Butchering question

[MomAtHome08]

Hi,
We have gotten a set of chicks back in April and we have approximately even numbers of pullet and rooster. The roosters are getting large combs and becoming a bit aggressive. We would like to take them to be butchered but don't really know anything about how to prepare them. Can anyone comment on this?
Thank you!
Brenda

[MKG]

Prepare them for what? For being butchered (you said you were going to take them somewhere to Be butchered), or for the table? Are are we talking about counseling for the roosters about to be butchered (smile)?

[MomAtHome08]

Hi,
No I meant that we will take them to be butchered, by some folks we know. Is there anything I need to do to 'prep' them, ie: diet, supplements, etc? Or can they just chill until it is time to go?
Thanks,
Brenda

[TomNY]

Originally Posted by MomAtHome08

Hi,
No I meant that we will take them to be butchered, by some folks we know. Is there anything I need to do to 'prep' them, ie: diet, supplements, etc? Or can they just chill until it is time to go?
Thanks,
Brenda

#1 Follow withdrawal times if they have been medicated.
#2 Take feed away about 24 hours before their trip. This will make dressing them easier and keep them cleaner while hauling them.

[MomAtHome08]

Thanks!!

[richbar]

In the commercial industry, food is generally removed 12 to 24 hours prior to the time birds are caught to be transported to the processing facility. This is done so that the digestive tracts of the birds are empty and less likely to contaminate the carcass if the intestines are cut during processing. Water should remain availalble up until the time you catch the birds. If you are using any type of additive in the feed, be it antibiotic or coccidiostat, you'll need to look up the withdrawal times and feed a feed without those additives for the period prescribed. If you have treated any bird with an antibiotic, insecticide or anthelmintic, be sure to check those withdrawals as well. Some antibiotics have no withdrawal while others can be quite long 30 days or longer, so make sure you keep good records.