Chicken processing day

We generally kill a chicken and perhaps a second one when we want to eat one, because we never have the stamina for more one each in a day - plucking is hard on the fingers.
I got a plucking machine for my birthday, we tried it out today and did 11 chickens (8 hens and 3 cockerels) in just the morning. So pleased! That leaves 9 hens and the cockerel (called Warren).
It does take some time to set up, so you would want to be doing a few at least to make it worth that effort.

The chicken gets scalded  before going in to the plucker. We did them at 65C for about 30 seconds. You test they are done by pulling a wing feather and when it comes out easily they are ready. You can scald for hand plucking also but the wet feathers weld on to your hands so we just pluck them dry.

Then maybe a minute in the plucker and they are ready.

All ready for gutting

Some of the chickens we hatched last year seemed to be stunted. These were hatched at the same time.

Experimenting with making stock from the heads and feet.

In the afternoon, I made sausages and Doug put together a rabbit nest box... Productive day!