tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7812128414310678524.post3397272576631621784..comments2023-09-03T02:18:45.267-07:00Comments on FARM LIFE LESSONS: #54 - Chicken Processing LessonsLanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422413007128219320noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7812128414310678524.post-25118975441831813342011-07-19T08:29:26.253-07:002011-07-19T08:29:26.253-07:00It really isn't all that bad. Easy peasy. We s...It really isn't all that bad. Easy peasy. We spent about 4 hours on Saturday butchering our meat birds (will post about it later in the week). It was our first time, but we had a friend over who had done it before, and I learned how to gut a chicken (more hand work than knife work, wrist deep up a chicken backside), and how to clean the gizzard (mmmm, fried gizzards). Very quick, very easy, though I am not at all squeamish, so maybe it was just easy for me. I was pretty happy to have the icky chickies gone, as they were, well, icky, and we'd already lost two cockerels to heart failure. It was time for the chickens to go before they got too fat to be comfortable. I'm sure you'll do fine. I found a YouTube vid that was pretty quick, clean, and efficient. I'll see if I can find it for you.Raehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02769150016495656772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7812128414310678524.post-22945156147648054812011-07-18T21:52:45.854-07:002011-07-18T21:52:45.854-07:00Now I want some chicken.Now I want some chicken.AiringMyLaundryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11051140760624657630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7812128414310678524.post-61367627620264877912011-07-18T18:04:18.541-07:002011-07-18T18:04:18.541-07:00When I was a lad, about 50 years ago, we used to a...When I was a lad, about 50 years ago, we used to axe chickens and dip em in boiling water to release the feathers. I don't know if I could eat fried chicken without the skin. ;)<br />As a suggestion picking a breed of meat chicken, try this blog post I follow. Quick growth so you don't get too attached. She can probably answer any question you may have about them. When you get moved.<br /> <br />http://mainelyewesfarm.blogspot.com/2011/07/finally-big-enough-to-come-outside.htmlMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11878152240514975518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7812128414310678524.post-42874774399014753772011-07-18T17:10:41.406-07:002011-07-18T17:10:41.406-07:00Charade --- All my chickens are my little sweethea...Charade --- All my chickens are my little sweethearts. I seriously think I could, if needed, simply survive on fresh farm eggs. This chicken processing thing is not for the faint of heart. Maybe I have too much "faint" in mine.<br /><br />Linda --- I was doing online research into chicken processing and a YouTube video came up by chance. I was so horrified by some of the things that I saw that I can't believe YouTube posts them. Oh well. I think your husband is wise, if you live on a farm, you must have some distance or you'd be crushed at every single mishap or natural event. I think all our farm animals might end up as "pets." We might just be using the by-products of the animals. Then, again, I know I'll still be buying chicken and there's a part of me that does NOT want to support the commercialized industry, so that means I need to take a first-hand stance and process my own chickens. So difficult to start thinking about. But, the family farm video I posted was the best one. I could not post the link to the trash videos of people "learning" while on camera or have an emotional meltdown cause it's already hard enough.Lana from Farm Life Lessonshttp://www.FarmLifeLessons.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7812128414310678524.post-73827515804292874662011-07-18T14:18:56.588-07:002011-07-18T14:18:56.588-07:00I would not have thought to look at Youtube, just ...I would not have thought to look at Youtube, just for the reasons you state - a lot of garbage there just for the 'thrill' value.<br /><br />I'm fortunate that my hubby grew up on a farm. He knows how to butcher chickens and slaughter a cow. I'm the one who will have to get over <i>my</i> squeamishness and learn how to do the rest of it.<br /><br />Thanks for the link to the good video. I'll save it to look at sometime. :)<br /><br />P.S. My hubby has already told me nothing gets a name other than breakfast, lunch or dinner. ;)LindaGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12203719919661519350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7812128414310678524.post-81977341495443508892011-07-18T13:36:51.028-07:002011-07-18T13:36:51.028-07:00Okay, thanks for the warning. I decided to just lo...Okay, thanks for the warning. I decided to just look at the pictures. Just read a description of a specialized operating table posted by a friend who had a hip replaced last week, and I'm feeling a bit squeamish. Please tell me you're not going to eat that little bitty black-and-white darling??Charadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16461603001722068211noreply@blogger.com