Butchering chickens: Young Birds

[@TennesseeTeresa]

This is skill we need to know. thanks for putting this out and God Bless All...

[@bulldog62js]

Great vid John! Dang, you make it look so simple!

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Well done, John. There's no telling how many you are helping with vids like this one. Taking the time to show details, that are so important, which can make the difference between success and failure. Water temp, singing off the pin feathers, not rupturing the gall bladder, etc. Thank you for taking the time to teach skills that used to be commonplace. But, are now quickly being lost due to "modern conveniences".

[@vickikevin1]

Good video can't wait to start mine. I havnt had farm chicken since I was a child

[@ButtonsMom100]

Good job raising and humanely butchering your chickens. There is nothing better than eating a home raised chicken. When I was a kid my parents bought 200 head of Cornish X chickens every spring. They were free range until we butchered them. Everyday we would go out and catch however many were ready to butcher. Some days we only butchered a couple, some days we butchered up to 30. They sure tasted good in the middle of winter!

[@wonderallen1813]

Thank you. I am so glad to see this being done without some kind of machine.. It really helps us new folks out a lot.

[@SoCalPreppers]

thanks man, your a great teacher man!

[@mikekeeling2583]

Great Vid. Thank you for the info and nice walk thru. We just butchered our first bird and thanks to videos like yours it went really well.

[@SJPrepper0569]

Great video, in working on getting my own chicken coop with birds setup, love watching how you butcher your birds since I've never done it I find it very informative thank you.

[@BushcraftJones]

Great video, I have never really seen this process in detail before; really loved your outlook on the butchering to be saustainable.

[@wilddesertladiesvanlife4399]

very informative video on butchering chickens it help refresh my mind been 20 years since I've butchered a chicken and we are now raising meat birds here on the desert homestead

[@nathan27bryans]

Getting ready to butcher my first Cornish Rock maybe this weekend. I got 7 more about 2 weeks after that 1. Thanks for the info bro, love the videos. God Bless

[@richarddowner4292]

great video Jnull!!! When I butchered my 1st chicken, I said there has to be a faster way to DE-feather them!!! than I built a chicken DE-feather machine.. it works GREAT, It DE-feathers the chicken in about 14-20 secs... this WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME!!!! thumbs up. and thanks 4 the vid..

[@jnull0]

I think it is more personal preference. I always just put them in the freezer when I am done. I dont have any problems when I thaw, and cook them. The cornish cross is a hybrid, not a GMO. Hope this helps. J

[@tpowell453]

Makes me hungry for fried chicken! Thanks for posting these videos man. Good stuff and good info for people who don't know.

[@Lumberman2011]

Nice big birds John! That will be some good dinners! Congrats my friend!

[@DoubleHandfam]

Thank you for putting videoing and posting. Great tips!

[@ChefJimmyJ]

Hey John. Nice to see a Chicken prep video done by a man with Big Mitts like mine. Most are done by these tiny ladies...JJ

[@1122kiwi]

I hope to raise cornish rocks next year...love the video.

[@contreeman]

YOU FORGOT THE LAST STEP PUTTING THOSE CHICKENS ON THE BBQ. GREAT VIDEO JOHN GOD BLESS AND HAPPY RETURNS

[@pfur6918]

Instead of letting the blood drain on to the ground, drain it in a bucket and ad it to your garden. My friends add the rabbit blood to their rose garden, and their bushes are awesome!

[@BornRandy62]

chicken smells :) we used to clean over a hundred chickens at one time in a all day session between all of our families. I have that same pocket knife with the brushed blade and green handle scales. I like it.

[@nerblebun]

My friend, it's sad you even had to mention "butchering chicken seems cruel to some people". A hundred years ago, 90% of the people did this every time they ate chicken. People today are far removed from the basic process of where meat comes from. I actually read a comment from a high school girl who was moaning about the cruelty of butchering a cow, when everybody knows.... "They grow perfectly good meat at every supermarket in America".

[@Sultan_salt]

love the heart and the liver, good eats

[@Autumnprepper]

Nice job raising them! you can see they have issues walking! but I am sure you will love the meat!

[@curt3494]

Such an interesting video. It's good that your kids are exposed to this sort of thing. I don't raise livestock, but I am a trout fisherman, so the idea of respecting one's animal quarry is very important to me. We should respect the animals that we eat, as you do.....not treat them like some sort of commodity, that comes in a plastic packet.

[@Garciamrcool]

Very interesting , thanks for sharing

[@bigsavings40]

Good video . Would have liked to seen you catching the chickens

[@nancynurse6948]

Yum! Love the heart and gizzard.

[@628DirtRooster]

Those are some big ole chickens. They look like they've been eating at a Chinese buffet. I guess now they will be part of a buffet. Cool that you know how to do that. I've cleaned about everything with four legs but never a bird.

[@TheRedneckprepper]

real good vid big john !

[@jnull0]

Sure you can keep them as long as you like. Remember they eat a lot, and the older they are the tougher they get. Thanks for watching. J

[@BritchesAndBrambles]

I admit that this is one thing we hire out, for now. For $2 per bird they go in one door of a clean, family operation near us and come out the other door a few minutes later already dispatched, drained, plucked, and gutted. We just have to put them up however we choose. We're doing a big batch this Fall and will can them all, because they came to us as older laying hens. (Just uploaded a vid about them.) ~ Michelle

[@brianleonard6025]

Hi I like watching your video's. I was wondering for feeding your chickens and using 1/3 method to lower your grain bill is 1/3 cup grain 1/3 cup greens 1/3 cup meat for protein. For protein have you tried making a bin for harvesting black soldier flies? The greens can be weeds and lawn clippings, and for your organic matter for your black soldier flies bin to feed the maggots or larvae? Thanks I enjoy watching. I grew up on a farm and still have horses.

[@MegaBait1616]

8 weeks old! there huge! good eating.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

So true! Growing up, Sunday dinner was always walking around the yard on Saturday. FWIW, Back then, chicken meat had flavor! As did eggs. It's sad that so many, in this pre-packaged and sanitized world know so little about the food they eat. Both where it comes from and the differences between commercially produced and the alternative.

[@tenmilechicks]

good job....at 8 weeks those chickens were huge! makes me wonder just what mine will be like at 6 months of age.

[@MrKnap2755]

Thanks John.....Great vid

[@traceyrealrebornbabys808]

thank u iam going to do mine u are so cool !!!!!

[@JustinCaseSolarPower]

Damn mate them looked like good chickens :)

[@jnull0]

I will check it out. J

[@llj1027]

Great use with the t post..

[@TheMountainfarmer]

Great vid John. What is the average weight of each of the birds? God Bless!

[@kyledam]

Thanks , enjoyed the video.

[@Craneman1]

Good video 👍

[@Nicholaspaoluccibenn]

great video

[@cabotbluegill]

Thanks John The first time I had to help do that I was 6 I have 48 this year to do people need to know where their food come s from

[@HillbillysNdaBush]

Great tutorial. A lot of meat on that chicken.

[@wallaceknifeworkshomestead]

Those feathers do very good in the compost pile. If you catfish at all save that blood that drains out and make some bait.Chunk up a pack of cheap hot dogs in bait size peices and soak it in the blood for a day (refrigerated) and thats it !

[@rockhillgardenpa]

I saw steps on a website that included removing the crop (not sure that is spelled right) and also letting the rigor work out of them in a couple of days before eating or freezing them. Do you think that is necessary? I want to raise my own chickens for meat too but not sure I was able to do the butcher part. I know that's why they are there but having never done it kinda scares me. Also, are the Cornish cross considered a GMO product? Or are they more hybrid? Thanks for the tutorial!

[@lisaalene]

Perhaps this is a silly question but can the feathers be used after being scalded like that?

[@jnull0]

Lisa Conrad They usually fluff back up after they dry........................J

[@SirSnowman]

+Lisa Conrad the chicken feathers went to the trash, as we butchered chicken. But the goose feathers will be washed, dryed and cleaned. You can make fluffy Pillows from that :) (Remove the spike middle ;))

[@jnull0]

they are about 7 lbs dressed out. I had about 4 and a half dollars in each bird, so we did pretty well. J

[@cockeyedhomestead]

John, I also give the innards to pigs

[@LeeRalph100]

Good Video!! was wondering do you let them set for anytime in the fridge? I have heard some say to let them set over night. Is this needed? Thanks, Lee

[@jnull0]

Lee Ralph Not usually Lee, I just put them in the freezer. I think they have plenty of time to "rest" while they are thawing..........................J

[@LeeRalph100]

Thanks for the info. I had heard they had to go through the rigor mortis stage...this sure makes it a lot easier

[@movinon04]

awsome job- lol it seemed on film like it took forevwer to do this- but i know being up there with you when its done you do it and have it ready in about 5 minutes- cant wait to see ya fry one of em up---mmmmmm fresh fried checken outside on a fire in a cast iron skillet dont get no better than that- huggs see ya soon....G

[@hidawayhomestead524]

how long does it take for Riga mortise to pass so you can finish processing, and where do you keep it until then?

[@unclej5951]

the processing of the bird takes place before they get stiff. it goes kill bleed butcher don't need to wait for anything

[@nancynurse6948]

My GreatGandma always had a pair or two of feet in the soup pot. She would explain in Polish it adds flavor and tasted good. Smacyna delicious).

[@reklawj9]

You mention baiting a trap near the chicken house,have you had problems with predators?

[@jnull0]

My in-laws pickle them...lol. I dont think I could handle either one..lol. Thanks N.N.. J

[@Sheila6325]

Thumbs up big time!

[@kyredneck]

did that many times back when i was coming up....good eaten

[@jnull0]

you can vacuum them, I just wrap them up tight in a plastic bag. we will use them before they get freezer burned. thanks bro. J

[@robbuechner3647]

how old are these birds? I was told to butcher at 8 weeks. they are 1 week now. looking forward to having home grown.

[@daw162]

He mentioned 8 weeks in the video. Incredible growth rate.

[@2409forus]

My second time watching this video. Why not just use the t-post configuration for PLUCKING as well? Sit, stand, whatever, my arms got tired watching you have to hold and pluck at the same time, and you need to save your strength every day John. No one knows what our tomorrows will demand of us.

[@jnull0]

Jennifer Lord This was before I made our chicken plucker...lol............................J

[@2409forus]

Silly me, I should have known that. Be well. J

[@coochiepounder7944]

(o

[@jnull0]

it took about 25 minutes per bird, and I wrapped them in a bread bag, then in another plastic grocery bag. Hope this helps. J

[@landocalrissian3276]

You da man.

[@LowBuck]

Can I be looking forward to some deep fried gizzards and hearts in Oct? Love'm

[@MrMeddle2243]

I worked in a chicken plant for 8 years, nothing like the smell of a wet chicken, or the shinger at the end of the picking lines

[@michellerobinson1318]

Wish you would have shown the dispatch for those of us who have never done it

[@frannie7885]

+Michelle Robinson butchering chickens is not a pretty sight. When u break their neck, or how most do it around my area, just chop off the head and let it go. Chickens really flop, flip, wings flapping and try to run. That's where the saying, "running around like a chicken with it's head cut off" comes from. Really it's nothing most people want to see.

[@sweetheartsmom]

I hate this process. I found someone near me to do the butchering for me at 2.50 each. I am toying with the idea of using them. what I want to do it raise groups of birds. I have rabbit cages I don't use. so I am going to start purchasing rocks in groups of 10 (or what ever the min order is) and when they are a week from the freezer place another order. Until I have a full freezer. good video.

[@jnull0]

I would say anytime after 8 weeks they are ready. J

[@Autumnprepper]

Norm we pulled a joke on a friend who came out to our place to hunt deer, we saw a nice buck hanging and we decided we where going to cry and say "Oh no you killed Chipper", We thought he was gunna cry, he was so horrified...till my friends husband came over and ruined out moment!

[@TheSpanky1984]

Thanks

[@nicholassmerk]

Can you keep them alive until your ready to eat them, longer than you demonstrate in the video? BTW, nice Ontario RAT.

[@jnull0]

I try to remove all the glands. J

[@jnull0]

He was a young rooster. J

[@bigchunk1]

I think I can do that. Not too bad.

[@jnull0]

Hybrids, not GMO. J

[@DrewTheAwsom]

What happened to your arm

[@Z71Ranger]

You should have taken their food and water away the night before you Butcher chickens... That way you don't have all the guts full of food and shit... You also you left the lungs, esophagus and crop In the chicken... Enjoyed the video.

[@marysmith9107]

I could not off a chicken but I understand you have to.

[@angellove9738]

dont kill meee chicken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RalphButtigieg]

Why are you calling a chicken "him"?

[@Autumnprepper]

Maybel would love a kidney too... I boil it all up and feed it out to the dogs

[@tsnorquist]

Was being sarcastic =\

[@strakill]

Oh you're bad ;-0

[@goldsquad30]

show the hart

[@tsnorquist]

"GMO" birds heh.

[@subhendudutta5720]

It is inhumane

[@timekeeper2675]

What's your address Sasquatch I wanna send you a knife sharpener