Processing for BJ. From newbee to newbee...

[Ridgerunner]

I use a fishing net. If you have a small place, you can grab them off the roost and put them in there. They won't need much room.

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't do super early. I take them off the roost the night before and put them in a dog crate, or box w/ a wire cover over

 

[baymule]

BJ, if you just chop off the head, that chicken will get up and "run around like a chicken with his head cut off!" Yes, that's where that saying comes from. If flopping got you upset, you will be amazed how far a chicken without a head can run.

Get a card board box. cut it open to lay flat. Roll it up into a cone shape with about a 2-3" opening at the bottom. Duct tape it all together and duct tape a "tab" to put a nail through so you can hang it up. That's what I did when I butchered mine and it worked fine.....and it was FREE!

I put the bird in upside down, pulled his head through and cut his throat. I didn't cut his head off, just sliced his throat right below his lower beak. The cone held him still and he was unconscious in seconds and he bled out. It was, IMHO, the most humane way to do the deed.

 

[canesisters]

I DID IT! I just watched the first one, then helped to pluck and gut the next few - then did the whole thing on the last one. It was not nearly as bad as I was afraid it was going to be. All together we processed 6 meat chickens and 5 quail.
A HUGE THANKS to Kdbeads from BYC for being such a good and patient teacher.

 

[MontyJ]

That's fantastic Cane! I'm glad everything went well!

 

[bj taylor]

that's great cane! congratulations. job well done!
bay, I have to say, you are invaluable to get things across. it makes me feel I can do it. when I 'get er done', I will be so anxious to announce it here.

 

[canesisters]

Bay, that's the way we did it (except our cone was a super-sized bleach bottle with the opening enlarged and the bottom cut off). It was really pretty peaceful and quiet. Because I was curious about the removing the head all at once ,she did one of the quail that way. There was MUCH more flapping and it seemed to take much longer.
We were careful to let them calm down once removed from the cage, then everything else was done slowly and delibertaly (sp??). The chickens stayed calm and the only 'reaction' was very brief at the very end - and that was simply muscles/lack of air.
Once we had our routine worked out, it was a simple and smooth process. After the initial nerviousness, the rest of the morning was spent chatting over the work.

You can do it BJ. It's just a matter of confidence.