Coram Deo

Dinner Time! or, Pictures of Dead Chickens

Over the past couple of weeks we have participated in the slaughter of over 100 chickens.  Our house was last, and by the time we got here we were getting pretty good at it. 

Mike developed his signature technique of artery severance so that the birds bleed out more completely.  He made a small incision in the side of the neck and located the carotid artery, the he came from behind the artery and severed the whole thing.  This eliminated the Did I Get It? guesswork. 

He also decided that we would pull the heads off (postmortem) ala' Joel Salatin.  That job fell to Chance, who took a few tries to master it, but was ultimately able to remove the heads with one good jerk.  He was initially surprised at how well attached the heads were.  Nikkae laughingly reminded him that they are, well,  heads... they don't just roll off!

We left 10 of ours to fatten up a little more.  We hope to get them to roaster size, although I noticed this morning that one of them is having trouble getting around and we don't want to lose them to heart attacks.  I'm going to feed some liver for the next couple of days and see what happens.

They are yummy though!  I even used one to make Hailey's birthday pot pie.  They have a definite flavor, not like grocery store chicken.

So, with no further ado, here are the pictures.

Hailey bringing the next "victim"

Mike made the "killing cones", here they are full

Our teacher, Tonya

Success!

Ezra got too tired to maintain himself, so he was parked by the tree

Here we are at our house

The ladies chicken butchering society

Donning the gloves

See that face?  It pretty much sums up the job :)

Untitled Comment

9:26 PM, Nov. 28, 2006 .. Posted by babymakers

I have considered doing this before but now I am reconsidering. I have never killed an animal on purpose but I am sure I could do it...but I would have no idea what I am doing. I am sure I am full of a million excuses. Vegan anyone?

Untitled Comment

10:20 PM, Nov. 28, 2006 .. Posted by DanielleW

How ingenious to put them in that contraption. That skinned bird looked like good eating. Bon apetite!