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7:12 am
March 13, 2009
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epona4
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| Big Chicken | posts 56 | |
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WV_Hills said:
I wonder how a turkey fryer would work for scalding the chickens before plucking. The turkey fryer is designed to hold enough oil (or water) to cook a turkey, so a chicken should fit nicely even with the feathers. The thermostat should hold the correct temperature, and the propane tank hookup would mean I could have the hot water available in the yard where I want to do the processing without having to heat and carry water from the kitchen, or building a fire to heat a drum full of water. I'll probably want to skin most of the chickens just because it's easier than plucking, but I'd like the option to have a few whole chickens to roast.
What do you think of the turkey fryer idea?
I LIKE this idea! I'm hoping you get some good feedback from folks who have done this!
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8:55 am
March 13, 2009
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Heather
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| Big Chicken | posts 23 | |
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WV_Hills said:
I'll probably want to skin most of the chickens just because it's easier than plucking, but I'd like the option to have a few whole chickens to roast.
My neighbor has ALWAYS skinned hers because she says it's easier but when I started asking her to show me how to butcher, she decided to change her ways because no wonder how young she would butcher, the chicken would be tough and she thinks it was because the skin was removed. Hence the reason I was taught to butcher chickens by the plucking method which I don't think is bad at all. That way you can freeze them with the skin and even cook them with the skin if you want, yet get rid of it if you don't want to eat it. I keep all my chickens whole because I don't really know how to cook well, and the crock pot is my best friend! That's the way I fix all my chickens and every single one has been so juicy and tender that they fall apart when I take them out of the crock pot to display on my pretty rooster plate!  Just a tidbit of info for ya!
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Lovin' life in the country…even with an ornery goat that outsmarts me!
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12:37 pm
March 13, 2009
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GeorgiaZ
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Thats how I cook mine too Heather, and even with out the skin they are as tender as ever. The bones fall off.
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10:09 am
May 2, 2009
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Goodnewsfarm
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| Big Chicken | posts 20 | |
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So glad you are doing this. My husband wants to do this. Not me I told him they better look like a store bought chicken when they come in the house….. I have raised many chickens and eat the eggs but never ate them and I love Chicken. I'll have him look at this.
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3:34 pm
May 24, 2009
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4rum
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| Big Chicken | posts 35 | |
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Growing up we gleaned a lot from nature. Wild greens (polk, plantain, lambs quarter etc.) and we butchered. Chickens, hogs, beef and all sorts of wild game. I was surprised to see this topic here. I am ever so grateful for the responsible way it is presented and the realistic response to the thread.
I hope to learn from those who have been more deeply involved in specific methods and offer any help that I can to those less informed.
Sam
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Remember … at the end of the day … it gets dark.
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3:43 pm
May 24, 2009
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GeorgiaZ
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Well Sam, I wouldnt say it was a fun thing to do. But not really hard either when thats the plan from the start. And it is interresting. Just make sure you have some help.
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5:58 pm
May 24, 2009
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4rum
| | Southern WV | |
| Big Chicken | posts 35 | |
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Excellent advise. Generally for hogs and beef, butchering day was planned well in advance. My dad was in great demand. He would shoot, hand me the old Stevens Favorite and I would hand him the 'sticking' knife. Beef were hung and skinned. The hogs had to be scalded, scraped then cut and stored in the smoke house. Ample help was crucial.
Though I'm very familiar to 'wringing' the necks of chickens, the chop block was the method we used most often. Then scald 'em, pluck 'em, singe 'em an' cut 'em up to can or for Sunday dinner!
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Remember … at the end of the day … it gets dark.
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2:06 am
October 6, 2009
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Flatlander
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Next weekend it is Thanksgiving in Canada…and therefore my turkeys are going to be butchered tomorrow….I'm not watching, but I have to make pictures for my blog..now how am I going to do that?
I knew from day one that the turkeys were here to be butchered..but when the day is there
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8:01 am
October 6, 2009
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monica
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| Mighty Chicken | posts 494 | |
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Good luck Flatlander. Happy Thanksgiving to you! I would love to see pics, but fully understand that they would be hard to get. Make sure that you are either taking pictures or NOT in the area, or you might get recruited for a job.
I don't think we could be meat farmers! I think it is good info to know in case it ever gets to that point with the economy, but I don't think I could kill it myself. We just eat the chicken eggs for now.
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My budget plan is NOT getting a cart when I go to the store.
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8:53 am
October 6, 2009
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GeorgiaZ
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I have decided that it is time to get new hens for next laying season. Mine have all completely quit laying no matter what I do. Which means they are going to the freezer. I talked to my girlfriend and we are going to fatten them up for a couple weeks and do it one weekend. I also have an over abundance of noisy roosters that need to go. The guys wont help us again so we will do it like the pioneer women before us. Hear us roar!!!
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9:11 am
October 6, 2009
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Suzanne McMinn
| | Sassafras Farm in Roane County, WV | |
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If you put the pictures on your blog, you're going to have to look at them, so you might as well be there taking them! If it was me, I wouldn't trust anyone else to take them!
I wouldn't put any photos like that on my blog, though. I got in trouble just for taking castration photos, LOL.
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9:11 am
October 6, 2009
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Suzanne McMinn
| | Sassafras Farm in Roane County, WV | |
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Georgia, you are more Woman than me!
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2:04 pm
October 6, 2009
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GeorgiaZ
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Suzanne said:
If you put the pictures on your blog, you're going to have to look at them, so you might as well be there taking them! If it was me, I wouldn't trust anyone else to take them!
I wouldn't put any photos like that on my blog, though. I got in trouble just for taking castration photos, LOL.
And there is no comparison at all there. I took pics last time, actually my weak bellied son took pics while we did the rest. If anyone wants to see them, I will tell you where in photobucket. Not for the weak.
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2:23 pm
October 6, 2009
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WV_Hills
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GeorgiaZ said:
I have decided that it is time to get new hens for next laying season. Mine have all completely quit laying no matter what I do. Which means they are going to the freezer. I talked to my girlfriend and we are going to fatten them up for a couple weeks and do it one weekend. I also have an over abundance of noisy roosters that need to go. The guys wont help us again so we will do it like the pioneer women before us. Hear us roar!!!
I, too have been thinking about replacing the layers next spring, but I think I'll just let them coast through the winter and spring until the young ones take over. But…I have three Bugg Orpingtons that should have been hens, and are big, fine roosters instead. I'm thinking about making them the first chickens in my new freezer. Want to come over and show me what to do??
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2:37 pm
October 6, 2009
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Linda
| | IN | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 474 | |
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Kathy isn't it to bad that we all don't live closer so we could go from house to house helping each other with these things so everyone could learn? Like the thrasher use to along time ago.
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7:17 pm
October 6, 2009
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monica
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| Mighty Chicken | posts 494 | |
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Suzanne said:
If you put the pictures on your blog, you're going to have to look at them, so you might as well be there taking them! If it was me, I wouldn't trust anyone else to take them!
I wouldn't put any photos like that on my blog, though. I got in trouble just for taking castration photos, LOL.
I know: some people acted like you shot 20 minutes worth of castration video!
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My budget plan is NOT getting a cart when I go to the store.
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1:27 pm
October 7, 2009
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GeorgiaZ
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WV_Hills said:
GeorgiaZ said:
I have decided that it is time to get new hens for next laying season. Mine have all completely quit laying no matter what I do. Which means they are going to the freezer. I talked to my girlfriend and we are going to fatten them up for a couple weeks and do it one weekend. I also have an over abundance of noisy roosters that need to go. The guys wont help us again so we will do it like the pioneer women before us. Hear us roar!!!
I, too have been thinking about replacing the layers next spring, but I think I'll just let them coast through the winter and spring until the young ones take over. But…I have three Bugg Orpingtons that should have been hens, and are big, fine roosters instead. I'm thinking about making them the first chickens in my new freezer. Want to come over and show me what to do??
Maybe yall can do it at the party. You know, kind of a demo type thing. Just kidding!!!
It really is a lot easier than you would think. It just kind of peels off, feathers and all. I'll never ever try plucking again.
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1:54 pm
October 7, 2009
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52
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| Mighty Chicken | posts 391 | |
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Georgia—-I assume you're talking about skinning them? As I am no expert, just how do you do that? Do you scald them first?
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6:00 pm
October 7, 2009
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WV_Hills
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GeorgiaZ said:
WV_Hills said:
GeorgiaZ said:
I have decided that it is time to get new hens for next laying season. Mine have all completely quit laying no matter what I do. Which means they are going to the freezer. I talked to my girlfriend and we are going to fatten them up for a couple weeks and do it one weekend. I also have an over abundance of noisy roosters that need to go. The guys wont help us again so we will do it like the pioneer women before us. Hear us roar!!!
I, too have been thinking about replacing the layers next spring, but I think I'll just let them coast through the winter and spring until the young ones take over. But…I have three Bugg Orpingtons that should have been hens, and are big, fine roosters instead. I'm thinking about making them the first chickens in my new freezer. Want to come over and show me what to do??
Maybe yall can do it at the party. You know, kind of a demo type thing. Just kidding!!!
It really is a lot easier than you would think. It just kind of peels off, feathers and all. I'll never ever try plucking again.
Darn! What a good idea — too bad the day is already jammed full of activities, and I don't think we could squeeze in one more.
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7:41 pm
October 7, 2009
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Flatlander
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It is done….and was not so bad as I thought it would be.
I don't like the killing part..hang them on their feet and cut the troath…they flapper with their wings.
when they are dead, you pull the feathers…than you burn the feathers who won't come out (I did that)
After that the butcherlady, cleaned them out.
I think next year we start ourselves, Jos will do the killing, the boys and me the feathers..and than she can teach us how to clean the rest.
Oh and next year we can't wait that long..the heaviest turkey is 50lb…oops.
The lightest were the hens, 24 and 26 lb (AFTER cleaning)
Doing this..I think I might be able to buther…I said MIGHT….yes Might be able to get a pig for butchering.
But will wait for Susannes story about that first 
Will put pictures on my weblog tonight…have to make supper now.
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