Butchering chickens

[KBCraig]

A blog linking to directions, with photos, on backyard butchering of chickens.

http://butcherachicken.blogspot.com/

[Free libertarian]

Nice link, thank you.

[Tom Sawyer]

Dang blame Grafton chicken pluckers!

[Free libertarian]

chicken pluckers?  Could be worse.  I heard this one about Montana once.. Montana, where the men are men and the sheep are nervous !  I'm a little hesitant to ask ex-Montanyan MTPorcupine to confirm whether this is just a joke or not.   

[KBCraig]

Canning chickens and broth for the pantry:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/biggers135.html

[MaineShark]

Chickens are loud and annoying, though.

We got ducks a few months back, and we're really appreciating daily eggs, without the racket.

Got three more ducklings in a whelping box in the corner of the living room, and 11 eggs in a neighbor's incubator that should hatch in a couple more weeks.  We'll be keeping the ducks, but most of the drakes will be cooked.  Presumably, the butchering techniques are going to be pretty similar.

[KBCraig]

Butchering ducks is very similar, but when processing them you have to allow for the huge quantity of fat. You can use it for the preserving process, though, by sealing your duck in fat then poaching it for duck confit.