Details, Details, DetailsÂ…

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After all the questions I got on butchering my first chicken I will share a bit about that with you..  BUT  I am no expert!!  LOL..  So if you are looking to me to give you step-by-step instructions.. sorry!!  I canÂ’t do that.  I am still learning this one!


 


I can recommend Carla EmeryÂ’s book, Encyclopedia of Country Living.  It is a great book and I refer to it all the time for all my country living questions. 


 


For my rooster, I read all the options I had and ended up tying his feet together and hanging him upside down (I used a low cross beam on my wood shelter to tie him to)  and cutting his head off with a very sharp knife. I had a bucket right under him to catch the blood.


 


Before I even started I took a large pot (14 qt size) and got water boiling in it.  When it reached 185 degrees my daughters brought the pot outside.  I dipped my bird in this hot water for about 30 seconds. 


 


I pulled him out and 2 of my daughters and I began plucking feathers.  The feathers pulled out very easily.  It took us maybe 5 minutes.  I had newspaper out to catch the feathers to make clean up easier.


 


Then I took him inside and washed him in my sink, and following CarlaÂ’s directions in her book, I cut him open and cleaned him out.  I soaked him in cold water too while I cleaned everything up.  Then I put him the fridge for about an hour to cool down and after that proceeded to make Rooster Noodle Soup .


 


After all was finished we buried all the mess so that the coyotes donÂ’t come looking around here for something to eat!!


 


So there are all the details.. maybe more than you wanted to know!!  


 


Now to get the other 9 done.. 

Comments

  1. OurLittleHomesteadJanuary 11, 2006 at 12:36 AM

    "Rooster Noodle Soup" hahhaaaaaaa!


    I am glad it went ok, and thanks for sharing your experience with us. :) Let us know how the other 9 go....


    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  2. spinninggrandmaJanuary 11, 2006 at 12:57 AM

    That's how you do it! I'm proud of you! And still amazed that you could 'do the deed' by yourself!!!


    Good girl!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. TheGoodLifeJanuary 11, 2006 at 1:54 AM

    Thanks for sharing, I donot think I am there yet. The killing part I would wimp out on. But I think once I had done one I might them be ok.


    The book sounds brillinat will go looking for it.


    Leanne

    ReplyDelete
  4. DonnaJoyJanuary 11, 2006 at 1:56 AM

    Thanks for sharing, Crystal.

    You are such an inspiration - I thank God everyday that I "met" you and the Ladies at the Homestead - you have literally changed my life!!!

    Blessings

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  5. HillmanAcresJanuary 11, 2006 at 2:36 AM

    I am speechless with admiration- you are now my hero LOL


    Rooster noodle soup...still cracking me up!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2006 at 7:26 AM

    http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=113441


    one lady on that thread has a neat method to restrain them using a jug and some nails...no she doesnt nail the chicken....check it out and way to go crystal

    ReplyDelete
  7. abundantblessingsJanuary 11, 2006 at 11:05 PM

    You did great!!! If you have Joel Salatin's video on Pastured Poultry Profits, he shows how to do this. The first time we did it, we watched the video over and over! When we did broilers this past summer, one died as we moved the pen...it was under the edge when we sat it down. So, we brought it inside and processed it then. This was just Thomas and I. I am not big in the killing aspect of it. When we did our 100 broilers, Toby did the killing! We bought killing cones...the birds hang upside down in them and their heads and necks stick out. Gotta be quick, though, they can jump back out!

    I know you are planning to skin the remaining...but think of the rich stock you are giving up....

    Does sound much easier than plucking!

    I'm sure your soup was yummy!!! Love the name!!!

    I'm proud of you....but you are my inspiration, so that should come as no surprise!


    Blesssings,

    Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  8. ShaundraJanuary 12, 2006 at 1:18 PM

    Can you tell me where I can purchase lye for soapmaking? Thanks!~Shaundra

    ReplyDelete

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