For The Birds!!! (Chickens are birds...)

Last Thursday, we had some friends over for our first butchering day! Well, actually, we've butchered hogs before, but this was our first time processing chickens! Hannah showed broilers this year in 4-H. She did a great job with them, and this was something that I knew would be hard for her. But, if you know Hannah, you know she up for just about anything! This was no exception! We did 3 on Tuesday, mostly to teach her how, so she could help me teach the others!
We had everything set up and waiting, and everyone showed up about 10am. So, we all went to the back yard, and the kids willingly caught a few unsuspecting chickens. After showing them all how and where to slit the throat, Jessi was the bravest; she volunteered to go first and get it over with! They were all surprised at how hard you actually had to cut!
At one point we were all shocked by a chicken, having it's throat slit, jump up and start running!!!
They ALL (even Cece :+) had to kill just one! Everyone did a great job! They were all shown how to kill, scald, pluck, and gut! They all did several chickens, and we have lots in the freezer now!!! We kept the gizzards, the hearts, and the livers to give to someone, so they had to seperate all the "peices and parts". They all seemed to enjoy this part! After it was over, the girls drew a picture, and pinned the actual "guts" to it, and labeled it too! The boys had had enough by this time!!! We all learned a lot, and it something very useful for all of us to know!