We harvested broilers to piece out (breasts, legs and thighs, wings, soup bones) over four days, ending on June 25th. The average weight on that date was 5.5 lbs per chicken. While putting birds to bed on July 4th, Michael found a broiler who died, probably from overheating.

July 5th dawned cool and misty, having rained an inch over night.

Mushrooms sprouted everywhere.

And we did in the last 6 broilers.

Meaning to brag a lot, I manhandled these big boys one-armed down range, where the chopping block lives, back to the gibbet, then into the pot of hot water (to loosen the feathers for plucking). Now I remember why I’ve lifted weights all these years!!!

The largest broiler weighed in at 11 pounds, the smallest (who was suffering from water belly) was 8.5 pounds. The average weight came to 10.1 pounds. That means these birds gained about 4.5 pounds each in 10 days. We had to harvest them before they all died of heart failure. We will give 3 of these birds to our children. One is for Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas. Then there is one to roast on some cold, winter day just to have leftovers. I will continue training for next years harvest!