Farmfresh
City Biddy
Now you have discovered why I butcher my meaties 4 to 6 a day over the period of a week or two!
I just cannot handle that many at once. We went to my aunts in years past and as part of an assembly line crew would do up to 50 in one day.
Then one day it occurred to me that they would get just as frozen a few at a time.
I can also work alone on the project now which means that I must wait on no man to get it done AND they are all done clean as I like them. Of course there is more set up and clean up involved, but I have it down to a fast science and with less birds the clean up is not so overwhelming.
I simply select the ones that are next in line (I try for most problems, largest, and then males. It seems like the straighter the legs and more balanced the bird the better able they are to get bigger with less heat stress and other issues) and bring them to a holding pen the day before the DAY. In the holding pen they get free choice water and fresh greens (or no grain at all). Doing this for 12 to 24 hours cleans out the gut and makes butchering easier. On occasion I have had "something come up" that makes butcher day a no go, then I just give them a grain feeding and start the clean out process over. After my selected batch is butchered, a new batch goes in the holding pen.
I rotate the chill zone the same way - 6 birds from day 1, 6 birds from day 2 on day three the first birds rotate to freezer camp. This way I only need fridge space to chill around 8 to 12 birds at a time.
Even doing them a few at a time I have arthritis flare ups. I cannot imagine doing all at once anymore. If I had a day like yours, even without the shearing that followed, I would literally be crippled for a week! You are a better "man" than I am Justus!
I hope the plan for today is TV and ice cream.
I just cannot handle that many at once. We went to my aunts in years past and as part of an assembly line crew would do up to 50 in one day.
Then one day it occurred to me that they would get just as frozen a few at a time.
I can also work alone on the project now which means that I must wait on no man to get it done AND they are all done clean as I like them. Of course there is more set up and clean up involved, but I have it down to a fast science and with less birds the clean up is not so overwhelming.I simply select the ones that are next in line (I try for most problems, largest, and then males. It seems like the straighter the legs and more balanced the bird the better able they are to get bigger with less heat stress and other issues) and bring them to a holding pen the day before the DAY. In the holding pen they get free choice water and fresh greens (or no grain at all). Doing this for 12 to 24 hours cleans out the gut and makes butchering easier. On occasion I have had "something come up" that makes butcher day a no go, then I just give them a grain feeding and start the clean out process over. After my selected batch is butchered, a new batch goes in the holding pen.
I rotate the chill zone the same way - 6 birds from day 1, 6 birds from day 2 on day three the first birds rotate to freezer camp. This way I only need fridge space to chill around 8 to 12 birds at a time.
Even doing them a few at a time I have arthritis flare ups. I cannot imagine doing all at once anymore. If I had a day like yours, even without the shearing that followed, I would literally be crippled for a week! You are a better "man" than I am Justus!
I hope the plan for today is TV and ice cream.
My poor cabbages look like lace...I can't seem to get the caterpillers off fast enough. Im trying to NOT use chemicals...but they are attacking the cabbages, broccoli, and brussel sprouts!! Oh HECK NO! MINE MINE MINE!! Back away bugs!!
She is preggers..I think. Well, she has milk bags...BIG bags. I never noticed them before because of the wool. Now....here is a question....
