Update on Our Chickens

ROOSTERS!?! What!!!!??? We have nine roosters and not nine hens? What!?!

Long story short, when we agreed to try our hand at raising chickens, we decide on getting 10 hens and 2 roosters. We tried our best to ensure that we purchase good healthy hens and only two roosters. We even went to the store that everyone suggested was the most reputable in town. We took the kids and had the clerk get them out of the pen labeled pullets. We proceeded to pay for them and feed them ever since March. To ensure we also had a good rooster, we bought two "pan fryers" that same day, in case one died. After a few months growth and some boisterous crowing, we've discovered that the pullets are really roosters and the pan fryers are the only hens we now own.

So, we had a slight problem that we dealt with this past week. First we purchased some more chicks, this time really making sure the clerk got us pullets.

Then, we started butchering roosters before they kill each other or our two lone hens.

In true homestead fashion, we made the kids watch and participate in processing the chickens. First Dear Hubby walked them through each step. Then he gave them each a job. The rule was that everyone had to help in some way.

Mostly the kids helped pulling feathers, holding the chicken, or taking turns watching their little brother.

Dear Hubby had helped to butcher turkeys before, but this was my first time killing anything. I got the job of holding the rope that bound the legs together. After the head was cut off, I was supposed to tie them to the close line to bleed out. This ended up being the messiest job. I am sure everyone has heard the phrase "like a chicken with its head cut off". There is truth behind that saying.

We just enjoyed rooster #1 tonight in the form of BBQ chicken sandwiches. Yummy. Even though it has been a disappointing discovery that our hens were roosters and our roosters were hens, we've learned something in the process...namely how to butcher chickens.