A new journey into homesteading "pic heavy"

[Chic Rustler]

Got 30 of them now. I went ahead and pulled them out of the bator. We have a few more left. We will see how it goes.

I was worried about looking humidity when I opened the bator so I sprayed everything down with water from an old spray bottle. It actually jumped up to 80% so they may be alright.

 

[Chic Rustler]

I do a hot pack with chicken. I simmer the chicken and debone it. I pack in jars, add half teaspoon of NON idiozed salt, cover with boiling water, seal and process per Ball book instructions. I set aside the broth and boil the bones in fresh water to make more broth. I combine both broths and can the broth.

I think I may try this next time. Maybe just put the birds in a crock pot all day and then debone for canning and make stock. The pressure cooker just blew it all to pieces.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Okay - I've never canned chicken that wasn't already soup or something....but can't ya just raw pack 'em and can 'em that way and be done with all those extra steps???

 

[sumi]

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Got 30 of them now. I went ahead and pulled them out of the bator. We have a few more left. We will see how it goes.

I was worried about looking humidity when I opened the bator so I sprayed everything down with water from an old spray bottle. It actually jumped up to 80% so they may be alright.

Wow, look at them 65% humidity minimum is good, even a little lower. As long as they don't dry out and get stuck in the egg after pipping.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I have certainly had 'shrink-wrapped' babies from too low humidity. But, you don't want the humidity toooo high either like @sumi mentioned. I've heard they can drown in the shell if it's too much. But, that's just something I 'heard'...don't have any personal experience with it. I think I read somewhere that people sometimes hatch in cartons - big end up to prevent any moisture collecting where their face is.

Congrats on hatching 30 - that's awesome and proof that you did something right, lol!

 

[Chic Rustler]

There's the end result. 3 cans of chicken and 5 cans of stock. I sampled it. Pretty darn good!

 

[Chic Rustler]

I have certainly had 'shrink-wrapped' babies from too low humidity. But, you don't want the humidity toooo high either like @sumi mentioned. I've heard they can drown in the shell if it's too much. But, that's just something I 'heard'...don't have any personal experience with it. I think I read somewhere that people sometimes hatch in cartons - big end up to prevent any moisture collecting where their face is.

Congrats on hatching 30 - that's awesome and proof that you did something right, lol!

Thanks. The count is up to 32 now. I guess I'll quit freaking about having enough humidity then.

 

[tortoise]

Okay - I've never canned chicken that wasn't already soup or something....but can't ya just raw pack 'em and can 'em that way and be done with all those extra steps???

Yes, chicken can be raw packed. Added liquid is not required because it packs into jars tightly, but I add a little bit to top off the jar to the 1" head space. Maybe a couple tablespoons fit in a pint jar. I don't add salt. Wipe rims with a cloth made damp with vinegar (not water, because of the fat).

Ball says to chill the meat 6 - 12 hours. Butchering, deboning, packing jars and canning is a bit too much for one day, so I pack the jars and put them in the fridge overnight. I put them in the canner - everything cold - and it just takes longer to heat up to venting a plume of steam. Raw pack versus hot pack doesn't change processing time or pressure.

sources are Ball Complete (2012) and NCFHP website (2017)

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Thanks @tortoise - I thought that was possible...and makes sense to let them sit overnight - if only because of the fatigue factor, lol.

 

[sumi]

Thanks. The count is up to 32 now. I guess I'll quit freaking about having enough humidity then.

65% or a bit higher is good. I've had a chick drown in the shell from too high humidity once. That poor thing's at exactly the worst place in the homemade incubator though.