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Chickens for butchering - advice please

Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 10:56 in Around the Farm

Ok. I want to become more self sufficient. I have 4 bantie chickens and can't imagine killing any of them, plucking the feathers, cutting them up, cooking them, and eating them. I think with each bite, I'd see there face in my mind.

How does one go about raising chickens for the freezer? How do you get used to killing them and all of that? Is it something that gets easier over time?

I thought about asking my neighbor to do it (she's a lady but I know she has done that kind of stuff), but I'd feel really silly about that.

Give me some tips all you fellow homesteaders please

and thank you all so much!!

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Comments:
Monday, November 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by borderling

I used to think the same things that you think. Finally, I didn't have much choice, I had to butcher. I was given 10 turkeys and I couldn't sell them-I tried :).
A friend agreed to show me and help, in exchange, I gave her three turkeys. It was easier than I thought. We also got rid of some extra roosters and old hens that wouldn't lay anymore. I just thought of my family and how I was helping with the grocery bill and was putting healthy food on my table for my children.
The thought of butchering is worse than actually doing it. Once you do it, it's one more thing you've conquered.
Rhonda
P.S. First time I butchered was a month ago and I'm 49 years old. Don't feel silly.

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Monday, November 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by LivingSimple

I would suggest purchasing some butcher roosters from like McMurray hatchery here is a link to the meat birds http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/product/jumbo_cornish_x_rocks.html then you pen them seperate from your others and do nothing more than feed and water them--that way there is no attachment--LOL--Butchering is not that hard, but time consuming--some people actually pay to have them butchered--around here there is no one to do it--so we do it ourselves--its takes some time--but its not hard--
Hope this helps-

~Kris

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