Butchering my Turkeys. | Animals | Forums

Happy Turkey day Mainely, that's quite a spread in weight, different breeds?

If you want to do it legally you have some options

On-Farm Processing for Small Flocks: The Chapter 348 “Under-1,000-bird” Grower/Producer Exemption

A poultry producer with a flock of up to 1,000 birds who would like to process them on-farm may now apply for a Chapter 348 Grower/Producer Exemption from the Maine Department of Agriculture. This exemption allows producers who wish to sell directly to consumers in Maine to construct an approved facility under the guidance of the Maine Meat and Poultry Inspection Program at the Maine Department of Agriculture’s Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations.

The Chapter 348 Rule¹ is published in the Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources section of the Code of Maine Rules as 01-001 CMR Chapter 348.

Requirements of the Chapter 348 exemption:

• Production must be limited to 1,000 birds (produced and processed) in one year (12 months).
• Facility requirements must be met (requirements are fairly minimal).
• No matter whether the birds are killed and bled inside or outside, birds must be eviscerated, cooled, and packed in the facility described in the Chapter 348 Rule.
• WHOLE BIRDS may be placed in cold storage that is on-farm or off-site.
• ONLY WHOLE BIRDS may be sold; no cut-ups.
• Birds may be sold ONLY directly to customers on-farm, at farmers markets, or through CSA (community-supported agriculture) memberships.
• Birds may NOT be sold to retail stores, restaurants, schools, etc.
• Birds may NOT be sold on the Internet or across state lines.
• The grower/producer must obtain
  • a commercial food processing license (2012 cost: $50),
  • retail authorization for prepackaged meat and poultry products (2012 cost: $10), and
  • a Mobile Vendor license for farmers market sales (2012 cost: $20).

These food license applications are available by visiting Licenses and Permit Forms² at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, or by calling (207) 287-3841.

source http://umaine.edu/pu.....ons/2235e/

other option would be to take them to a usda approved processor, there is a new one in gardiner, not sure if they do small, but that is only if you are selling outside of the state

http://www.centralma.....structure/

if just selling inside the state you just need to take them to a state approved processor, look at the bottom for those that have a checkmark under CEP

http://www.maine.gov.....tion.shtml

other option would be to sell them the bird alive and let them process it