Chicken Soup

Today was "Take the chickens to the slaughter" Day at the Manchesters. 20 of our older hens (or should I say 19 hens plus one rooster) enjoyed their last moments in the back of the pick-up in a cage driving down windy back roads to the chicken processors farm. I've never been before. I usually stay home and put them in the freezer when it's all done and over with. But today I was brave and made the trip with my wonderful husband. It was very romantic nice to have alone time with my honey. We take any kind of moment we can get.

Anyway, the chicken processing wasn't as bad as I thought it was. My job was to guard the opened cage, making sure the chickens didn't get too anxious to hop into the killing cones. The processors are very organized and only take in a few at a time. "Ladies, wait your turn!" I had to say. I didn't watch the killing. The sounds were bad enough. All the squaking and flapping of wings only lasted a few seconds, and soon turned into the sound of chicken feet scraping up against the metal killing cones. No more squaking. I apologized to a few of the hens as they waited their turn. I'm so glad they have tiny brains and had no idea what I was saying.

So what's for dinner in our shoe tonight? Chicken soup! Mmmmm.....Mmmmmm.....Good!