Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
It is common for old layers to be butchered or sold for meat. Local butchers can cut up your
birds if you choose not to do this yourself. If you do not live in an area with a neighborhood
butcher, a farmer may be able to do it for you. You also can learn to butcher your own meat; it
is not for everyone but is easy enough to do. Just a word of advice: Naming your birds will
make it harder to slaughter them in the end.
The first thing you should do during the butchering process is to find a location to butcher
your birds. If you have children or other family members in your home who would prefer not
to witness the process, select a location outside your home. Ideally, a separate shed or build-
ing with ample lighting would work well. For an indoor space, you also will need a table, wa-
ter access, and some type of drainage for waste. If you opt to butcher outdoors, you may want
a temporary screen or fence for discretion, but the choice is yours.
The following is a checklist of items you will need before butchering your birds.
• Ax, meat cleaver, or large sharp knife. Country Horizons (
http://countryhorizons.net
)
offers these for sale in addition to other poultry and farming products.
• Table with cutting board top. Butcher Block Co. (
http://butcherblockco.com
) and AWP
Butcher Block, Inc. (
http://awpbutcherblock.com
) offer these. The size of the table
depends on your preference. A small butcher-block table is about 28 inches wide by 24
inches deep and 33 inches tall. The AWP Butcher Block, Inc. offers this size and the
next size larger, which is 48 inches wide by 24 inches deep and 36 inches tall. Find the
size that meets your needs, and be sure it is treated to prevent microorganisms and
germs from inhabiting the block of wood.
• Rubber gloves. You can find these at most grocery stores and department stores or online
through Rubbermaid (
www.rubbermaid.com
)
. This website provides a place to shop
for durable household items that can be cleaned and stored easily.
• Rubber apron. You can find these at a sporting goods store or in the garden department of
larger department stores. Amazon (
www.amazon.com
) offers useful products such as a
butcher's apron made of cloth that is 34 inches long and will protect your clothes from
blood and dirt.
• Large pot to boil water. This pot should be large enough to fit your largest bird.
• Stove or propane burner large enough to fit the pot.
