Trying to talk myself into raising some meat birds.

[Denninmi]

I've processed birds others have killed before, that job I can handle. But, I've never actually done the killing myself.

I'm really seriously debating trying to raise a batch of Cornish Cross chickens and a few broadbreasted turkeys. I try to be food self-sufficient as much as possible. Raising meat birds would be a logical extension of keeping birds for eggs, which I do now.

[WingDinger]

1. Tilapia in aquaculture. They arent as cute, even with lips.

[AmBlue]

2. I've got chickens and can't do it. AQUAPONICS!!

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/

We're moving in this direction and I think it'll be all the rage. Chickens are just too damn cute!

[LiberalLoner]

3. I've never wrung a hen's neck before but I think that first time would be

pretty hard, especially since you raised them yourself. I know when I've seen people do it, they always just kind of stare off and don't look at the bird and they just do it. Just like opening a jar.

I guess you just make yourself do it that first time and then maybe it's easier the next time.

I think it's a really smart idea that you are raising chickens and turkeys and the eggs. Have you ever read this book?

http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/

If you haven't already read it I highly recommend it!

It's a smart idea to be self-sufficient in food I think. I've been jittery ever since the bank bailouts and hearing that story about the Congressman who told his wife to go use the ATM because the whole system was crashing and no one could withdraw money soon. If the whole system does collapse, the people who have some food to eat are going to be very lucky indeed. There might be a problem of other people trying to take your food away from you, but that's a whole different issue.

K&R

[creeker]

10. wring their necks? chop off the head, more humane

I grew up watching adults "wring their necks", sometimes tearing off the head. get the bird drunk, chop off the head.

[Booster]

4. If I had to kill what I eat I'd be a vegan in a nanosecond.

[kestrel91316]

5. Some day when I have a farmette and chickens, I want silver-laced

Wyandottes - they are good layers AND good meat birds, not champeens of either, mind you. But good multipurpose birds. Buff Orps are good, too.

Gonna grow your own feed corn, too?

[newfie11]

6. My husband just uses a swift chop with a hatchet on the neck.

Many years ago when we first moved to the country (early 70's) my mom was going to come out and show us how to wring a chickens neck. We had 25 to put in the freezer. Mom was raised on a ranch and had done this many times as a young woman. Well facing 25 chickens in her older years she "chickened out".

My husband saved the day by putting the neck of the chicken on a stump and one chop for a very sharp axe.

[pscot]

7. If you do that and let go

the headless bird will fly 10 0r 15 yards. Drives the dogs crazy.

[newfie11]

9. lol yes it does.

[fasttense]

11. It helps if you put two nails on the block

just far apart enough to get the chicken's head on one side and a nicely laid out neck on the other.

Here in east TN there is no one who will process chickens in a USDA certified slaughter house. If there was, I would be raising chickens for meat sales. So, we only raise enough for us to eat.

It's a difficult job to slaughter a chicken, especially if you pluck them and don't just skin them. I like the skin so between my husband and I we can slaughter, puck and clean 4 chickens in an hour.

A Mennonite friend of ours has one of those chicken pluckers which rally reduces their cleaning time.

[bvar22]

8. Here is a very good thread on DU about harvesting chickens:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x2949

[Kali]

12. killing is a hell of a lot easier than cleaning!

[uppityperson]

14. Skinning is easier than plucking, if you don't eat or care about skin. Makes it really fast

[Denninmi]

13. Update -- I am going ahead with this project

I ordered 25 Cornish Cross chickens and 6 broadbreasted bronze turkeys from the local feed store. They came yesterday:

[Redford]

15. I wish I could process them as well

We have a place in a town over where they process animals. They charge $8 to process a chicken. My issue is that I can buy a chicken in the grocery store for $5 and I do not have to feed it for 3 months.

[Denninmi]

16. Sorry, $8 is crazy.

I realize its work, but $8 is just too much. I've seen anywhere from $2/$3 to $4 for a chicken, but $8?

I can't imagine they get many takers at that price.

[Redford]

17. I agree

but I think they do butchering for Jewish and Muslim customers. Kosher and Halal (I am neither so I don't know if that is the correct terms) processing - so I think that is why they can get away with the pricing.

[AnneD]

18. That is ridiculous.....

All it takes is a rabbi (not sure about Muslims-but since it halal is patterned after Kosher) coming out and checking you out and you have disease free chickens and the blood allowed to drain.

My Aunt would snap the neck with a whip like action. My Uncles used an ax. In fact one of my earliest memories was sitting on a log in the front yard watching them chase a chicken that they had not totally removed the head ( yes I have seen a chicken running around with it's head cut off). The chicken dashed across the creek that ran across the grandpa's yard. They fell on the slippery rocks chasing Sunday dinner. I laughed so hard I fell off the log.

I saw them slaughter hogs, which are my farm favs. Grandpa use to tell me that we did this to survive and that we had to respect the sacrifice of animals. We did not eat a whole lot of meat as we would sell off most of our surplus livestock but since my family was American Indian, we were a bit more pragmatic about the process. I have no problem putting Bambi in the freezer- well not Bambi per say, but his dad for sure.

Dairy and eggs were our main source of protein. Venison was our main source of meat. We also fished the creeks.