Have mercy on me

**freyadog** · 07-10-2008, 03:21 PM

Welp. I knew eventually this would come to pass but it got here sooner than I expected.

Culling roosters. Yep dh informed me that Saturday was the day. He handed me a book that has a huge chapter on the procedure. Everytime I try to read some of it my head starts to swim. Literally.

I told him that I would not be able to help because I can't even read the chapter on butchering much less assist.

His remark was, "After the first one the rest will be a snap."

My remark to that was, "Snap, hell. It will take me nar'on a week to quit gagging. By then the chickens will be rancid."

He just rolled his eyes.

Well ya'll think about me Saturday and if anyone is close enough come help, I'll give ya 2 chickens for everyone you butcher.

**freebs** · 07-10-2008, 03:23 PM

too bad i didnt live closer i would come help! I used to help my grandma do this when i was 10-12 then my mom did it also so i started young! if i had chickens now i would butcher too!

**FrugalMomof3** · 07-10-2008, 03:37 PM

WIsh I live just a tad bit closer, I would come help for sure!

**PrairieRose** · 07-10-2008, 04:37 PM

Um, I'll be sending you good thoughts....otherwise I'll be of no help

**angelbumpkin** · 07-10-2008, 07:23 PM

If I was closer I would come help you. I used to help my grandma when i was little. Good Luck!

**frugalfriend** · 07-10-2008, 07:35 PM

Oh man, I feel for ya! Can't dh do it?

I couldn't do it for love nor money!

**Persimmon Lace** · 07-10-2008, 07:38 PM

I helped my grands when I was a kid, you can do this just don't think about it as a chicken think about it as roasted chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes!

You will know that your roosters had a good life and happy times roaming the range! You'll be fine :hugz

**freyadog** · 07-10-2008, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by gg

The trick I learned is to start pulling feathers as soon as they are dead, they literally fall out if you do it right away. Otherwise you have to really pluck and pull. That whole thing of soaking them in hot water only set the feathers in, so I never tried that method after the first time. It makes a stinky awful mess.
How many are you going to do? Will be thinking of you and a full freezer of fresh good chicken!

thank you for the advise. I am really really dreading this but I have to learn sometime. Let dh read your lessage here and he sort of threw the book down that he was reading on chicken plucking.

**freyadog** · 07-10-2008, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by gg

The trick I learned is to start pulling feathers as soon as they are dead, they literally fall out if you do it right away. Otherwise you have to really pluck and pull. That whole thing of soaking them in hot water only set the feathers in, so I never tried that method after the first time. It makes a stinky awful mess.
How many are you going to do? Will be thinking of you and a full freezer of fresh good chicken!

thank you for the advise. I am really really dreading this but I have to learn sometime. Let dh read your message here and he sort of threw the book down that he was reading on chicken plucking.

**sunshine** · 07-10-2008, 08:09 PM

I feel your pain . . .we used to do 200 at a time, when I was a kid. Now we do about 25 at a time.

We do the hot water thing, after we pull as many off as we can. . .those that are still on, we soak in boiling water.

It really isn't as bad as it sounds. Of course the chickens really do run around with their heads chopped off, for a bit

You just gotta dodge them.

**sunshine** · 07-10-2008, 08:09 PM

I feel your pain . . .we used to do 200 at a time, when I was a kid. Now we do about 25 at a time.

We do the hot water thing, after we pull as many off as we can. . .those that are still on, we soak in boiling water.

It really isn't as bad as it sounds. Of course the chickens really do run around with their heads chopped off, for a bit

You just gotta dodge them.

**Persimmon Lace** · 07-10-2008, 08:12 PM

You can also skin them if you don't want to pluck them. My granny used to do both depending on what she was using them for. My dh always skins our birds when we hunt and that's how he said he do chickens if we weren't roasting or frying them.

**sdrjeolsen** · 07-10-2008, 08:13 PM

I've always dipped mine in nearly boiling water, wont work if its just hot even really hot, has to be near boiling. They practically fall out after a good dip. The worst part for me is the actual...ahem.....killing. I hate that part. I hear ya though, I hate doing it, but its gotta be done. You provided for and fed them, now its time for them to return the favor. I have two roos that have gone mean and I need to do them asap, but putting it off. Wish I lived closer, we could work together!

**tbs727** · 07-10-2008, 08:44 PM

If I had to butcher my own meat, I'd be a vegetarian for sure. I don't have the stomach for it. Even buying store bought chicken makes me feel ill.
Good luck to you!