Where and how to slaughter chickens

[Mifferette]

Hey!

I was just curious and wanted to know from people who have raised chickens for meat, some bylaws do not allow any chickens to be slaughter on residential properties.
So where did you take them to be processed? and was it a simple process to get the bird back and ready to cook?

Thanks!

 

[Lorije1]

you can look at localharvest.com and see if there are commercial processors near you. Or if there is an old farmer they may take care of it at their place. Other than that I am clueless, as it is ok to butcher chickens at home here.

 

[justbugged]

We haven't asked about whether or not it is legal to process birds in our suburban backyard. I figure that it is a shoot shovel and shut up kind of deal. If you are quite, and bury the parts that you don't use, I don't see what the problem is. I wonder about communities where this kind of thinking is created. Is it more about that the people that live there just don't want to think about what and where the meat that they eat comes from? Because it isn't about health and safety. I guess I could see the problem if you are living next to a commercial chicken processor, but most of us are only able to process maybe 20 or so birds in a day. I am also limited by how many birds I can keep in my backyard, and still keep the smell under control.

 

[silkiechicken]

HOA where I live for school says no raising of poultry... but nothing about butchering them. Did I mention I despise HOA's? Just do it inside the garage or in the bathroom/kitchen where you can clean it up, else you can do what I've done when at my school residence... I've butchered chickens and rabbits on our condo/apartment balcony, and my co workers who also rent rooms/parts of houses have done it in their bathrooms or kitchens.

 

[Dennis A]

Man I'm so with you folks. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission.
Dennis

 

[bnentrup]

I actually called the Indiana board of health about this for 2-reasons... Indiana seemingly does not fully adhere to the national law regarding rights to process a certain number of birds on your property per year (exemption from being a commercial and USDA stamped).

The conclusion? He asked if I was planning on butchering x-number (can't remember what that number was - either 1000- or 10,000) - and when I said no!-just a few hundred per year at this time.. he literally told me to hang up, and do not call again. I thought it was a weird conversation point and asked him to explain. He said it again, stop asking questions- and you will be fine! Its time for you to continue as you planned, enjoy raising chickens, and stop calling.

Further explanation indicated that they get people who call them with every detail and then REQUIRE them to investigate. He stated that they are not in business to regulate the backyard chicken farmer and also indicated it is usually those folks who follow health rules extremely well due to their care for the animal and their property.

Therefore, I assume the same!!! you make a mess, clean it up! If you broadcast it to neighbors or the state, they will investigate.

 

[Mifferette]

Hmm, I guess that is true, the only way for people to know is if you broadcast what you're doing in your backyard. or if you neighbours happen to see you processing chickens in your backyard.... I think generally this is how bylaws are really enforced, through neighbour complaints or neighbours calling the city on you.

 

[sunnychooks]

Quote:
I'm in New Jersey and it's a very simple procedure. Call the USDA and have someone come and test your birds for avain flu, It's a free service and they offer an enormous amount of good advice. Take them to a USDA facility within 10 days of the inspection (they send the inspection report directly to the processor) and they will butcher them to your specifications. I had 22 CXs done (with necks and giblets bagged separately) in about 40 minutes. $3 each.