Our Butchering Experience 7-12-10 and 7-17-10

Back in March we ordered 100 of the "Frying Pan Special" from a hatchery in Iowa.  They were White Leghorn roosters.  We knew when we ordered them that they weren't the kind that would get big and plump, but that kind was on backorder for a few months, so we decided to give these guys a try.  We raised them for 16 weeks hoping to see them get bigger, but they never seemed to pass a certain point and we felt like we were just pouring feed into them and not getting any more meat out of them, so we decided to butcher them.  Besides, they were getting meaner and meaner by the day and we would actually pick up a dead one in the pen about once a week that they would kill.

We called some friends of ours, the Rolands, and asked if we could borrow some of their equipment to help things go quicker.  They were so sweet and willing to share, so we went by and got some things for the big day.  We tried to get an early start, and at 5:30 in the morning Stephen went out to try and pen them as we figured they would be in their pen roosting as they usually are during the night.  Well, I guess they had never seen anyone out there during that time of day and got totally scared.  They started running around and actually made their way outside of the electric poultry fencing that is around their pen, so now we had more on the loose than we had penned- oh no!  Stephen managed to get a few locked up in the little chicken tractor and we figured we would just go ahead and get started with them since the others on the loose were acting CRAZY.

It took a little while for us to get the hang of things and get a good routine down, but we managed to and the kids all either helped out in some way, or watched the whole process.  Mrs. Herzog came up and helped which was great...the more hands the better!

We only got 36 done the first day in 2 shifts...morning and evening (the afternoons are far to hot for all of us to be outside all day, so we picked back up in the evening after Mr. Herzog got off work and he helped us).

Then we set up a day for getting the rest done and found some more help.  Keith, Mr. & Mrs. Herzog, Stephen, Martin, Millie and I all got 49 knocked out Saturday morning all before 12:30 and then we were done!!!

It was quite an adventure, and we would like to raise some more again, but never all roosters, never for 16 weeks, and never the "Frying Pan Special".  We have eaten a few and they cook up nicely although it will probably take 2 to feed us for a meal rather than us getting 2 meals out of 1 bird- oh well.  Here are some pictures of our butchering days.

Here they all are outside the poultry netting.

Stephen was able to eventually coax some of them back into the little chicken tractor with some feed and water.

The first lucky "subject"

Getting some of the supplies set up.

Here goes...first you dunk them in the hot pot (145 degree water for 45 seconds)

Then you pluck them.  Thank goodness for the plucker.  My family used to borrow it when we butchered chickens for 4-H (10-12 years ago) and it is still running good.

Mo sitting with the kidos before we "dig in".

Martin seemed proud of all the blood that splattered on him.  When Mo asked if he wanted her to hose him off and try to clean him up a bit, he said no thanks kinda proud like.  He was a good hard worker man!

Martin and Millie bringing in the next one for dipping and plucking.

Elaina and James hanging out in the back of the little red truck.  There was to much for them to get into if they were out playing where we were working...knifes, blood, guts, feathers, hot water...

Here we are holding the wings from flapping and shooting blood everywhere as Stephen cut off the heads.

Posing for a picture as they bleed out.

James helping bring in the cooler with the chickens in it all packed with ice helping out with the "pre-freezing" step before they get bagged up for the freezer.

All bagged up and ready for the freezer.

These are pictures of our second day of butchering...

Stephen and Martin taking care of the first step...cutting off the head

Keith and Martin fetching more birds.

Martin playing around and wearing one as a helmet.

Keith and Martin getting the job done.

Taking a smoothie break.

Pawpaw sharing with James.

Millie would take the  gutted bird, rinse it out, put it in the cooler and fill it with ice.  She was quite a big helper!

Keith plucking.

Mr. Herzog dunking.

I am so glad to have them done and in the freezer!