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Butcher a Chicken
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items When I butchered my first chicken I learned the hard way what items are necessary and what others are simply “nice to have “
When I butchered my first chicken I looked at YouTube and made a “redneck” killing cone using a five gallon bucket. While it worked out fine, do yourself a favor and obtain this genuine killing come.
Simply place the chicken on head first. The con...
Kill Cones & Stands | Poultry Slaughtering Equipment
Scald your bird for :90 seconds so you can finish the plucking process. The feathers wil pull off with ease
Aluminum Pots
A sharp skinning knife makes the entire process easy. A dull knife will be inhumane for the dispatch and make a messy husk of a chicken after the butchering
Cold Steel
Celtic sea salt isn’t as salty tasting as Himalayan but it’s typically got a higher nutritional count.
Celtic Sea Salt, Fine Ground, 8oz Resealable
Need big stock pot to bring the water to scalding temperature. At least 5 gallon stock pot recommended
5 Gallon Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Lid
Really large cutting board is good idea. We have a home made wood table out back where we butcher and it’s at a slight angle. We place the cutting board on the table and make it easy to throw discard in a nearby bucket.
Safety note, if using an ang...
Large Cutting Boards
You need a bucket for butcher discard.
Recommending 5 gallons because plenty of room!
The Home Depot 5 Gallon Orange Homer Bucket 05GLHD2
You need to keep your knives sharp which makes the processing easier. Dull knives also increase chance of injuries
Knife Sharpeners
If you are going to cut the artery then I strongly advise wearing these gloves for that part of the butchering. While dispatching rabbits I cut deep enough into my thumb for stitches. Not fun experience!
Large Gray Cut Resistant Outdoor and Work Gloves
Too spendy for me, but these things reportedly take all the feathers off in a matter of seconds
Chicken Pluckers
Get those chickens in the refrigerator or freezer as fast as possible! I like getting them ziplocked up so they won’t slide flies have no opportunity to ruin the meat
Gallon-Sized Freezer Bags | Grip 'n Seal Technology
Get the biggest chest freezer you can afford. If putting whole birds in the freezer remember that they will harden and take on a shape that might not stack very well.
If possible, buy an extended warranty for 10 years and save the document in a safe...
Chest Freezers
Farmer sinks are great for doing the finishing clean on a chicken.
Farm & Farmhouse Sinks | Fireclay, Stainless, Copper
A lot of people processing multiple birds will stack the processed carcasses in a cooler. I don’t do this personally because I do the work nearby my kitchen, but for larger farms where there is a long walk or drive between buildings, this is good cal...
Ice Chests & Hard Coolers
Sanitization is essential with chicken. Clean all workplaces before and after
Clorox - 19 oz. Disinfecting Aerosol Spray (12-Cans/Pack)
You want to make sure you have sharp tools for the job
Poultry Processing Knife - Yardbird Chicken Pluckers
For storage area or even near chicken coop, keeping rodents away is essential for keeping your animals healthy
Animal & Rodent Traps
If you have to transport live chickens to the work site, good to have some of these cages on hand. You don’t want to scrounge for make shift cardboard boxes and plastic bins of the wrong size.
Portable Collapsible Metal Small Animal Cage
Shovel. Burying some of the discard in remote part of garden or ranch might be better than the trash can
Shovels & Digging Tools
The knives must be sharp or the job gets more dangerous and takes longer and overall looks less professional
SMITH'S, Diamond Sharpening Stone, 4 inch, Fine 750 Grit
While you likely don’t need this many knives, keep your butcher kit together because in warm climates with lots of flies—time is of the essence and you don’t want to run around looking for tools while the chicken sits on the cutting board
Chef Knife Storage Bag Portable Knife Roll Case
Keeping rats and mice away from your chickens is essential. While this item isn’t necessary for butchering a chicken, it’s a long term “worth mentioning” becauee you don’t want to put diseased meat in your freezer
Rat Bait Solutions for Effective Rodent Control(215)
Essential for tying around the chicken feet and hanging upside down if that’s part of your process
Hyper Tough 5/32 inch x 50 ft, 550 Paracord, Black
Poultry season is a mix of sage and salt - before refrigeration salt was essential for long term storage.
Great Value Poultry Seasoning, 1.5 oz
Fishing net helps catch elusive chickens
Fishing Nets at Tractor Supply Co.
Regular powdering of the chickens sleeping area of garlic is a powerful way to Lee parasites at bay. You don’t want to butcher sick birds
Customer reviews for Great Value Garlic Powder, 3.4 oz
Powerful herb to crush and sprinkle in the chickens roosting area as it will help fight parasites. You don’t want to butcher sick birds.
Shop Lavender Buds and Dried Lavender Flowers for Home
Stuff is magic when sprinkled in the chickens roosting area. It shreds parasites and soaks up liquid like nothing else, turning it into easy to remove chunks when cleaning.
You don’t want to butcher sick chickens
Red Lake Earth Diatomaceous Earth with Calcium
Helps with strong shells but probably helps in other ways, too
DuMOR Oyster Shell Calcium Supplement for Chickens, 5 lb.
You want to scald the chicken with perfect temperature. Too hot and you will cook the meat and too little the feathers won’t come out. Need a thermometer
Boiling Water Thermometers for Home Use
If you don’t know a farmer, Tractor Supply is a great source for chicks! They usually have a bit of variety. Remember between breeds there are several trade offs: heavy egg layer, big meaty bird or showroom quality. It’s usually unheard of to achiev...
Poultry at Tractor Supply Co.
Have a plan and stick to it. YouTube is a good source as well
Butchering Chickens
Butcher outdoors. Folding table is easy enough for quick workspace. I built a table out of pallets but being able to collapse and fold it up for storage isn’t bad idea!
Folding Tables in Folding Furniture
Freezers, refrigerators and large appliances simply don’t last like the machines of old. It’s common that a unit burn out after five years. That means you should pay extra for extended warranties and buy extra years of peace-of-mind. Don’t be overly ...
Geek Squad Refrigerator and Freezer Protection
Solid way to keep your water proper scalding temp so you don’t cook the bird!
Outdoor Propane Stoves & Burners for Cooking & Camping