A New Way to Harvest Poultry Humanely

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 humane.

Benefits of the Poultry Harvest Station

• The station features four cones that hold the birds in an upside-down position, which quickly calms them. The cones enclose and cradle the birds, further soothing them and preventing damage to wings.
• The birds are held at a comfortable working height, allowing easy access to the neck so you can safely and humanely dispatch them. The convenient height also minimizes fatigue — critical when you’re processing a large number of birds.
• The freestanding design lets you easily maneuver around the station, making the harvesting task faster and more efficient. You can dispatch multiple birds in succession by keeping each bird in its cone to allow the blood to drain as you move on to the next one.
• Crafted from sturdy, long-lasting stainless steel, it’s easy to clean with a hose and brush, can be disinfected with a bleach solution, and will never rust.
• Each cone is designed to hold a bird weighing up to 10 lbs., giving the station a total capacity of 40 lbs.

If you raise a large number of meat birds and/or plan to raise birds for a number of years, the Poultry Harvest Station is a wise investment. In addition to streamlining the harvesting process, it also helps you give your birds as respectful and humane an end as possible while saving you the hassle and cost of sending chickens to a processor. Many people consider processing their own backyard poultry an essential step on the path to self-sufficiency. It invites a deep connection to the birds and an appreciation for the nourishment they provide.

For a helping hand with your backyard poultry and other homesteading activities, look no further than Roots & Harvest.