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During Herbert Hoover’s 1928 bid for the presidency, his election campaign promised a chicken for every pot and two cars in every garage. Unfortunately, those promises were derailed by the Great Depression that started just a few months after he was elected, but it remains a great sentiment to this day.Not only can one whole chicken be transformed into several meals for an entire family, it’s also one of the easiest and cheapest animals to raise for meat. I take great satisfaction in preparing a …

Whether you’re experienced at raising meat birds or just getting started with your flock, an important consideration is how you’ll harvest your birds. This step in the backyard-to-table process can be the most exciting as you anticipate the delicious dinners to come. It can also be the most emotional — after all, you’ve been nurturing those birds since they were chicks. Fortunately, our Poultry Harvest Station, designed by Roots & Harvest staff, makes the harvesting process efficient and hum …

Having the proper equipment makes any job easier, and poultry processing is no exception. If you've processed your poultry with a homemade DIY scalding system, you'll appreciate the benefits of a purpose-designed Poultry Scalder. And if you're new to processing, it just makes sense to have what you need to make your first experience successful.A scalder is one of the most important items for successful home poultry processing. You spent time and money raising your backyard birds. Why not ensure …

Does your homestead menu include “coop-to-table” meat birds? Or are you in the planning stages for a backyard flock? Either way, an important step is figuring out how you’ll defeather the birds.If you’ve ever plucked poultry by hand you know that it takes practice, skill, and patience. Plucking a few birds is doable but can be fatiguing and strain hands and fingers. Plucking dozens of birds is downright exhausting!And if your goals include the satisfaction of bringing a beautifully roasted whole …

Shrink wrapping is an ideal way to prepare meat birds for the freezer. Our Poultry Shrink Bags are a fast, no-hassle, and secure way to wrap poultry or small game using our Poultry Scalder (SKU #1644) or another hot water set-up. In addition to minimizing freezer burn, the clear, glossy bags give the birds or game a tidy, professional appearance. The concept is simple: Place the item in the bag, give it a dip in hot water, and the bag shrinks to form a tight fit that removes the air and protects …

Whether you’re raising a big flock of meat birds or have just a few backyard chickens, it makes sense to have the right equipment, so you get the best results from your time and hard work. One of the most important steps in poultry processing is the scald, which loosens the feathers and makes plucking faster and easier.Scalding is done by dunking freshly harvested birds into hot water. Doing so opens the skin's pores and loosens the quills so the feathers (including tiny pin feathers) can be pul …

Are you cutting up freshly harvested chickens to ready them for freezing? Portioning poultry in the kitchen? Deboning and skinning before cooking it? Are your wrist and hand sore from using a knife for this task? Using poultry shears makes the job so much easier and safer than using a chef’s knife, boning knife, or any other type of knife. Purpose-designed for these tasks, our poultry shears have heavy-duty, super-sturdy blades that readily cut through cartilage, joints, and bones. Plus, cutting …

It is almost here. Spring chick season! Few things are as fun around the home and homestead as the chirp chirp chirp of baby chicks! Both for new chicken owners and more experienced folks, here are a few ideas to help ensure you have the greatest possible success with your dear little friends!Be very broody!A proper brooder setup is crucial to avoiding poultry problems. Brooders without corners are ideal, to avoid piling and similar issues. There are two very easy setups that I like. The first i …