Giving thanks and sacrificing our first meat birds

Crazy to think we already raised our first round of meat birds and it is now time to sacrifice them for the cause of feeding our family. Of course we planned and prepped for the day to the best of our abilities, but one can never prepare themselves for the sheer rawness that is processing your own animals.

We watched multiple processing videos online, including a few Justin Rhodes and Joel Salatin videos. We read step by step tutorials, made check lists, performed mental practice, but on the big day, it is still slightly shocking, different, difficult, confusing, and intimidating.

Lessons learned from this experience were, try to have a decent amount of space. Learn to eviscerate faster. Get a couple of mountable knife sharpeners and sharper knives (new doesn’t cut it, quite literally). Water in abundance (hose splitter anyone?) as well as ice are paramount. And, always accept help when offered (by an adult, not your toddler 🤣).