The sky is falling! (actually, I suck at video)

Stam headed over this morning to participate in the 1st ever McCleary Chicken Massacre. He added his 9 birds to the 20 I chose to butcher. I got the equipment set up last night.


First they headed to the kill cones.

Warning, blood.





















If you ever need to kill a lot of things at once, get one of these.

I got the scalding tank up and running, in the freaking rain storm. The soap is in there to help wet the feathers.


Next we loaded them up on the dunker. I thought it was a bit hokey when I set it up last night, but it really worked well today.


Next stop was the plucker.



It was very efficient.

29 chickens worth of feathers.

Post plucker


...after gut and trim


I feel a little sad now that my meat chickens are no longer in their chicken tractor,

...but I did save 3 to grow to a freakishly large size. 2 hens and a rooster.

It was great having Stam's help today. He is one of those guys who looks for something to do at all times, and he can work and talk at the same time. Nice to have your company today, and thanks for the pheasant chicks. They are all doing great.

And in case you didn't figure it out, for whatever reason, my video failed to upload, and it is stuck in my phone. I can't even email it. The plucker action was pretty darned cool. 30 seconds, and it was done. Three birds plucked.

Fried chicken for dinner tomorrow!

Fryin' up any gizzards?

Looks like McNuggets just ain cuttin it. Nice setup.

You are a machine, Andy!

next time sell tickets

I have a bag of gizzards. Just waiting for an opportunity to fry them up.

Damm fine job

Nothing like some fresh birds!!

Wish I could make that fry..

Keith

If the attorney from Ifish see's this she's gunna come unglued...

Nice setup ! Nice looking pile of eats .. . . . Just one question, what is midget canoe paddle for ? Did the naughty librarian make an apperance ?

Chicken Lover.

I'd like to see how that chicken plucker works too. Looks like a mighty efficient operation. I raised birds back when I was in high school. It's been so long I don't even remember how to butcher them any more. It was way cruder; that much I remember.

Sg

Me too. I totally want to knock off the plucker and build my own. I hate plucking by hand but can't bear the expense of buying a plucker.

what did you do with the blood?

Great carnivore post Andy! Going to help a local farmer slaughter a bunch of quackers tomorrow. I hear tell that he's got a similar setup to the one you used. Any helpful hints? Dish soap in the cauldron? Grunden's bibs & Xtra Tuffs?

Tony Roma's..a huge baker, fresh ear's of corn and don't forget the

Yup.

Boiling 5 gallons of stock right now from 40 chicken necks, 40 feet, and 4 backs.

I'll probably end up building my own plucker at some point. Need a tub, a plucker plate, a 1750 rpm motor, and a 10:1 90 degree reducing gear box.

I just wore shorts, a sweatshirt, and boots. Ducks have tougher feathers from what I understand. Dishsoap help to wet the feathers, just a little bit..

Blood was poured out into a blood puddle. Didn't have a use for it. Do you know of anything that can be done with it?

Made 4 gallons of stock yesterday. The last jar came out of the pressure canner about 9:30pm.

There are several CO-OP's around that will rent you all of the equipment. On the East side there is at least one Cargo Trailer that has been converted to a mobile chicken processing machine.

WSDA would be a good start for finding information.

You can also contact your local conservation district as some have their own gear they rent out.
http://www.scc.wa.gov/index.php/contact/Conservation-Districts/