A backyard farmer processes his first two roosters after failed rehoming attempts, using Joel Salatin's videos and a homemade kill cone. He wrestles with the ethics of slaughter and finds meaning in knowing where his food comes from.
The first time I ever processed a chicken, it was not one chicken, it was 2. I was in my backyard and I had 2 Leghorn roosters that kept fighting one another. Not only would they fight each other, but they would fight the hens. It was just a problem. I tried to give them away. You know how hard it is to give away a rooster. Nobody wants them. So I made the decision myself. I am going to process these chickens. I remember leading up to this day, watching YouTube videos for hours. I found Joel Salatin's processing demo on YouTube and watched it probably 500 times, writing down steps. I didn't have the equipment yet, so I made this kill cone out of an old milk jug and I screwed it to a tree in my backyard. I went to Walmart and found a fillet knife in the hunting section. And my anxiety was kind of through the roof. It was a new experience. I remember thinking, is it worse to do this myself or to be completely blind of the entire process, just heavily relying on other people to provide food for my table? That's when it finally clicked. There is a heavy honor in being connected with the food that you eat.
How To Cut Up A Whole Chicken — Jumbo Wings, Quarters, Breast & Tenderloin (Full Tutorial)
