Chicken Butchering!

It wouldn't be summer at our house without chickens to butchering!! This summer our butchering was broken up into several different days due to plucker difficulties.

When we returned from our trip, we found we had lost many, many birds. So we only butchered around 300 of our original 600 chickens.

Butchering has been a wonderful way for our family to work together and see big projects accomplished by many hands working in unison. Talking time is always precious as we process the birds- topics ranging from chicken anatomy to theology.

We were especially grateful to have Dad home the entire summer. His usual summer job at the local factory was no longer availiable this year. After contemplating alternative employment options, Dad felt the Lord leading him to stay at home this summer!! What a joy it was to have him home every day!! Everything just runs smoother when Dad is there!! And he was certainly a welcome addition to the butchering crew!

The boys do the dirty work;

the killing and hanging.


Phoebe is starting to play a bigger role on butchering day!

Dad scalded and plucked!

Gutting.

This year we were blessed with several friends who helped us butcher!! It sure goes faster when you have friends to help! Thank-you!!! :)

Tabitha finishes the process at the packaging table!!