Helping small farm to process chickens - what to expect? (Update #19)

[laohaire]

Consider me a city slicker. I see chickens all the time because I buy food from local farms, but I've never actually touched one, and certainly never slaughtered or butchered one.

For various reasons I contacted a nearby farm who I heard is going to be processing chickens in May, and on a long shot offered to help (specifying that I had NO EXPERIENCE). To my surprise they quickly said yes, they could always use an extra pair of hands.

I don't know the farmers or I'd be hassling them, but anyone have anything they want to share with me to be prepared for? I don't even know what kind of work they'll be expecting me to do, maybe pulling out guts? Honestly I'm not ready to do the actual execution but I don't know if they would have even offered that task to me. I have no idea if they pluck by hand or if they have a machine, I assume a machine since they are a farm (specializing in chickens, pigs and sheep) and not just some folks with a few chickens in their backyard.

When you first processed chickens, did anything surprise you? Anything you wish you had known?

I assume I should wear my most tattered clothes, the sweatpants I wear to paint, that sort of thing. I'll get blood and chicken guts all over? I should probably definitely wear a tshirt and not long sleeves as I'll want to be able to wash up to my elbows? I guess I should bring a change of clothes too, maybe? I'll have to drive home after... or maybe it's not as messy as all that?

I read a tip in Everything I Want to do is Illegal - keep your mouth closed, and if you feel something on your lip, don't lick it. (Referring to bile from any gallbladders that burst). That's helpful Anything else?

[tinuviel_k]

I just took a chicken processing workshop at a local farm. I found it was useful to wear a waterproof outer layer and sturdy boots. I wore a light waterproof jacket and my waterproof cycling pants.
Between the butchering, dunking, and plucking, and then the gutting and spraying the gutting area down there was a LOT of water. The folks that just wore regular clothes got pretty damp.

As to what they might have you do... I would probably ask. At our workshop we did everything from start to finish, but I imagine on a processing day they would probably have you learn one or two skills and stick to them for most of it. In some areas speed is of the essence (you want to start the scald within a certain amount of time of bleeding out) and then you need to pluck fairly quickly after that. If it is a decent size operation I'm willing to bet they have a plucker.

[1jooj]

Yeah, I'd wear clean mucking boots or rubber garden boots if you have them. I don't wear special clothing when we do chickens, but I do wear an apron. There is a lot of water involved.

Bring your sense of humor. It can make for a long day.

[1stimestar]

Be prepared for a "smell".

[Green_Ma_4]

Greetings
Were Organic farmers here in Ontario Canada. We keep a flHock of about 70 hens but when we order our batch of chickens we get them unsexed so that we can cull the males and have meat in the freezer. We do all the killing here ourselves and there are a few things I would "warn" you about....
1) the smell: there is a few different smells, expecially on a warmer day as you go through the process. They chnage fairly quickly as well.
2) wear tall boots and a waterproof jacket.
3) your emotional response: dont be surprised if you tear up the first few goes. Its a very emotional process for us here and I was surprised when that lump rose in my throat.7
4) Have in the wait some good pumice soap. Your hands depending on the job will smell and its hard, VERY hard to get the smell out.
5) dont forget to breath. We had someone help us out here once that was all gun ho, and went through the chopping and the gutting with no problem, but the plucking he was on the ground. He was holding his breath and didnt even know it.
6) Eat something before you go
7) askign questions while its happening is ok, but if there is anything on the top of your head try and ask before....
umm what else...I think thats it..I woould hope that where you are going doesnt chop and let run so I wont mention that.
cheers and good luck
Sarah

[laohaire]

Thanks everyone for your tips!

I don't have really good boots for this. Either my winter boots (snow boots) or a pair of leather "booties" that are all torn up and ready to throw away. I'm leaning toward the latter, but the winter boots are more waterproof. We'll see.

Thanks for the warning of the smell. I didn't even think about it.

And thanks Sarah for the detailed tips. I'll follow them all. I assume they have killing cones and it won't be a chopping block (and hence headless chickens flopping around) but I don't really know. I don't know how I will feel about it when I see it. That's kind of the main reason I'm going, I guess.

I don't drive so my husband will drive me, and my 4 year old will of course tag along. She is NOT sensitive to talk about animals being our food, which is strange to me and DH since we are. We eat only local pastured meat but every time we say hi to the cows at the farm we have second thoughts about our burgers because they are all so sweet, and they lick us, and they are soft and doe-eyed. We're exactly the folks Joel Salatin makes fun of. Well, hell with him, I'm going to process some chickens and figure out how I feel about chicken, anyway Anyway, it will be interesting to see what my 4 year old thinks.

I have low vision but my central vision (what I use to do tasks, to read, to cook, to sew, whatever) is good. Walking and not bumping into/tripping over things is what's hard for me. I haven't told the farmers this but people tend to freak out more than is helpful. I figure I'll go see and if it seems like I can't be helpful, I'll bow out. I think the scalder is the only part that I'm nervous about in terms of my vision. I'm not nervous about using a knife, though.

I am doing this for educational reasons only, but as a side perk, I wouldn't mind scoring some chicken feet. I guess I'll bring along a plastic bag or two to put some in, if the farmers are ok giving some to me. Any tips on that would be welcome, too - I assume they'll have some place to keep them cold while we're still working.

Anyway, thanks again. I'm nervous and excited about it. I also sort of feel like nobody IRL "gets" me (other than DH) because they would think I'm NUTS for doing this.

[mnnice]

I've butchered chickens many times and never worn boots, just the oldest tennis shoes I own and either a baseball hat or bandana to keep my hair out of my face and out of the chickens (and the blood out of my hair)

[1jooj]

Yeah, if your boots aren't just plain hose-cleanable, I'd wear something on its last legs and throw out afterward.

Good point on breathing! Very easy to stop, especially when you're concentrating!

[StrongBeliever]

Congratulations on scoring a really great learning experience. I think it's great your DD gets to go as well... My 5yo DS thinks butcher time is a blast. I think this is because he's always had that exposure... He can tell anyone why a free-range chicken is better than a factory farm chicken and I bet he could walk you through the butchering process. It's really a wonderful thing to have a solid understanding of how your animal food makes it to the table for children, for so many reasons I am sure everyone here knows.

So from someone who butchers chickens all the time... YES, bring a change of clothes mostly so you aren't contaminating you car. Rubber boots are best, washable tennis shoes probably the next best. Gore WILL be everywhere. Pluckers are great, but the rotary type(versus barrel type) tend to splatter... I would also recommend a hat or bandana(don't want crispy smelly hair) as well as some safety glasses if you think you'll end up doing that... So nasty to get gore in your eye. No matter how well prepared you are to get dirty or how little nast you actually acquire, you are still going to want a 45 minutes shower when you are done so you might as well just wear what you will feel comfortable in. I have butchered in shorts and flipflops(August heat my motivator there) and just kept hosing my legs down... It all comes out in the wash at the end of the day.

I'd not be nervous about scalding... It's done mostly by feel anyway. I'm sure the folks you'll be helping will be able to tell you everything you need to know. The whole process is really very easy once you get the hang of it... I've taught a LOT of newbies, and it seems that every single person, from the girl that screamed bloody murder to the guy that jumped in happily, took about 3-4 chickens before they were darn near proficient. Meaning they could do the whole thing from kill to clean by themselves after just a few birds. So don't sweat it and have fun.

On the subject of fun as well as gorey but true... You can play a chicken carcass almost like bagpipes, so don't be surprised when you reach in to grab some innards and your rooster crows.

ETA: Feet... I think they are GROSS and always give them to the dog. I know they are chock full of nutrients, and am happy my dog gets a healthy treat. *haha* I think most people do that. But if they know their stuff they won't be surprised if you ask for them and would probably be happy to let you have them. I would say bring your own cooler and bag of ice, just in case. Butcher day is hectic and if they weren't planning on saving feet they might NOT have some place to keep them cool and may not be able to scrounge one up quickly... Coming prepared is an admirable trait and I personally don't think they would be bothered that you were expecting to maybe leave with something. Another gross but fun fact(because you have a kid along and this stuff makes it science not sadness)... If you cut off a leg in a way that you can grab a tendon(pliers are helpful but not needed if you manage to get a long tendon) you can pull them and make the toes contract on the feet. My sisters and I would all chase each other around the yard with them as kids... I can't believe my Mom let us run around with nasty dead chicken feet for hours, but I thank her for it too.

[laohaire]

Heh. More good stuff. Heh.

About my 4 year old. I don't expect her to be bothered at all but who knows. But what bugs ME is my kid HATES the farm!!! What are the odds!!! Like, she says she HATES the milk from the local dairy farm. (Apparently this is just prejudice because DH and I can slip her milk from that farm no problem, just as long as she doesn't SEE us pour from that jug). The only thing she prefers from a farm is fruit, because she can pick it herself. (I can't even imagine her preferring cruddy grocery store strawberries to the lucious ones we can get locally in June... it's like not even the same fruit). My kiddo isn't a big meat-eater but it's not squeamishness. Maybe she might even eat chicken after seeing them butchered. She did try turkey once, specifically because I showed her photos of live turkeys and she was interested in the idea of eatng a bird. Kids!!

So here I am a big locavore and have fantasies of being a farmer myself (not gonna happen because of the vision thing), and my kid won't even touch food that didn't come from the GROCERY STORE. (I would love to just not buy anything from the grocery store at all, but we do what we can on our budget).

Playing a chicken like bellows. I might have to try that.

Chicken feet. Yes, I'll try to figure out a cooler setup, maybe borrow a cooler from someone. Their policy is that they'll include the organs and/or feet (to the customers) but only on request. I have never tried chicken feet but after reading post after post of people who say it's delicious, I was sold. (Some folks say they didn't even know there was another part of the chicken when they were growing up, since their mothers/grandmothers only used the feet). From what I understand, you give the feet a good scalding and peeling (and you take the toenails off) before you do anything else with them, so I can live with that.

Scalding. I am picturing a big pot of boiling water that we dip the chicken into after it's been bled. Vision-wise I'm just afraid of burning myself either by splashing or accidentally touching the side of the pot. Part of my vision issue is complete lack of peripheral vision, so I could be looking at the chicken's feet and not see the siide of the pot a few inches away. (Likewise I can look at someone's nose just a couple feet in front of me, but not see their ears). Anyway I might be picturing this wrong and we'll see.

[Chicky2]

Just wanted to put my .02 in.....

We do not pluck our chickens here. We simply skin them. And I've never really thought it was all that messy. we use cones, and a heavy rock to weight them down so they don't try to flop back out. We cut the throat very slowly because it is easier on the chicken (they just kind of fall asleep). we keep 5 gallon buckets full of clean water (kids job to refill and make sure it's clean) and a hose handy. I also never noticed a smell. maybe there's a difference when you pluck? or maybe I'm just use to it?

Good for you for seeking out this experience. You will learn a whole new respect for the life they are giving so that you can eat.

BTW, I would never ever let an inexperienced person dispatch one of my animals. I would probably put you to work washing the meat and helping to package it up.

[1stimestar]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Heh. More good stuff. Heh.

About my 4 year old. I don't expect her to be bothered at all but who knows. But what bugs ME is my kid HATES the farm!!! What are the odds!!!

Careful. After we processed chickens at home the first time when we were kids, my sister never ate chicken again (and she's 40 now).

[1jooj]

Chicky2, huge difference between the smells of skinning and plucking. Wet feathers, steaming scald water. 'Nuff said.

[Pepper44]

Yep, I think the strongest smell is from the wet feathers and the scalding water. If you just skin then I guess you skip that part!

After owning chickens and knowing them well I can't imagine eating their feet. I never realized there were lots of people who ate them and liked them. Yikes!

[Chicky2]

Originally Posted by 1jooj

Chicky2, huge difference between the smells of skinning and plucking. Wet feathers, steaming scald water. 'Nuff said.

Ah. Gotcha.

Originally Posted by Pepper44

Yep, I think the strongest smell is from the wet feathers and the scalding water. If you just skin then I guess you skip that part!

After owning chickens and knowing them well I can't imagine eating their feet. I never realized there were lots of people who ate them and liked them. Yikes!

I read an article in....well, I dunno, but possibly "Countryside"...about making the BEST chicken soup, and that you absolutely have to use chicken feet. Anyway, I totally know what you mean about owning them and knowing them well, rofl!

Hey, I just remembered I read it online and found the article.

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how..._chicken_feet/

[VBMama]

laohaire, will you be sure to come back and post about what it was like? We currently keep a laying flock and I would eventually like to raise meat chickens also, but I'm having trouble making the mental leap to killing & processing them. Not for ethical reasons, but because I'm still on my journy from raised-in-the-suburbs-girl to becoming a farm girl. I'll be very interested to hear what your experience was like!

[laohaire]

Sure, I'll be glad to update.

It will be a while though. Around Memorial Day. I like to plan ahead

But seriously, I'm glad I did. For example, I probably would have thrown out the old boots I had, not really thinking about this. Also, I want to bring a cooler, next time I see my neighbor I'll ask her if she has one I can borrow for that weekend. That sort of thing.

[laohaire]

Oh, by the way, you'll probably also want to cull your non-producing hens anyway, even if you don't add meat chickens to the mix. I had a culled stew hen last fall (from a different farm) and it was delish. I put it in the crock pot and it was very tender.

If I raise chickens, I'll definitely buy unsexed. Not everyone will agree with me but I think it's more ethical to raise the boy chicks to adulthood and then eat them, then to buy sexed chicks and toss the boys (and some of the girls) into the incinerator

[laohaire]

Saw (but did not participate in) a chicken processing

The farm that I was going to help out with a processing never really got back to me. I don't think she needed the help, and maybe just preferred to do it on her own rather than having to chat with someone else. Most of the farmers I know are not extroverts

But I asked at another farm if they were willing to give me chicken feet. They said ok, and to come during their processing to pick them up. I went this morning.

They had a cluster of metal killing cones on a pole (6, I think) and a shallow tub underneath to catch the blood. One of the farmers would take a chicken out of a set of cages they had (like big pet carriers, I guess) and it would squawk. He would put the chicken head down into the killing cone, and the chicken would be ok, no struggle at that point. I think the blood rushing to the head must make them woozy or sleepy or something.

Then he took a knife and slit the throat and the blood would pump out (pump, but not gush). He assured me the chicken was unconscious even when flapping but I don't buy it. Death was not instant, nor was unconsciousness. The ones who were flapping and kicking had their eyes open, and the eyes looked like they were seeing (you know?). When they finally went unconscious or died, their eyes closed.

Some of them did indeed only struggle for a few seconds and then go unconscious. Others would come back to consciousness for a bit (maybe 10-15 seconds at a time, once or twice). All of them were dead within a minute, so we're not talking about an extreme time of agony. But there was some agony, yeah. Death is like that. I don't want to pretend they don't feel a thing, that's stupid.

Then he would tie two bled-out chickens by their feet to a metal rod and dipped them in the scalding tank. I was momentarily a little afraid one was still alive because it had been kicking only maybe 20 seconds before. But it wasn't. It was completely limp, eyes closed, spirit gone I think. When the chickens touched the scalding water, there was no reaction whatsoever. He dipped them in and out a few times, then took them off and put them in the plucker.

The plucker looks a bit like the washing machine compartment where the clothes go in, except it was white plastic and had bigger holes. I was surprised by how quickly they plucked, maybe 10 seconds or something to a plucked bird. Wow, that is quite an invention; I would imagine it takes quite a while to pluck by hand.

Then the plucked chickens went over to a table manned by two teenage boys. They were quiet, hardworking and thorough. They cut off the heads and feet, and examined the bodies for missed pinfeathers and pulled them out manually.

I didn't see the rest, since I was hanging out at that table to get the feet, plus getting a good look at the gory stuff in between. But a group of women were at a different table, they must have been the ones extracting the organs and all.

All this was happening outside in the open air. They had a tent set up, the kind with just the vaulted roof and no sides. Obviously the killing cone area had some blood but even then it wasn't quite as bloody as I figured. The farmer doing the executions had some blood on his hands, and the dying chickens had some blood on their heads, and that was it. Once they came out of the scalder and plucker, they looked all clean like you'd see in the supermarket.

The executing farmer said something about people sometimes becoming vegetarian after seeing this. I explained I had been vegetarian for 10 years but wasn't ever against eating meat - just factory conditions. I have no idea if he could appreciate that or if he thought I was an idiot. Joel Salatin would think I was an idiot, so there ya go.

So, it's been about 2 hours since I saw that. I am not (and was not) traumatized. That's not because I'm thick-skinned; I can easily become traumatized by reading about some things and such. I will not see Food, Inc. because it will traumatize me. The killing of chickens was not pleasant at all, but it was ok to me. If I ever kill my own, I will be quite nervous the first few times because I'll want to slit their throats well and quickly to minimize suffering, but I think I can do it. I would also bless and thank each chicken. It won't be "nothing" to me, but I could do it.

[Chicky2]

I'm glad you posted about this. And I'm glad you weren't traumatized. I don't think it's traumatizing if done correctly. But I *have* seen it done incorrectly, by my neighbor, and it was awful. It was the goat he butchered for our July 4 party. Must have been really bad karma in that goat because my MIL choked on a piece of it and died at our party.