Goodbye Chicken Rick

Today started as a beautiful day but unfortunately all Ricks that come to this farm become meat.  So today was the end for our first "Chicken Rick".  Just a warning, all Ricks that come to the farm are destined for the meat freezer.  If you are a Rick, friend of or family of a Rick I am sorry to tell you that if you or they come to our farm they risk the possibility of joining the rest of the Ricks in the freezer.  Just a warning. 

Rick had a hard time, he got his head stuck in some fencing early in his life.  Delilah let me know there was a problem in the chicken pen so I went and looked and Rick had her head stuck.  I was able to get her out of there but she suffered some damage but seemed ok.  Well, after a bit of time we noticed that Rick's beak was growing crooked and eventually he wasn't able to eat that easy.  We noticed that he wasn't growing much and looked pretty thin.  So instead of letting him suffer and dwindle away we decided to go ahead and butcher our first chicken.  

*Warning* Graphic Description Ahead!

The Butchering:

So, this is not my first harvest but it is my first chicken harvest.  I have felt confident I could accomplish this task for some time now.  I have read many books that deal with different methods for butchering chickens.  My favorite book so far is Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game it has detailed drawings and instructions on how to butcher most farm livestock. I also caught a quick video on youtube last night just to get my barrings.  

So this morning I got my butchering knives sharp and started to heat up my water to around 160* (we want the water around 140* for feathering) and bring it outside to sit in the sun.  I had a large plastic vinegar bottle that I screwed to a fence post.  I grabbed a bucket to catch the blood and throw the feathers in. 

I went in to get Rick from the coop, he was always the easy one to get.  I think he remembered I helped him.  If you hold the chickens upside down by its legs they calm down quite a bit.  I said my goodbyes to Rick and I performed the deed.  I was surprised how quick it was, he twitched a bit but he was restrained by the bottle.  I took him up to the house to take the feathers off. 

I wouldn't do this inside.  The smell is something different, not totally bad but something that would stick around for a while.  The feathers were a messy job but after a couple of dunks in the hot water they came off pretty easy.  The method I found to be the easiest is to just focus on an area and get it clean then move on from there.  Grabbing all over seemed to make a bigger mess than it was worth. 

Once all of the feathers are off (ok, some will still be around there but don't worry) it's time to gut it.  Like most animals you start at the anus and cut around it.  But at this point all you do is brake a couple bones and stick your hand in there and start scooping things out like ice cream.  This is a bit odd, mostly because it builds up suction in the cavity.  After everything is out you will need to cut off the head and use a torch/flame to burn off the excess feathers on the skin.  I used a propane tank that I use for soldering pipe.  Quick and easy, smelled like burnt hair.

Overall I thought it was a good experience.  It went super quick.  I think overall it was about 8 minutes start to finish.  Next time will go much smoother I am sure, and with more chickens it will cut that overall time way down.

Here's the finished product.  Again, she was small because she was so young but we will enjoy Chicken Rick tonight.

Update:

Chicken Rick was delicious.  We had him stuffed with onions and garlic.  Butter under the skin and topped with rosemary, S&P and olive oil.  Not quite as much chicken as you want for 3 people but  enough for 2 to share.

Chicken Rick Nude

Cooked Rick