This bad boy weighed just over 6 pounds yesterday. I decided that his time had come.Last night I isolated him in a separate pen with water. And this morning, bright and early, he was transformed from a big white feathered brute into this:
He dressed out to 4 3/4 pounds - nice and fat. He'll make a nice juicy dinner tonight.Seeing as how this was my first butchering experience, I didn't document it for you originally. But then I noticed that most of my hits from google searches were from people who actually want to know how to kill a chicken, so I recorded the steps here. If you want to know how to cut up a chicken after killing it, go here. Good luck!
That looks like a really nice meal, Lisa. It looks like you did a good job with the pin-feathers. Seven weeks and 3 days since you got them. How are the ones you loaned out doing? Will you nget them back?
ReplyDeleteI lent out a pair of the cockerels (immature roosters) a couple of different people, and they brought them back the same evening. They are much slower growing than these meat birds... I hope they get a little bigger before it's time to say goodbye to them. Unfortunately, they each have unique names, and it's gonna be harder to kill them because we all have favorites. Next time I get extra roosters, I'm going to get rid of them right away, I think.
ReplyDeleteThe picking went much smoother and easier than I thought it would, so I was pleasantly surprised. I was bracing for this awful messy smelly ordeal, but it wasn't that bad. I'm sure it helped that I was outdoors and it was cool and breezy. The total volume of feathers was surprisingly small when they were wet. It turned out to be no big deal. Although I'm sure my kids will think it's a big deal.
Every kid should have the opportunity to pluck a chicken, don't you think? :D
Yes, if for only to teach them how to do it. I don't remember killing any chickens when you were at home. We butchered a steer, as you well remember! You were our hero!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! You are a true farm girl! I am not sure I would have the guts to do that. Although I have no problem buying and eating it up when someones else does it. Double standard for sure but still....ewwww!
ReplyDeleteI got lucky and slept in, and when I woke up, the chicken was already dressed on the counter! yesss! I missed all of the gore! :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm please don't post pictures ever. If you are planning on me revisiting your blog, at least :P
ReplyDeletePlease try to turn vegetarian. It’s not humane to kill other being because we need to satisfy our taste buds. I can argue this because we’ve other ways of obtaining energy (crops and vegetables;) why kill a poor animal then. Please at least give vegetarianism a shot and you’ll yourself observe how satisfying it is both spiritually and mentally; not to mention that those vegetables are delicious.
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