on top of that, a few chickens here and there fit into a standard fridge/freezer much easier than a whole bunch which often require an extra appliance siphoning yet more funds out of my pocket, taking more storage space, etc.

It's very surprising just how tidy and really not bloody and drama free harvesting a chicken can be!

 

[Molpet]

I'm about your age. I do 2 at a time. CX mixed, so I don't have to worry about them dieing as much.
Thighs and drumsticks go in the freezer for winter. Breasts are cooked for the weeks protein.
I use broodies so there's staggered ages too.
Come fall I will do up to 6 every other day to finish filling the freezer. I keep a few cockerels from the last hatch in case a breeding roo doesn't make it through winter. Overwintered Cockerels are pressure cooked in the late spring. They have great flavor.

 

[Mrs. K]

Amen.

If they are young, skinning is also an option, and while I do a few whole birds, I like to part some out too. That way I can have chicken wings for a football game fl) Or just some breast meat from my DH and me. A couple of thighs and a casserole.

Mrs K

 

[Tre3hugger]

Wonderful input as usual @Mrs. K

 

[Compost King]

I like this thread, pretty much everything I wanted to say was already said. I just squeezed my post in here so it looks like I am hanging out with the cool kids lol.

 

[Mrs. K]

I am so glad you did! Compost King, now if you have any advice on a good compost, let me know

 

[potatoesgonnapotate]

I'm thinking of doing my birds this way as well. I have 29 of them and they're growing a bit slower than I'd like, but I was thinking of doing half this weekend and parting them out, then doing the other half the next week and leaving them whole. It's definitely less stressful to go at the pace you're comfortable with!