Fresh Chickens

Diane's father-in-law decided he wanted to have some chickens about four years ago so he and Diane's husband built a chicken house at Diane & Todd's house and bought some chicks.  They just had chickens for egg laying for a couple years.  Then the past two years they also raised some for butchering.  Yesterday was the day for butchering the current group.  It was a perfect sunny, cool Fall day for this job which involved the whole family.  I was very impressed with their equipment and how clean they kept everything.   It was a much "nicer" process than I remember seeing at both Grandmas' houses years ago.  They've invited me to help next time. 

Papa Dallas caught the chickens.

The chickens were put into these cones - I won't explain what else happens here.

Then they were put into boiling water.

Diane's brother-in-law has the de-feathering job.

Diane's husband did the gutting and trimming.

They had this sink to clean up after each one.  All were wearing gloves.

At this table, any parts of feathers left were plucked out with tweezers.

Into an ice water bath and then into big Ziploc bags.

Into the house where Diane dumped out any liquid and pressed out the air.  She uses a lot of bleach keeping things clean and safe when they do chickens.

Into the freezer.  They ended up with 48.

The kids had fun playing in the leaves.  This is a cousin.