Give Thanks to the Meaties

[vfem]

I have to say, I am VERY thankful for my meaties. I processed them last night, and we were up until after midnight to get it done. Until now they do their jobs weeding my garden and controlling bugs from their tractor pen. I let these guy go much longer then I had planned especially due to my recent health and the 'chest' issue, whatever that was. I'm still not healed but I needed those chickens DONE and in the freezer asap.

I told the chickens thank you for all the good they have done, and now they will feed us.

They finished up between 4 and 5 lbs each. ...and I think we'll enjoy one for father's day dinner. My husband deserves something a bit special.

 

[baymule]

I know you are glad to have them done and in the freezer. A chicken dinner for Father's Day!

 

[bj taylor]

I take my hat off to you. you inspire me. I have to do this job in a couple of weeks. I've never done it. i'm dreading it, but dh has said he will help, so i'm really grateful for that. any chance you did a video I can watch? how did you learn to do it?
sure am hoping your health issues continue to improve. hope you didn't over extend getting those chickens done.

4 - 5 lbs is really good. i'm not at all sure mine will approach that weight. they're not cx though.

 

[vfem]

BJ, I totally had to depend on BYC for help my first time. I spent about 2 weeks reading until I found the thread that did the most for me.

I guess I could do a video but there are 2 issues with that for me.

1.) I process at night in the dark by flood lights after we put the munchkin to bed.

2.) I don't want that info our there in case it ever comes back to bite me in the booty for my job. (Yes, something like that can affect my job.)

However, it is really easy long as you get the husband to take off the head or bleed them out. That is NOT what I can do.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

vfem, I have to hand it to you.... I couldn't even watch MontyJ process our meaties. He did all 26 of them himself. I did the final pinning and washing. They are pretty good eating too. MontyJ wants to do about 100 (I think) next spring. I took over the majority of the care of the chickens....now all the egg layers are "my" chickens. I feed, water, and change the bedding when needed. I enjoy taking care of them since I don't have a job outside the house.

 

[ninnymary]

dewdrop, welcome! It's nice to finally have you here.

Vfem, how many did you process and how long did it take?

I sure wish I could taste a homegrown chicken!

Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

Vfem, its good to hear you are functioning, but be careful and dont overdo it. At some point you just have to get up and go, but we want you here for the long haul.

Mary, I think there are two things about the taste of those chickens. There is no doubt in my mind that chickens that get to eat weeds, grass, and all sorts of creepy crawlies (best not thought about by some people) will have more flavor than the stuff you buy in the store though some inject brine in their meat to add flavor. Maybe to some people thats like adding a marinate, but not to me. But I think a big difference is in age too. We process our dual purpose birds a lot older than the broilers so they have a lot more flavor just from that.

I have absolutely no doubt Vfems chickens are a huge step up from what you buy in the store, but they wont taste like my 18 week old cockerels I hope to get in the freezer this coming week unless she managed to keep them going for 18 weeks, which is a long time for meaties. And the three year old spent hens Ill process this fall when they start to molt and quit laying will have an even deeper flavor.

I just hope when you get your chance to taste them, you get someone that knows how to cook them. With the older chickens that makes a big difference.

 

[Nyboy]

Bj there are lots of videos on youtube. I have never done it , so can't say which are the good videos.

 

[curly_kate]

Nice work, V! I agree with you about getting someone else to do the 'dirty work' of bleeding them out. I will do anything else. There really is nothing that compares to homegrown chicken! To anyone nervous about butchering - just understand you will make some mistakes the first time, and that's OK. By the time you get to the third or fourth bird even, you'll be surprised that you've gotten into a rhythm. If at all possible, get whole of one of those drum pluckers. (We borrowed one.) It is soooooo much easier than doing it any other way!

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Congrats Vfem! Nothing like home raised meat birds.