Monday, August 3, 2009

CHICKEN BUTCHERING DAY

Last Monday, at 6:00AM the Kisumu compound began stirring. It was chicken butchering day at Ivan Peacheys where 186 meat birds sat waiting for processing. The men gathered first setting up tables, tarps and burners and began sharpening knives. The women began trickling in at 6:15 with their buckets and more knives and found their places at the table. Today all are involved! Everyone is needed and has his/her position. This is our main source of meat and the ladies find all kinds of creative ways of peparing a tasty dish. This morning many are bleary-eyed at this hour, especially Merles and Ivans since they just returned from America a day or two ago and are still coping with jet lag.



The "little men" , David Kauffman, Jamin and Micah Peachey catch the chickens and Matthias Peachey and Daniel Kauffman get the job beheading the unassuming creatures.


Never in my life did I see my husband butcher a chicken. I was rather impressed with this hidden ability.


Jevon Beachy, Ivan Peachey and Tommy Wagler did most of the skinning.


The ladies did the dressing or gutting to state it bluntly. Around the table, left to right are, Sarah Esh, Rosanna Helmuth, Rosalie Beiler, Becky Hostetler, Monica Kauffman, Barbie Glick, Kay Peachey, Mattie Kauffman, Kim Beachy, Abigail Peachey and Lavonna Martin.
There is not much wasted. The feet we give away to the natives for a treat. Ugh.....the intestines we buried so neither human or animal can find them. The whole works was finished at 11:00, including cleanup.

We gathered again at Tommy Waglers for a good breakfast. We visited and relaxed with the good feeling of a job well done. Everyone's freezer is chuck full.

Mattie Kauffman
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3 comments:

  1. wow. sounds like fun! actually not really... i always grossed out at everything. i at least didn't have to do it... just "babysit" the little ones. :) it was fun watching the boys cut off the chickens heads though and use them as puppets. :P anyway, thanks alot for posting. -- christina

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  2. Great pictures! Such is the missionary's life...

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  3. Oh Mattie you have a way of making something gross almost sound like fun. Hope you can enjoy the chicken.

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