I'm so old I Remember when:

[R2elk]

Until a few years ago, my brother kept chickens on his place then he broke his hip and a lot changed. I'd go up there a couple times a year to visit and usually around the August visit, we butcher some. We'd set a fire under a 55 gallon steel drum of water. While that was getting up to temperature we'd gather 4-6 chickens at a time in a dog crate and bring them out. He had the axe sharpened and the block ready. My job was to grab the chickens one at a time, stretch their necks and hold them still while he played queen of hearts. We let them run it out while we dispatched the rest of the cagefull. Next my job was to dunk them in the barrel to loosen the feathers. Brother would hang them by their ankles and we'd both strip the feathers. I don't quite remember where in the process we dressed 'em but I do remember being fascinated the first time I saw the line of smaller and smaller yolks inside waiting their turn to make breakfast that'd never happen.

Once I was old enough to make a clean chop, I became the chicken dispatcher.

After removing the head, I stuffed them in a bucket to prevent flopping around.

My mother scalded them and we each plucked them. Mother gutted them.

 

[Rick589]

No opportunity. He cannot get around to take care of a flock and I live in the city where I'm restricted to 3 hens. I have layers. When you have so few, you kinda sorta get attached.

Ditto on that. I see our small flock as pets with benefits. Never wanted to butcher anyway. As I stated earlier the animal would really have to push me before I’d kill it………..just a old softie.

 

[jxp]

Closest I ever did to dying was a red colour washing when I was in my teens.

Later on I used natural Henna ‘dye’. My hair never ended up like straw. Bc my own color is brown it only gave a red shade/hue.
The cheapest way to dye your hair and to give your hair a treat.
€9,- / 1 kilo / 3 years.

View attachment 4047371

Changed the recipe last year (50% Cassia) with more grey hare coming in.

Lucille Ball made henna famous as a hair dye in the '50s and '60s over here in the states.

 

[jxp]

Ditto on that. I see our small flock as pets with benefits. Never wanted to butcher anyway. As I stated earlier the animal would really have to push me before I’d kill it………..just a old softie.

I love my animals also but am I a terrible person because I can totally relate to Kristi Noem when I heard the entire story instead of the sensationalized version on the "news"?

 

[jxp]

My Grandmother's is hanging on my kitchen wall alongside the matching mini-one I used as a child!

Cute. I'll bet that makes you smile whenever you look at it.

 

[jxp]

Once I was old enough to make a clean chop, I became the chicken dispatcher.

After removing the head, I stuffed them in a bucket to prevent flopping around.

My mother scalded them and we each plucked them. Mother gutted them.

I'm still not trusted to make a clean chop. This from the control freak brother who had to come home early from a father-son Boy Scout weekend for laying open his shin with a hatchet. Our Dad's first - and he swore last - such trip.

 

[Rick589]

I'm still not trusted to make a clean chop. This from the control freak brother who had to come home early from a father-son Boy Scout weekend for laying open his shin with a hatchet. Our Dad's first - and he swore last - such trip.

Men…..go figure.

 

[BDutch]

Lucille Ball made henna famous as a hair dye in the '50s and '60s over here in the states.

I just realised I typed dying , using dye as a verb in the wrong way.
Google translate said it should be: I dyed my hair.

 

[BDutch]

After removing the head, I stuffed them in a bucket to prevent flopping around.

Better.

I hated my brother who let the chickens run around with their heads topped off.

 

[R2elk]

Better.

I hated my brother who let the chickens run around with their heads topped off.

Stuffing them in a bucket helped prevent bruising the meat and saved time collecting the bodies.