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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  Anyone slaughter/butcher?  |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 06 2013 : 5:38:31 PM
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Whew! I butchered 7 turkeys today. They weighed in 13 - 15 pounds cleaned.
We raise our own meat chickens, turkeys and rabbits. I don't mind the slaughtering and gutting. But, I hate the de-feathering/plucking. UGH! There's always some little pin feather that pops out when I think I'm done.
I also raise meat goats but I haven't tackled the skill of butchering that large. I'd like to, though.
Anyone else do their own meat processing?
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2013 : 7:28:08 PM
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Cahterine,
We butchered our own meat rabbits. Not the most pleasant thing to do, but necessary.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
I am trying to be the person my dogs think I am.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2013 : 12:19:16 PM
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We have done our own chickens. We did not defeather..we just took off the skin with the feathers.
My husband grew up in a hunting family and they always butchered rabbits, deer, etc. and he still does. But we do take our lambs/steers to the butcher.
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
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neeter302
True Blue Farmgirl
257 Posts
Anita
Hanover
Indiana
USA
257 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2013 : 5:58:43 PM
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My son just got a deer. It's a lot of work, took a good full day to process it but so worth it. He got a lot of meat and ground some to make summer sausage. My grandson who's four wasn't sure what to make of it, but in our area deer hunting and deer meat are very common. If they overpopulate they cause a lot of car accidents and become sick and malnourished. It not only feeds our family but keeps their population under control as well. It's odd though, a lot of meat goats being raised in our area but are sold elsewhere and I don't know of anyone around here who eats goat meat, although I've heard it's very good.
Farmgirl #522
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Calico Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Meg
Middle Tennessee
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2013 : 7:29:29 PM
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| Hi Catherine! We processed our own chickens this last summer and were also frustrated with the pin feathers. In talking with two other friends (who also have chickens) we made the comment that if we ever saw a featherman plucker cheap enough on craig's list, we may get it. The two friends chimed in that they would go in on it. Long story short for a little over $100 each, we have a featherman plucker. We store it here at our farm and the friends come and get it when needed. We have used it once and the skin comes out clean in no time at all! |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
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Jess_Quinn
Farmgirl in Training
36 Posts
Jessica
Gleason
TN
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 09:19:14 AM
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I work for a meat processing plant...guess I lucked out:)
"He makes the grass to
grow for the cattle, and herb for
the service of man, that he
may bring forth food out
of the earth" Psalms 104:14
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 3:07:56 PM
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I have been slaughtering/butchering meat since I was about 10, learned first on poultry, then rabbits, went on to goats and sheep, then hogs and finally beef, and still do...all of my kids learned and my grandkids will too if they want, did not force it on my kids, it was their deceison, as it will be with the grandkids, I beleive it is an importent thing to know, especialy in these times...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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theatresmiles
Farmgirl at Heart
5 Posts
Heather
Carrollton
Oh
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2013 : 10:23:01 AM
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| I have helped my mom butcher chickens and turkeys and will be raising and butchering my own this year. Usually we take the skin off to avoid plucking. However, this year I want to keep a few of the turkeys whole. My mom said that she had heard that you can quickly hit the plucked turkey with a torch to singe off the pin feathers. Has anyone else heard of this method? |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2013 : 10:00:27 AM
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We have done turkeys, chickens, freshwater fish, and guineas. Not too much of an issue w/ pin feathers as I make sure they're fully feathered out before butchering. We don't have a plucker. Hubby says no more broilers...ever again. We've done it about 5-6 times and it doesn't bother me at all, but what happens is that we end up waiting too long and the broilers are huge. Plus, we just aren't 'into' meat as much anymore. I can just about live without it :0) However, I am planning on raising Salmon Faverolle chickens, and I am sure we will be butchering some of the extra roosters. My kids love chicken a LOT.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2013 : 2:43:15 PM
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I feel real lucky that I learned early in life how to process meat animals,we had a small ranching operation and my Grandpa raised hogd for butcher while us womenfolk raised and processed our own small stock such as rabbits,goats and chickens.
We also hunted and I learned how to process wild game,the biggest being elk.
Nowadays I raise small stock and regularly butcher rabbits,chickens and goats and I like to teach other people to do the same for themselves.
I also learned early on how to brain tan and raw cure hides for making moccasins,deerskin dresses and such which is also a useful skill for a homesteader to know,there's too many hides that people waste for lack of knowing what to do with them so stick them in the freezer to keep until you learn,it's not hard at all!
You can burn those pinfeathers off with a torch but you can really cook the skin unless you're really fast about moving it around,I just roll up a piece of newspaper real tight,light the end and flick it over the feathers.
I've also found that a horse grooming tool called a "bot fly knife" works real well for helping to remove stubborn feathers,particularly those little fine ones and hairs left behind after plucking.
Hope that helps a little,I also think it's useful after dunking the birds in hot water to quickly plunge them into ice cold water,this helps to loosen the feathers more than just dunking alone.
I also scald the feet,peel the skin and toenails off and save those for the stock pot or now and then might toss them to the dog to chew on if I have alot of them.
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut"
Nostalgic Needleworks http://www.etsy.com/shop/NostalgicNeedleworks https://www.facebook.com/NostalgicNeedleworks |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13617 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13617 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2013 : 7:01:29 PM
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That was the way of life on the farm as we grew up. We butchered EVERYTHING we raised to eat . . . chickens, beef, lamb, etc.
My hubby and I have raised and butchered rabbits. And we have butchered all of the wild game we've obtained in hunting expeditions, which include deer, elk and javelina, as well as a few quail and wild geese.
Currently we raise beef and also do our own butchering
And, it does include doing the slaughter as well.
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
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Daizy
True Blue Farmgirl
992 Posts
Daizy
Talladega
Alabama
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2013 : 07:37:20 AM
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What is the age you all think is the best age to begin butchering your chickens? I will be skinning them as we don't eat it anyway. I don't want them to be too tuff but I want them to be old enough also.?? I've sone this before but it was on MY time schedule not the birds.....just gathering more info here.... Thanks
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2013 : 1:11:01 PM
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Daizy, it will depend on breed, and what butcher weight you want...with further info I will be able to answer your questions...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2013 : 11:55:09 PM
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I learned to butcher rabbits & deer while young & now if I do butcher a chicken I always skin it since I can't stand to smell of boiled feathers after they've been dunked. I am thinking of getting a few tom turkeys this spring when our Agway sells the babies & raising them til about this time of the year & doing them up but those I will do the whole water bath & plucking since I so love the skin on the turkeys. Hopefully soon my friend who works for the State & traps destructive wild like beavers should be bringing me some wood chucks to butcher. They have the flavor sorta between rabbit & chicken....so am excited about that....I will salt tan & stretch the hides as well to sell later on....M' & crew
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
www.theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Anyone slaughter/butcher? |
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Anyone slaughter/butcher?
