| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 08:44:05 AM
We just butchered the 2 tom turkeys. Didn't take long at all. The first one was easy. Had him done in about 30 minutes. That feather plucker really helps and cuts down on the time. But you need to have HOT water to dunk them in. He weighed 12 pounds.
Then the 2nd one. Wow, he was heavy. I found out a little later why. He had about 20 pounds of pure fat. Like duck fat. I think he would have just had a heart attack and died form all that fat pretty soon. geeze! He must have been hogging all the feed. But after cleaning him up he only weighed 13 1/2 pounds. They are both really nice and soaking in cold water. I kept the heart, livers, and necks.
It was so nice with the pigs playing in the mud and the roosters crowing and all the hens running around. Bubba laying there waiting for turkey feet. So all in all, a good day to butcher turkeys.
So how long should I soak them in the water? I can't remember. Then I think I put them in the fridge a day or so before putting them in the freezer?
Now to catch all those nasty roos. I will put them all in the stall I had those turkeys in til I get ready to butcher them. It will be so peaceful after they are all gone. I feel so sorry for all the hens. One roo will jump on a hen and 5 more come running to have a turn. It's like gang rape.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 14 2011 : 4:06:29 PM
Connie, here's the home made chicken-turkey feather plucker.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 05:34:58 AM
Laurie, I am going to start gathering the roos later this week and put them in the stall where I had the turkey boys. There are just too many. But I am torn on which Buff roo to keep. And if I should keep 2. I have 15 Buff hens right now and am thinking of getting some more. I love my Buffs. They are just the sweetest hens. The roos are good too. But Jimmy Buffet has attacked, hubby, my mom and my granddaughter a few times too many. So I know he has to go. Then there are his 2 older twin sons. I think I might just keep them. Or one of them. Then there are Jimmy's 2 younger twin sons. They are about 7 months old. They are small but would make great chicken broth and soup. So the Buff roos I can just get at night as they all roost on the fence and in the coop. Then I have 3 wild game roos. They roost in the cedar trees. So they will have to be shot. I know I don't want them. I have 6 game hens but don't want the roos. So I have another job looming in a few weeks here.
I also have a 4 week old bull calf that I named Chuck. He's mostly Black Angus. He's already stocky for 4 weeks old. I was going to wait 18 months to take him to butcher. But some people are saying 12 months for Angus. I shall see. I am looking for a bottle calf as soon as my goats have their kids. I will have milk then to give to a calf. That's how I raised Mazie and Cowboy.
So that is life on a farm. ALl the animals have to contribute something in their lifetime. Even the cats are good mousers and the dogs, well, I'll have to think on that. They are good company. Bubba loves to go for rides with me. And walks.
Brandee, turkeys are just gigantic chickens really. Not any difference in the anatomy except the size. The 2 we butchered in Nov. only weighed 6 and 8 pounds. They are Bourbon Reds. They take longer to grow than other turkeys apparently. These doubled in size since then.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| homsteddinmom |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 05:21:26 AM
Great job! I havent done turkeys yet. I do butcher all my roosters tho. Right now i have 2 bull calves that we are raising for meat, i dont feel bad about it as like you i know where my meat is coming from!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
| laurentany |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 11:53:39 AM
Okay Kristin! Good for you! See now you are what I consider a TRUE farmer. Me..I have my chickens that I use for eggs, but have only had chickens for 3 years so havent gotten to the point where they dont lay anymore and are not useful to me. I wouldnt know where to begin as far as butchering and even if I did I just dont think I could do it! Wimp that I am...Lol
Sounds like you have it all down pat and I agree with you 100%- You know where your food comes from and treat the animals to a great life while they are with you.
Enjoy your Easter dinner!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 10:05:27 AM
Cool. I guess the rubber tips have just enough grab to pull the feathers off. Interesting!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 09:39:11 AM
I just went and looked at it real good. It's the end of a PVC pipe. He drilled a hole for a long threaded screw with flat ends and used flat washers and nuts to hold it on.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 09:27:51 AM
Sounds like something I could make! I've seen the manufactured ones on line and thought they were expensive for what they were. I remember the big cast iron pot on a fire in the yard the chickens got dunked in! That was hot water!
Post pics if you can. I'd like to try and make my plucker!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 09:03:18 AM
Connie, my friend made it out of 4" PVC pipe cut to about 4". Then he drilled a bunch of holes and put think black bungee type rubber in the holes. He put the cap for PVC on one end and put a long threaded screw type thing so it will fit on a drill. We used an electric drill. It works so fast. Cuts the time way down. You just need really hot water at least between 160-200 degrees. It helps to have 2 people. One to run the plucker and one to hold the bird. I'll try to take a picture and get it on here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 08:41:15 AM
Kris, What kind of plucker do you use? I need one for next year. I watched my Big Grannie hand pluck. What a job! Anything to speed things along sounds great.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 08:24:24 AM
Sherrye, I did soak them in cold water for several hours. I had thought about salt but didn't do that. Then I rinsed them read good and stood them up to drain for a few minutes. Then wrapped them up. I kept them in the fridge til late last night then in the freezer. Next time I will soak in salt water.
There were 2 hens on the turkey eggs this morning. I am going to mark the eggs that are under them now and check each day and take out fresh eggs. I don't want too many under her.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 07:30:19 AM
ya for you kris, i was so busy with babies i did not see you had done this. i soak mine in salted water. very cold. if you do not chill the bird down in the cold water,,,the carcass stays too warm inside. it takes too long then for the fridge to cool the interior. this can not always but can cause the inside meat to break down and begin to decay. it starts the souring process. i use salt like they did in the good old days. i use about a 1/4 cup to a sink of icey water. i change and flush inside bird with fresh. fill sink again with cold salted water. storeys guide says at least a few hours. then rinse bird in and out a stand to drain. when drained wrap and freeze. when my birds are too big for seal a meal i use a garbage bag. i wrap a clean bag around the wrapped turkey tightly, tape and put in freezer. it really helps with freezer burn. i still have a few fryers to do. i know you froze yours already, but for next time i thought i could add what i do. good job. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 06:14:34 AM
These should be really good. I have them all wrapped up and in the freezer now. I put them in 2 of the plastic shopping bags then wrapped them up in butcher paper and duct taped them all over. That's all I had that would work. I think I will do the smaller one for Easter dinner. The meat was real red too. So now I just have to start gathering up all the roos and next time hubby's home, we will do them.
Candy, I am taking the 2 pigs to the butcher today. So that is 4 less animals that eat that will be feeding us now. That's the way I look at it. I have taken care of them for 10 months (the turkeys) and 3 1/2 months (the pigs) so now they can take care of us. The circle of life.
Hannah, I know how you are, sweetie. I used to be that way when I was your age. I wanted to bring home all the dogs and cats at the animal shelter I worked at. I was always bringing strays home. But now it's all about where my food comes from. And how it's raised. I know they have a happy life here so I do not feel bad at all. That's the way it was back in the day and it's coming full circle again.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| amomfly |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 06:11:00 AM
Great Job Kristin! I do not soak mine. I take it from the butcher table straight to the fridge for a day then off to the freezer! I am thinking you soak them so they do not taste gamey? So the pigs go in this week, don't they?
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 06:02:08 AM
Oh Kris! My mouth is watering at the thought of home raised turkey!! We bought one from a farmgirl friend last fall and it was amazing!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| Candy C. |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 05:49:30 AM
Good for you Kris! I would like to get some turkeys but hubby says "nothing else that eats!" I tell him we would get to eat them but he won't give in.
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
www.calicocandy.etsy.com
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 11:24:40 AM
I don't know how you do it Kristin. I guess if you go in having the mind set that these aren't pets it would be a little bit easier. You all have known me for years and know that the animals I have are like my best friends and I could never imagine butchering them. I don't think its envy, but I sure respect people who can raise an animal, love it and give it the best life possible and then butcher it in a humane way. This would needs more people like that. :)
Hugs,
Hannah
Farmgirl sister #1219!
"Lifes not about the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away."
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