Chicken Processing

 Warning: Dead chicken photos ahead!

Heidi raised 25 meat birds from baby chicks for her FFA project. Today we took them to Cedar Creek to be processed. Sebastian guided us through the process. His dad was a butcher in France.

Step 1: Put the chickens upside down in the cones and slit their throats. (I did not take photos of this.) 

The younger kids asked to go outside after they saw the first bird killed.

Step 2: Boil the chickens briefly, then [Step 3] pluck the feathers.

Step 4: After the machine plucks most of the feathers, you manually pluck the rest.

This was Heidi's biggest bird.

Step 5: Cut off the feet and head, and take out the innards. (Not pictured.)
Step 6: Bathe the chickens in ice water for 15+ minutes.

Step 7: Package the chickens for the freezer.

Step 8: Clean up.

Step 9: Dinner!

Here, Heidi is giving the kids an anatomy lesson with a chicken heart.
(The chicken parts and feathers are in the wagon.)

Our Week (01/11 - 01/17)

 Matt Baker made us matching shirts!

At STEM night:

William's science fair project

At the State Capitol:

2nd Quarter Awards:

Travis County Youth Show:

Arizona Trip (12/26 - 01/02)

 Walking around the Riparian:

At the movies:

Taco Tuesday:

Mesa Frozen Yogurt:

Temple lights:

Playing at Aunt Nori's:

Nori spoiled the older girls by taking them to Swig ;)

Pickleball at the church:

Grandpa Miller's funeral:

At the temple:

Our Week (12/14 - 01/10)

 Science fair:

Emma caught a lizard that got into the house:

A sister from our old ward made these hats and scarves for the girls:

We potted these poinsettias and then gifted them:

Volunteering in the greenhouses at Down Home Ranch:

Christmas morning:

Mom's birthday (out of sequence):

With Emma's artwork