2025 On Farm Chicken Processing Workshop

On-Farm Chicken Processing Workshop

Join us for an exciting hands-on workshop where you'll learn all about processing chickens right on the farm! This event is perfect for anyone interested in homesteading, growing your own food, or sustainable farming.

During the workshop, you'll experience every step of the chicken processing process, from raising your birds to harvesting to butchering:

• Learn about meat breed chickens and which are the easiest to raise and fastest to grow.
• Examine different housing methods to keep meat birds safely on pasture from day one.
• Join each step of the process to gain experience and confidence so you can process your own birds.
• Join in a post-harvest celebration meal provided by our own certified executive chef!
• Go home with one pasture-raised chicken per family.

Our expert chef will be on hand to guide you through each step and answer any questions you may have.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn a valuable skill that will benefit your homestead for years to come!

Info: Learn about the best breeds to raise for meat, the best time of year to purchase chicks, and how to get them on pasture from day 1. Examine different styles of chicken tractors used for meat breeds and what kinds of feed and supplements you need. Also, learn about the differences between meat breeds and layer breeds. We will cover the basics so you know how to set up your meat-chicken program.

Info: We will set up multiple stations so that you can rotate through and learn each step. 1. How to catch a chicken (teachers: Cyndy and Bella). 2. How to humanely dispatch a chicken (teachers: Michael). 3. Scalding techniques (Michael and Cyndy). 4. Plucking with a tumble plucker verses by hand (Michael and Cyndy). 5. The chill station and what to do about the feet (Bella and Cyndy). 6. Evisceration techniques and portioning (Michael). 7. What do you keep and what to do with it (Michael). 8. Bagging ,weighing, and labeling (Cyndy). 9. Then back on ice.

Info: Wrap up butchering and distribute chickens. Time to clean up and get ready for a harvest feast!

Info: Enjoy a fireside harvest meal! Commune with other workshop attendees and relax around the fire while indulging in a chef-prepared feast.

Also check out other Workshops in Mattawan, Food & Drink events in Mattawan.