We raised and harvested 22 Freedom Rangers this year. They were raised in chicken tractors and fed an organic non-gmo feed. We harvested at 12 weeks. We ended up with over 100# of meat, plus carcasses for bone broth. We broke most if the chickens down into pieces. They averaged a bag of feed a week over the course of their life. Less than a bag in the beginning and more than that at the end. Organic chicken at the grocery store in my area is $6.99/LB. We saved about $400 by raising our own. We are thankful for what we were able to put away.
I love seeing how the whole family works together doing the unpleasant chores. No one enjoys that day but it has to be done. Your family is beautiful and you should be proud. Ignore any bad comments. You show true life on a farm.
@@RataPerryI watched the video shortly after it came out in the morning and there weren't that many comments yet but one was rather nasty. That's why I said to ignore the bad ones. I just skimmed through all the comments since and see there are several that don't approve for one reason or another. These people should realize she is showing real life on a farm. Their chickens lives were way better than any chicken you could buy in a supermarket with no antibiotics and probably more humanely dispatched.
Here in Holmes County Ohio our daughters raise meat birds and take them to a Swartzentruber Amish lady to butcher. She charges $2 each for whole birds or $3 for cut up. They usually pay more or take treats like ice cream. 😄 Your grandson is so sweet and dearly loved. I love to see the whole family adoring him. We have 11 grandchildren with one more coming soon, and each one is equally precious! The value of a Christian family like you display is the most precious thing on earth. God bless you!
As I dispatch each chicken I say a prayer of Thanksgiving to God our creator for supplying us with food and ask that he help the dispatching to go quickly for the animal.
This is such a good skill to teach our youth. I belong to a Church Meat Ministry and have butchered for them for over 10 years. We butcher deer, elk, lamb, sheep, beef, and steelhead and then give it all away for those who can't afford to buy meat. Last season we were the busiest we have ever been. I have suggested we teach butchering skills to our Jr Senior High School kids. We live in a very rural community and many of our kids hunt.
@@Valencenliberty Yes, they are all creatures that God created, but man was created in the image of God, animals were not. Animals were created for man’s use, God set man over them to have authority over them. He wants us to use the earth, but not abuse it.
If more people proceeded their own meat they would have a better appreciation of the work that goes into it. People are so separated from reality. It is wonderful that some of us have taught our children about true life.
This video is released the day my family is gathering at Dad and Mum's for chicken harvesting day! All 5 siblings, spouses, and all the grandchildren (age 20-2!). It's a hard day but we make is as fun as we can!!!
My Mom and Dad had 6 children. I remember when we would all get in a line and clean our chickens. Each of us had our own job. I love watching your videos. Your children are so precious and the new grandbaby. God Bless you all
I am so thankful I came across your videos. Your knowledge is amazing and you speak so peaceful it’s just enjoyable to watch. How wonderful the kids love their farm , their parents & their lifestyle. Thank you for making amazing videos without all the hubbub of showing off new products that all these other homesteaders buy and use it was a pleasure.❤
We get our entire family involved in our butching days and then we split the meat up between us. We have an assembly line going and it just works. Other than meat birds, we do beef and pork also. I don't like butchering day either. However, knowing that we have enough meat in our freezers to feed our married children's families and my husband and myself as well as knowing what has gone into those animals as they grow is a great comfort to me. We buy no meat and the homegrown meat that has been raised with no GMO's and no antibiotics tastes so much better. That is the way we roll.
just wanted to add a little info about raising meat birds; i know in a past video Ruth had mentioned that in weeding her garden, she would get rid of the purslane growing in her garden; i knew there was a benefit to having that "weed" growing in the garden, but i had not researched it very well at that point; but this is what i found on the internet; "Some studies have indicated that added purslane to the feed of broiler chickens has a good effect on enhanced the appetite of animals or promoted the growth performance (Habibian et al." - so the best way to feed it to your meat birds is by dehydrating/drying it, then mixing it in with their feed; just a little something of interesting that i found, i thought that i would share for all those working hard to raise your own meat birds; i have not tried this myself, but i am going to gather purslane this year and dehydrate it and give it a try to see if it works;
Ruthann , I’m sad that there are so many mean people out there. I have really enjoyed your videos. I feel like if I lived close I would love being your friend. Please don t let ugly people or comments upset you. You are doing an amazing job. I think the skills you have are very impressive.
I used to help my granny. I started at 4 1/2 years old. She would literally ring their necks, had boiling ready for scalding, then a fire to singe the pin feathers. She would cut the heads off just behind the heads, and I got to pull the innerds out, and sometimes there would be an egg or even eggs that were developing. My granny used everything except the guts. She scalded and scraped the feet and used them in rice along with the soft eggs. I miss those days, especially the time I got to spend with my granny. That's where I learned to can...love your videos Ruth Ann
Back when I was young the family would gather at mom and dad's. We would butcher almost 200 chickens in a weekend. My mom would start way early in the year and start saving 1/2 gallon milk cartons. One whole cut up chicken will fit in a carton. Then add water and put in freezer. Love the memories
Good for you for putting this video out, Ruth Ann. We all (children included) need to understand that life on this planet is a circle: everything that lives does so because something else dies. When we die the micro life forms decompose us, then the plants use them to provide nutrients, then the animals eat the plants and we eat the animals. It is all a well-designed circle and children need to understand that. Then we won't be so afraid of our own death, which surely happens to each of us eventually!
Good morning RuthAnn and sweet family! With everyone helping it goes so much faster. The family really pulls together to get the tasks done. Your grandson is so adorable and that sweet smile he has. I hope everyone has a very blessed weekend!
Meals in a jar canned with the breast. Legs, thighs, wings in the freeze. The rest less the fat into the stock pot for broth. It is amazing how far you can make one chicken go. We are getting ready to put 25 on the shelf. We have been raising our own meat birds for the past 3 years. Wish we had started sooner. Like everything else in life, it is work but rewarding. We have found doing less at a time and twice a year it was less overwhelming.
Don't pay attention to the haters. We butcher our animals but they're taken care of like they were pets. I thank them for their help to feed our family and try to do everything as humanely as possible.
Ruthann!! You are a special lady. Your standards are amazing. I LOVED how you explained raising your children and limited the Disney movies that humanize animals. You are ❤ wonderful woman after God's heart. I wished I knew people like you in my life. Thank you for all you do!!!
This is why people raise their own meat birds… My Great Great Grandparents ( my entire Family live in Pennsylvania )lived in Pennsylvania near Pottstown/Hamburg/Lancaster Pa. Do people think that they arrive at the grocery store/butcher etc miraculously? This is how everyone raised poultry, beef, etc prior to grocery stores. This is life. This is why people raise animals & garden etc. Thank you Zimmerman Family. Anita3kids from NJ
RuthAnn, you are such sn amazing Godly woman. I thoroughly appreciate and enjoy your weekly videos. God bless you and your family and have a beautiful day.
Hi Ruthann we raise Cornish Cross also, my biggest Male was 8.04lbs. Mine usually weight about 6.5-7lb birds. I just raise them for my husband & I & our son & Daughter (&my new son in law,nov. 2024) 😊 I move a chicken tractor around our yard daily, it’s a lot of work, I’m willing to do it but soooo worth getting a year supply of healthy meat. The best part…I know exactly what’s in that meat, grain,grass, & bugs….I have not bought any chicken from the store in 3 years. At 7 weeks we take them to our local butcher shop. I know exactly how you thought when someone said “you can get cheaper chicken at the store 😳🙄” I would have felt the same….keep up the great videos! GOD IS GOOD! ❤️ Nikki
I live in the Montréal Québec Canada area and i wasn't raised in any specific religious organisation. My mother studied in the catholic schools and the sister taught them to do everything from scratch. I am so glad i can cook just like you do. It is so much better and cheaper to cook from scratch then to go to the restaurant or buy already made meals. It is tasting much better also. Thanks for my mom to have taught me this.
Oh my your adorable grandson is growing and changing so quickly. What a joy he must bring to your lives. There’s just something so precious about new babies.
God doesn’t make mistakes. Animals were created for our nourishment and enjoyment. Your animals are raised with love and care. In the end they serve their natural purpose. ❤
Just taught my granddaughter how to clean a chicken and we made soup and she enjoyed helping with the culling and cleaning. This fall she will learn about venison. God is good
RuthAnn, thank you for stating that you try to limit the tv shows that "humanize" animals. I've been very concerned with the way people, so many times, try to make animals as important as people and even say they have souls. That absolutely is not true according to the Bible. I love that God and your life of trying to follow His plan is important to you and not shied away from.
@@naomihartman6623that is why most of us that have them treat them with respect and when harvesting them we do it as painless for them as possible, but God did put them on here for us to consume. It is how we treat them that matters, but they are not humans and as such many have confused roles. We love our animals and care for them and respect them
Lovely christians evangelical family like us peoples of the book 🙏🙏🙏 good family time 🎉 👍👍👍 Question who nitted or crochet the lovely warm cardigan your grand baby has 🥰 keep on XOXOX affection in Jesus Name
Very interesting and may I say how amazed I am the birds were all in the freezer and family eating lunch by 1pm. Also seeing the Egg birds getting a nice outside Nesting Home. Your explanations are always welcome information. Ending at the County Fair a happy plus.😊❤
@@naomihartman6623so do plants. What’s your point? We shouldn’t eat because our food feels pain on death? Go be a breatharian. You do you. The rest of us know that God put selected plants and animals on this earth to nourish our bodies. Any homesteader raises their plants and animals to the best of their ability and gives them all a quick death for better tasting food.
Thank you immensely for sharing your knowledge, family life, and your relationship with our great Creator. I love and appreciate everything about your post. ❤
It's definitely not cheaper to raise n butcher your own chickens. But it's not packed full of antibiotics, and junk to make them plumper... and they were raised humanely!! Which is why I choose to raise my meat birds. I can't free range but I do give bugs, fresh greens in addition to the feed. And they get lots of love and pettings!! Cornish crosses are really friendly birds!! I did a round of red rangers this yr to try. They are less messy but butchering/cleaning was a lot harder. I skin my birds cuz I don't have the plucker machine and that's too much work for me and one helper to do by hand so skinning it is. The reds have way more feathers than the crosses do. I'll stuck to the crosses. More meat too! Thank you for sharing your family and experiences with us!! I've learned a lot from you and appreciate your honesty and knowledge! God Bless!
Interesting to learn that red rangers have more feathers! I am still in the planning stage to raise a batch. Also, a feather removing machine, costs a lot and you use it only 2 days a year, I know some rent to neighbours for a fee.
I know me I can't do slave the chickens or other animals, but I understand why and I'm ok with that. Each year, I participate to harvest and I do admet, I like prepared piece's or plock chickens etc. I'm retired a good feeling of " the job is finished and thanks for all this sacrifice for us, instead, now we can eat because of you. ❤ Thanks for your sensibility and your big sens of reality. Hope you all have a good harvest day! ❤ Genevieve from Québec ❤😊
I love how much you include your married children. I don’t have a farm like yours, but I have an open door policy with my children too! They can always come over and get anything they need. P. S. I do cook from scratch, have a sourdough starter a small garden and a strawberry patch where I make my own jam that I learned from you. God bless you and your entire family ❤
Thank you for this video and every single one you put out .. this is part of homesteading and a very natural part of raising your own food. Each video is a lesson and we are all very grateful for your wisdom and knowledge! Best part of Saturdays..
Oh RuthAnn, I wasn't sure I could handle this video, but I only had to turn away once for a second. Your Grandchild is sooooooo Happy and Beautiful and Loved. It was so nice to get a glimpse of the entire Family. Those three (3) little boys crack me up, they are so funny. I love everything about this video. Thank you for always being real. Have a great weekend.
I have much admiration and respect for your ability to reason this task out, your efficiency in the process, your gentle expectations of your younger children, and remembering these kids worked hard - they deserve a fun night out. And before this, I watched your canning chicken and broth video - so more rewards to come. Chicken noodle/dumpling soup - a family favorite in my home.
Thanks for sharing Ruthann. Awesome video. Don't let the critical opinions bother you. Your way of harvesting was much easier than mine. I loved the plucker. Sending blessings on your family.❤
Thank you so much for sharing. Our chicken harvesting is different than yours but I saw some things that you do that I will probably use. I love that we all have different homesteads and they are all wonderful.
Happy Saturday Zimmerman. Watching the whole family coming together to harvest is so satisfying. I bet those birds will be yummy. Have a blessed week. ❤️🙏
I wish my husband would let me raise chickens for eggs and meat. I went to our small town Harps grocery store and their price for one small whole chicken was a little over $16. My granddaughter and her little family are coming to Sunday dinner tomorrow so I wanted to roast a whole chicken. So instead of buying that, I bought a package each of their “5 for $25” chicken breast (2), thighs, drumsticks, and a package of pork chops. I was able to put at least two of everything I bought in the freezer for another day and all for $25.
This brought back memories of doing this with my family on my sisters farm. It was always a day of lots of work and lots of fun and bonding! There’s nothing as good as working together… great video!
I’m sitting here watching you and smiling to myself. TODAY is chicken processing day here ( I do it by myself) and I’m procrastinating. I’ve got water on to heat, I’m scrubbing my cooler which has sat outside all year.. We still don’t have storage sheds or a garage to store our things. Fairly new homeplace for us (3-4 years) that we are carving out of a cattle field. It has been a lot of work to start from absolute scratch and build a homestead, even with a 3-sided barn, well, and good perimeter fencing in place.. Anyway, like you, I do not like dispatching my birds, but once they are dispatched, processing is no problem. So, right now, I’m watching you do yours instead of going ahead and getting mine done..LOL.
What a work filled day!!! I dont envy chicken dispatching day. I once did it with my brother…he dispatched, I eviscerated, and mu sister in law plucked etc. I will never ever forget the smell whist cleaning the chickens and it was months…more likely a year before I could ever eat chicken again. From any place!!! I gave them all away xx
We live near a big chicken processing plant so all day long we smell "chicken trucks" going up and down the highway. I'd much rather smell cow poo (which I don't mind) or even paper mill (which I DO mind). Chicken truck stank makes me gag. I suppose, when we finally have our own, I could just keep a clothespin on my nose, right? LOL
Ruth Ann, thank you for sharing this with us. Your entire family works so hard for the best outcome possible for y’all. It’s nice to see kids responsible and supportive instead of playing video games or scrolling through social media on their phones. If parents could only see the detriment that this is causing!
I was the oldest child in my family. I had to help process the chickens when my parents were harvesting them. I never enjoyed doing it; but, it was necessary if we wanted to eat. Ours were free range chickens. I don't remember my sister or either of my brothers ever helping process the chickens. Store bought chicken is not as healthy for us to eat as the range chicken raised at home. Free range chickens are not as fat and taste better than store bought chicken. Free range chicken eggs are also better for us to eat because they came from healthy hens. We plucked the chickens by hand. It was a long, smelly, messy process. Your grandson is cute.
A great job by all. Working together makes things so much easier. I find myself in your state today. We are visiting our Amish friends who recently moved to Iowa. They are building a small house onto a shed to provide housing for their son and his wife. So it will be an exciting and busy day helping them at the “frolic”. The small home should be close to finished by Monday evening when we will return home to Illinois. Thanks for sharing and have a great week.
I Love watching your family all working together 🥰 It made my Heart Smile hearing your Husband, Pray when you all gathered to Eat ❤️❤️❤️ Thank You for sharing your journey with Us !!! Until the next one 😉💞🇺🇸
I love seeing the family all together! Having some fun at the end of a hard day is wonderful. These days bond you together even more. I especially love seeing the baby and the love and the whole family has for him! He is such a cutie pie! ❤Patsy
Amazing day! You are teaching your children so many great life skills. Thank you for taking the time to video the day. Very educational. Your family works together so well. ❤
I, too, can hear your grandmother! I helped pluck chickens with my grandmother, too. But she only harvested the chickens she needed for that single day! She may have liked the plucker… I don’t know.
So it was so cute I'm watching your video and I see your propane tank and all of a sudden because it's so big and long all I can visualize with you you and the kids having a fun day of painting it into a submarine❤❤. I know that I have kind of a bizarre sense of humor it could be something else as well.....
Ruthann, proud of the way you explained to your children about meat harvest. I read your newsletter and agree 100 percent with you. God bless you for taking the time to share this with us. Your sister in Christ.
Good morning, RuthAnn. Thank you for sharing your processing day. We are still deciding if we will process our meat birds (first time raising) or have our local Amish community assist 😊 Your video was very helpful with your insights. Enjoy your day.
I hatched 8 eggs this spring, from my chickens and 5 ended up being roosters giving me a total of 6 to 8 hens. I knew I was going to cull at least 4 and I waited too late. Those boys beat up my girls so that the ladies refused to lay. Problem was, I didnt know how to go about it. I wanted the meat in the easiest way possible to get it. My son was here and he dispatched 4 by cervical dislocation. It wasn't so easy peasy as we saw on UA-cam. I decided to harvest the feet, the legs and thighs and the breasts by just cutting and peeling back the skin leaving the feathers on. Yea it wasted a bit, like the wings but we had them processed in less than 20 minutes. We did it in the evening when they went to roost so the others wouldn't see it happen, so the quick processing time as we were losing light was perfect. We did take the carcasses to a remote part of our property and left them for the wildlife. We do this with the deers we process too.
Your grandson is so precious. Love watching you & your family. Wish I’d had as much patience as you do. I’m 85 but have enjoyed watching you & how you get everything done & how great your family gets involved.
How I hated butchering day! I could not stand the feel of the warm innards. We ended up, the last few times, taking them to a chicken processor nearby. I think sometimes you have to pick your battles. I do think that it is a great skill to know. I would like to try it again.
Lol! We are butchering 25 birds TODAY...and it's just me and my husband. 😂 The 6 kids still at home, are inside...taking care of the youngest...and being our runners if necessary. It takes us forever!😅 In fact...haven't even gone out yet, and I'm already tired...and doubting if I want to do another batch next month.
good morning ruthann! my saturday morning coffee partner! have a great week. thanks for sharing! edit: how could i forget to mention your grandson is Adorable! his smile is priceless! my youngest grand is 5 my oldest is 24. i've got 2 great grands & one on the way! babies bring so much joy.
My husband does not really enjoy chicken other than the gizzards and livers. I only butcher if we have too many cockerels and am lazy ripping off the skin to avoid plucking. Most get canned, eaten for dinner and made into broth. My freezer space is reserved for beef and pork as well.
Thanks RuthAnn for discussing this. It’s a shame so many are ignorant to where their food comes from. I wish I could raise my own meat but for now the harvesting process just grosses me out. Several years ago my husband went fishing in our local river, known for catching walleye. He brought home several fish, cleaned and then cooked them. I took two bites and couldn’t eat anymore. All I could think of was, “this fish was just swimming down the river!” I was too grossed out to eat anymore 😂
You may already do this but I didn’t see it in the video. We also use the feet with the carcasses for broth. This might be easier and faster for you next year, we clean the feet by scalding them and the yellow skin pulls right off including the toenails like a pair of wet socks! We do have to trim off some “calluses” too.
Thank you for sharing this! I have never thought to save the feet! I will do so because of RuthAnn’s video and your help with your comment! Thank You again!
You said something very important for homesteading. You family MUST be together for the whole idea. One person may manipulate the others to start but that person will have a family of resentful who constantly are pulling against the flow .
We raised and harvested 22 Freedom Rangers this year. They were raised in chicken tractors and fed an organic non-gmo feed. We harvested at 12 weeks. We ended up with over 100# of meat, plus carcasses for bone broth. We broke most if the chickens down into pieces. They averaged a bag of feed a week over the course of their life. Less than a bag in the beginning and more than that at the end. Organic chicken at the grocery store in my area is $6.99/LB. We saved about $400 by raising our own. We are thankful for what we were able to put away.
I love seeing how the whole family works together doing the unpleasant chores. No one enjoys that day but it has to be done. Your family is beautiful and you should be proud. Ignore any bad comments. You show true life on a farm.
Did I miss something? Who are the folks making unkind comments? I haven't seen any negative comments so far.
@@RataPerryI watched the video shortly after it came out in the morning and there weren't that many comments yet but one was rather nasty. That's why I said to ignore the bad ones. I just skimmed through all the comments since and see there are several that don't approve for one reason or another. These people should realize she is showing real life on a farm. Their chickens lives were way better than any chicken you could buy in a supermarket with no antibiotics and probably more humanely dispatched.
Here in Holmes County Ohio our daughters raise meat birds and take them to a Swartzentruber Amish lady to butcher. She charges $2 each for whole birds or $3 for cut up. They usually pay more or take treats like ice cream. 😄 Your grandson is so sweet and dearly loved. I love to see the whole family adoring him. We have 11 grandchildren with one more coming soon, and each one is equally precious! The value of a Christian family like you display is the most precious thing on earth. God bless you!
That's a much more reasonable price than here in south Georgia. The only lady who will do them, charges 7$ per bird!
What a deal!
My grandmother was also German , she would say every healthy child eats at least a peck of dirt. Loved her
My mother in law said that. She was Irish.
As I dispatch each chicken I say a prayer of Thanksgiving to God our creator for supplying us with food and ask that he help the dispatching to go quickly for the animal.
Exactly that! 🌹
Nice to see the young boys helping WITH OUT a phone in hand. Good team work. 😊😊
Many hands make light work! As always, thank you for taking us along! ❤ xo
My Grandma’s favorite saying ❤
This is such a good skill to teach our youth. I belong to a Church Meat Ministry and have butchered for them for over 10 years. We butcher deer, elk, lamb, sheep, beef, and steelhead and then give it all away for those who can't afford to buy meat. Last season we were the busiest we have ever been. I have suggested we teach butchering skills to our Jr Senior High School kids. We live in a very rural community and many of our kids hunt.
That’s an amazing ministry!
What a good skill to teach the kids. Everyone is going to need this skill going forward.
You could ask the young people to volunteer to help you. I suspect many would.d.
I am not sure😢. If u believe in God then these are all creatures. I became a vegetarian i do eat cheese eggs fish
@@Valencenliberty Yes, they are all creatures that God created, but man was created in the image of God, animals were not. Animals were created for man’s use, God set man over them to have authority over them. He wants us to use the earth, but not abuse it.
If more people proceeded their own meat they would have a better appreciation of the work that goes into it. People are so separated from reality. It is wonderful that some of us have taught our children about true life.
I am a life long city girl and I love watching and learning from you. Thank you for sharing your life.
This video is released the day my family is gathering at Dad and Mum's for chicken harvesting day! All 5 siblings, spouses, and all the grandchildren (age 20-2!). It's a hard day but we make is as fun as we can!!!
How wonderful!! I hope and pray this is my family one day
@@Ruthannzimm ❤
We did 86 birds in 4 hours!!!
The little boys are growing so fast, and that little grandson, oh my goodness he’s adorable.
My Mom and Dad had 6 children. I remember when we would all get in a line and clean our chickens. Each of us had our own job. I love watching your videos. Your children are so precious and the new grandbaby. God Bless you all
I am so thankful I came across your videos. Your knowledge is amazing and you speak so peaceful it’s just enjoyable to watch. How wonderful the kids love their farm , their parents & their lifestyle. Thank you for making amazing videos without all the hubbub of showing off new products that all these other homesteaders buy and use it was a pleasure.❤
We get our entire family involved in our butching days and then we split the meat up between us. We have an assembly line going and it just works. Other than meat birds, we do beef and pork also. I don't like butchering day either. However, knowing that we have enough meat in our freezers to feed our married children's families and my husband and myself as well as knowing what has gone into those animals as they grow is a great comfort to me. We buy no meat and the homegrown meat that has been raised with no GMO's and no antibiotics tastes so much better. That is the way we roll.
just wanted to add a little info about raising meat birds; i know in a past video Ruth had mentioned that in weeding her garden, she would get rid of the purslane growing in her garden; i knew there was a benefit to having that "weed" growing in the garden, but i had not researched it very well at that point; but this is what i found on the internet; "Some studies have indicated that added purslane to the feed of broiler chickens has a good effect on enhanced the appetite of animals or promoted the growth performance (Habibian et al." - so the best way to feed it to your meat birds is by dehydrating/drying it, then mixing it in with their feed; just a little something of interesting that i found, i thought that i would share for all those working hard to raise your own meat birds; i have not tried this myself, but i am going to gather purslane this year and dehydrate it and give it a try to see if it works;
Ruthann , I’m sad that there are so many mean people out there. I have really enjoyed your videos. I feel like if I lived close I would love being your friend. Please don t let ugly people or comments upset you. You are doing an amazing job. I think the skills you have are very impressive.
I used to help my granny. I started at 4 1/2 years old. She would literally ring their necks, had boiling ready for scalding, then a fire to singe the pin feathers. She would cut the heads off just behind the heads, and I got to pull the innerds out, and sometimes there would be an egg or even eggs that were developing. My granny used everything except the guts. She scalded and scraped the feet and used them in rice along with the soft eggs. I miss those days, especially the time I got to spend with my granny. That's where I learned to can...love your videos Ruth Ann
Incredible, thanks for sharing. I was actually picturing you two working together. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Back when I was young the family would gather at mom and dad's. We would butcher almost 200 chickens in a weekend. My mom would start way early in the year and start saving 1/2 gallon milk cartons. One whole cut up chicken will fit in a carton. Then add water and put in freezer. Love the memories
Good for you for putting this video out, Ruth Ann. We all (children included) need to understand that life on this planet is a circle: everything that lives does so because something else dies. When we die the micro life forms decompose us, then the plants use them to provide nutrients, then the animals eat the plants and we eat the animals. It is all a well-designed circle and children need to understand that. Then we won't be so afraid of our own death, which surely happens to each of us eventually!
Good morning RuthAnn and sweet family! With everyone helping it goes so much faster. The family really pulls together to get the tasks done.
Your grandson is so adorable and that sweet smile he has.
I hope everyone has a very blessed weekend!
Meals in a jar canned with the breast. Legs, thighs, wings in the freeze. The rest less the fat into the stock pot for broth. It is amazing how far you can make one chicken go. We are getting ready to put 25 on the shelf. We have been raising our own meat birds for the past 3 years. Wish we had started sooner. Like everything else in life, it is work but rewarding. We have found doing less at a time and twice a year it was less overwhelming.
My neighbour grows 2 batches per year. Gets chicks early April and August to avoid heat.
Don't pay attention to the haters. We butcher our animals but they're taken care of like they were pets. I thank them for their help to feed our family and try to do everything as humanely as possible.
Appreciate how responsibly and respectfully you care for and harvest your chickens. That baby is sooo cute! ❤🙏🏻Val C
Ruthann!! You are a special lady. Your standards are amazing. I LOVED how you explained raising your children and limited the Disney movies that humanize animals. You are ❤ wonderful woman after God's heart. I wished I knew people like you in my life. Thank you for all you do!!!
This is why people raise their own meat birds… My Great Great Grandparents ( my entire Family live in Pennsylvania )lived in Pennsylvania near Pottstown/Hamburg/Lancaster Pa. Do people think that they arrive at the grocery store/butcher etc miraculously? This is how everyone raised poultry, beef, etc prior to grocery stores. This is life. This is why people raise animals & garden etc. Thank you Zimmerman Family. Anita3kids from NJ
The respect and dignity you show your animals is refreshing. Having your whole family pitch in is such a joy to watch. Your grandbaby oh my 😍.
RuthAnn, you are such sn amazing Godly woman. I thoroughly appreciate and enjoy your weekly videos.
God bless you and your family and have a beautiful day.
Hi Ruthann we raise Cornish Cross also, my biggest Male was 8.04lbs. Mine usually weight about 6.5-7lb birds. I just raise them for my husband & I & our son & Daughter (&my new son in law,nov. 2024) 😊 I move a chicken tractor around our yard daily, it’s a lot of work, I’m willing to do it but soooo worth getting a year supply of healthy meat. The best part…I know exactly what’s in that meat, grain,grass, & bugs….I have not bought any chicken from the store in 3 years. At 7 weeks we take them to our local butcher shop. I know exactly how you thought when someone said “you can get cheaper chicken at the store 😳🙄” I would have felt the same….keep up the great videos! GOD IS GOOD! ❤️ Nikki
Your grand baby is adorable and being grandma is so special. I have 9 grandkids and just found out a great grandchild is on the way ! ❤
That is awesome!
I live in the Montréal Québec Canada area and i wasn't raised in any specific religious organisation. My mother studied in the catholic schools and the sister taught them to do everything from scratch. I am so glad i can cook just like you do. It is so much better and cheaper to cook from scratch then to go to the restaurant or buy already made meals. It is tasting much better also. Thanks for my mom to have taught me this.
Oh my your adorable grandson is growing and changing so quickly. What a joy he must bring to your lives. There’s just something so precious about new babies.
God doesn’t make mistakes. Animals were created for our nourishment and enjoyment. Your animals are raised with love and care. In the end they serve their natural purpose. ❤
Just taught my granddaughter how to clean a chicken and we made soup and she enjoyed helping with the culling and cleaning. This fall she will learn about venison. God is good
RuthAnn, thank you for stating that you try to limit the tv shows that "humanize" animals. I've been very concerned with the way people, so many times, try to make animals as important as people and even say they have souls. That absolutely is not true according to the Bible. I love that God and your life of trying to follow His plan is important to you and not shied away from.
Animals do have feelings they do feel pain
@@naomihartman6623that is why most of us that have them treat them with respect and when harvesting them we do it as painless for them as possible, but God did put them on here for us to consume. It is how we treat them that matters, but they are not humans and as such many have confused roles. We love our animals and care for them and respect them
Lovely christians evangelical family like us peoples of the book 🙏🙏🙏 good family time 🎉 👍👍👍 Question who nitted or crochet the lovely warm cardigan your grand baby has 🥰 keep on XOXOX affection in Jesus Name
Very interesting and may I say how amazed I am the birds were all in the freezer and family eating lunch by 1pm. Also seeing the Egg birds getting a nice outside Nesting Home. Your explanations are always welcome information. Ending at the County Fair a happy plus.😊❤
@@naomihartman6623so do plants. What’s your point? We shouldn’t eat because our food feels pain on death? Go be a breatharian. You do you. The rest of us know that God put selected plants and animals on this earth to nourish our bodies. Any homesteader raises their plants and animals to the best of their ability and gives them all a quick death for better tasting food.
Thank you immensely for sharing your knowledge, family life, and your relationship with our great Creator. I love and appreciate everything about your post. ❤
It's definitely not cheaper to raise n butcher your own chickens. But it's not packed full of antibiotics, and junk to make them plumper... and they were raised humanely!! Which is why I choose to raise my meat birds. I can't free range but I do give bugs, fresh greens in addition to the feed. And they get lots of love and pettings!! Cornish crosses are really friendly birds!!
I did a round of red rangers this yr to try. They are less messy but butchering/cleaning was a lot harder. I skin my birds cuz I don't have the plucker machine and that's too much work for me and one helper to do by hand so skinning it is. The reds have way more feathers than the crosses do. I'll stuck to the crosses. More meat too! Thank you for sharing your family and experiences with us!! I've learned a lot from you and appreciate your honesty and knowledge! God Bless!
Interesting to learn that red rangers have more feathers! I am still in the planning stage to raise a batch. Also, a feather removing machine, costs a lot and you use it only 2 days a year, I know some rent to neighbours for a fee.
On our farm I was so happy to go from plucking to cleaning out the chickens. There was no such thing as an automatic plucking machine. Hah!
I know me I can't do slave the chickens or other animals, but I understand why and I'm ok with that. Each year, I participate to harvest and I do admet, I like prepared piece's or plock chickens etc. I'm retired a good feeling of " the job is finished and thanks for all this sacrifice for us, instead, now we can eat because of you. ❤ Thanks for your sensibility and your big sens of reality. Hope you all have a good harvest day! ❤ Genevieve from Québec ❤😊
I love how much you include your married children. I don’t have a farm like yours, but I have an open door policy with my children too! They can always come over and get anything they need. P. S. I do cook from scratch, have a sourdough starter a small garden and a strawberry patch where I make my own jam that I learned from you. God bless you and your entire family ❤
Thank you for this video and every single one you put out .. this is part of homesteading and a very natural part of raising your own food. Each video is a lesson and we are all very grateful for your wisdom and knowledge! Best part of Saturdays..
Oh RuthAnn, I wasn't sure I could handle this video, but I only had to turn away once for a second. Your Grandchild is sooooooo Happy and Beautiful and Loved. It was so nice to get a glimpse of the entire Family. Those three (3) little boys crack me up, they are so funny. I love everything about this video. Thank you for always being real. Have a great weekend.
This is the best video I've seen, I've been doing my birds for many years. Plus the family is a part of your experience makes my heart happy.
when I face unpleasant tasks I play worship music to keep myself calm and focused.
I love seeing your family work together.
Great idea.
I have much admiration and respect for your ability to reason this task out, your efficiency in the process, your gentle expectations of your younger children, and remembering these kids worked hard - they deserve a fun night out. And before this, I watched your canning chicken and broth video - so more rewards to come. Chicken noodle/dumpling soup - a family favorite in my home.
Thanks for sharing Ruthann. Awesome video. Don't let the critical opinions bother you. Your way of harvesting was much easier than mine. I loved the plucker. Sending blessings on your family.❤
Good morning! Your family works so well together! I loved getting to see your sweet little grandson. He has a beautiful smile!
Thank you so much for sharing. Our chicken harvesting is different than yours but I saw some things that you do that I will probably use. I love that we all have different homesteads and they are all wonderful.
Thank you for showing us how to clean and get the chickens ready for freezer camp. I love your videos.
Another great day on the homestead! Awesome teamwork! Blessings on your family and your growing homestead!🌻🐛🌿💚🙏💕
Thank you RuthAnn. You are amazing! Keep up the great work, you are growing a strong family. So inspiring!
Happy Saturday Zimmerman. Watching the whole family coming together to harvest is so satisfying. I bet those birds will be yummy. Have a blessed week. ❤️🙏
Your grand baby is so beautiful, he looks just like his grandma! ❤❤
I wish my husband would let me raise chickens for eggs and meat. I went to our small town Harps grocery store and their price for one small whole chicken was a little over $16. My granddaughter and her little family are coming to Sunday dinner tomorrow so I wanted to roast a whole chicken. So instead of buying that, I bought a package each of their “5 for $25” chicken breast (2), thighs, drumsticks, and a package of pork chops. I was able to put at least two of everything I bought in the freezer for another day and all for $25.
This brought back memories of doing this with my family on my sisters farm. It was always a day of lots of work and lots of fun and bonding! There’s nothing as good as working together… great video!
Thank you for being brave enough to share this valuable information. Much appreciated.
I’m sitting here watching you and smiling to myself. TODAY is chicken processing day here ( I do it by myself) and I’m procrastinating. I’ve got water on to heat, I’m scrubbing my cooler which has sat outside all year.. We still don’t have storage sheds or a garage to store our things. Fairly new homeplace for us (3-4 years) that we are carving out of a cattle field. It has been a lot of work to start from absolute scratch and build a homestead, even with a 3-sided barn, well, and good perimeter fencing in place..
Anyway, like you, I do not like dispatching my birds, but once they are dispatched, processing is no problem. So, right now, I’m watching you do yours instead of going ahead and getting mine done..LOL.
Good luck.
That was wonderful to see, Ruth Ann! Thank-you for sharing this process with us!
What a work filled day!!! I dont envy chicken dispatching day. I once did it with my brother…he dispatched, I eviscerated, and mu sister in law plucked etc. I will never ever forget the smell whist cleaning the chickens and it was months…more likely a year before I could ever eat chicken again. From any place!!! I gave them all away xx
lol. It’s a lot to get used to.
We live near a big chicken processing plant so all day long we smell "chicken trucks" going up and down the highway. I'd much rather smell cow poo (which I don't mind) or even paper mill (which I DO mind). Chicken truck stank makes me gag. I suppose, when we finally have our own, I could just keep a clothespin on my nose, right? LOL
We also raised the Cornish rocks. But we skinned them so we never had to pluck feathers.
Ruth Ann, thank you for sharing this with us. Your entire family works so hard for the best outcome possible for y’all. It’s nice to see kids responsible and supportive instead of playing video games or scrolling through social media on their phones. If parents could only see the detriment that this is causing!
Thank you so much!
I was the oldest child in my family. I had to help process the chickens when my parents were harvesting them. I never enjoyed doing it; but, it was necessary if we wanted to eat. Ours were free range chickens. I don't remember my sister or either of my brothers ever helping process the chickens. Store bought chicken is not as healthy for us to eat as the range chicken raised at home. Free range chickens are not as fat and taste better than store bought chicken. Free range chicken eggs are also better for us to eat because they came from healthy hens. We plucked the chickens by hand. It was a long, smelly, messy process. Your grandson is cute.
I believe you 3 youngest boys have each grown half a foot taller this summer! All from good healthy living and of course God's grace!
A great job by all. Working together makes things so much easier. I find myself in your state today. We are visiting our Amish friends who recently moved to Iowa. They are building a small house onto a shed to provide housing for their son and his wife. So it will be an exciting and busy day helping them at the “frolic”. The small home should be close to finished by Monday evening when we will return home to Illinois. Thanks for sharing and have a great week.
Your grand baby is adorable. The smile gives me such joy to see
I Love watching your family all working together 🥰 It made my Heart Smile hearing your Husband, Pray when you all gathered to Eat ❤️❤️❤️
Thank You for sharing your journey with Us !!!
Until the next one 😉💞🇺🇸
I love seeing the family all together! Having some fun at the end of a hard day is wonderful. These days bond you together even more. I especially love seeing the baby and the love and the whole family has for him! He is such a cutie pie! ❤Patsy
Amazing day! You are teaching your children so many great life skills. Thank you for taking the time to video the day. Very educational. Your family works together so well. ❤
I, too, can hear your grandmother! I helped pluck chickens with my grandmother, too. But she only harvested the chickens she needed for that single day! She may have liked the plucker… I don’t know.
I love your videos I learn so much and love watching your family working together, that is how it should be..be safe and many blessings.🐞🦬🙏🏽🥰
So it was so cute I'm watching your video and I see your propane tank and all of a sudden because it's so big and long all I can visualize with you you and the kids having a fun day of painting it into a submarine❤❤. I know that I have kind of a bizarre sense of humor it could be something else as well.....
What a productive day! Many hands make light work!
Lovely family video.Thats what is all about, family working together.God bless.❤
White leghorns fit perfectly and whole in a wide mouth quart jars
Ruthann, proud of the way you explained to your children about meat harvest. I read your newsletter and agree 100 percent with you. God bless you for taking the time to share this with us. Your sister in Christ.
Your grand baby is just gorgeous ❤️
My job was always the cleaning out part. I did it too well, so that always was my permanent assignment. Lol. And plucking. Everybody had to pluck!
Yes. Everyone had to pluck 😝
The scalding is a lot easier since we got the electric scalder. Love our plucker too. They hardly had a feather left on them
Good morning, RuthAnn. Thank you for sharing your processing day. We are still deciding if we will process our meat birds (first time raising) or have our local Amish community assist 😊 Your video was very helpful with your insights. Enjoy your day.
Your facial features look fine.
You are rating your food which is great for you and the family.
Health is best.
Strong work.
Yes, thank you
Good morning thanks for another Saturday morning video have an amazing week ❤
I hatched 8 eggs this spring, from my chickens and 5 ended up being roosters giving me a total of 6 to 8 hens. I knew I was going to cull at least 4 and I waited too late. Those boys beat up my girls so that the ladies refused to lay. Problem was, I didnt know how to go about it. I wanted the meat in the easiest way possible to get it. My son was here and he dispatched 4 by cervical dislocation. It wasn't so easy peasy as we saw on UA-cam. I decided to harvest the feet, the legs and thighs and the breasts by just cutting and peeling back the skin leaving the feathers on. Yea it wasted a bit, like the wings but we had them processed in less than 20 minutes. We did it in the evening when they went to roost so the others wouldn't see it happen, so the quick processing time as we were losing light was perfect.
We did take the carcasses to a remote part of our property and left them for the wildlife. We do this with the deers we process too.
Such a great video. I love how your family works together. Your grandson is so precious. He's growing so fast. Ty Ruthann.
Your grandson is so precious. Love watching you & your family. Wish I’d had as much patience as you do. I’m 85 but have enjoyed watching you & how you get everything done & how great your family gets involved.
I totally agree about choosing the Cornish cross!
How I hated butchering day! I could not stand the feel of the warm innards. We ended up, the last few times, taking them to a chicken processor nearby. I think sometimes you have to pick your battles. I do think that it is a great skill to know. I would like to try it again.
Lol! We are butchering 25 birds TODAY...and it's just me and my husband. 😂 The 6 kids still at home, are inside...taking care of the youngest...and being our runners if necessary. It takes us forever!😅 In fact...haven't even gone out yet, and I'm already tired...and doubting if I want to do another batch next month.
Oh that sweet baby is so precious 💕
Thanks for sharing your chicken harvest. Reminds me of my childhood
Oh my gosh! Kendrick with his hat over his heart in the background while the National Anthem was playing? He just melted my heart!
It’s one of my favorite things when the little boys do that!!
I have plucked many chickens by hand when I was a kid.
good morning ruthann! my saturday morning coffee partner! have a great week. thanks for sharing! edit: how could i forget to mention your grandson is Adorable! his smile is priceless! my youngest grand is 5 my oldest is 24. i've got 2 great grands & one on the way! babies bring so much joy.
Good morning!
My husband does not really enjoy chicken other than the gizzards and livers. I only butcher if we have too many cockerels and am lazy ripping off the skin to avoid plucking. Most get canned, eaten for dinner and made into broth. My freezer space is reserved for beef and pork as well.
I’ve been watching long enough to see the boys growing❤ what a beautiful grandchild too ❣️
What a lovely family, thank you for sharing. GM
Thanks RuthAnn for discussing this. It’s a shame so many are ignorant to where their food comes from. I wish I could raise my own meat but for now the harvesting process just grosses me out. Several years ago my husband went fishing in our local river, known for catching walleye. He brought home several fish, cleaned and then cooked them. I took two bites and couldn’t eat anymore. All I could think of was, “this fish was just swimming down the river!” I was too grossed out to eat anymore 😂
You may already do this but I didn’t see it in the video. We also use the feet with the carcasses for broth. This might be easier and faster for you next year, we clean the feet by scalding them and the yellow skin pulls right off including the toenails like a pair of wet socks! We do have to trim off some “calluses” too.
Yes. We did this too. Will show this when make the broth!!
Thank you for sharing this! I have never thought to save the feet! I will do so because of RuthAnn’s video and your help with your comment! Thank You again!
You said something very important for homesteading. You family MUST be together for the whole idea. One person may manipulate the others to start but that person will have a family of resentful who constantly are pulling against the flow .
The 3 ”little” boys are not so little anymore.
Thank you for including the prayer in Jesus´ name
More people should be responsible for raising and harvesting their own food, the animals and the earth are gifts.