This article is for anyone who will need poultry processing services in the Dayton, Ohio area in 2021. Significant changes have occurred, and we want you to be aware as you plan to raise chickens for meat and local fairs.
Background: Happy Wife Acres processed chickens for many others in 2020. Most customers were people with 3 to 20 chickens. Although our farm mission is education, we did this as a service to families with small flocks. We thought we were operating legally, but the Ohio Department of Agriculture set us straight last fall. To continue processing, we would have to apply for a Custom Processing license, which would require a significant capital expense to meet regulations. Since custom processing is not part of our mission, we decided to cease all external processing and not apply for the license. Much of this, including the federal and state laws, are explained in detail on our website HERE.
Many people wait until their chickens are almost ready or until after fair to look for a processor. Local processors were backlogged 2-3 months last summer. Since Cornish Cross chickens are ready to process in 8 weeks, reservations need to be made as soon as you receive your chicks, or even before!
We are aware of two custom processors in our area. Each has unique pricing and rules for 2021:
- King and Sons Poultry in Bradford, Ohio (Darke County). http://www.kingandsonspoultry.com, 937-448-2448
- There is a $100 fee for batches under 250.
- They are ONLY processing Cornish Cross chickens.
- To get a chicken cut up, you must have a batch of at least 50.
- You’ll make two trips, one to drop off and one to pick up a day or two later.
- Be aware of requirements when transporting birds to the plant .
- If you have a batch of 50, processing and bagging would cost about $5.25 each (which is close to what we used to charge).
- A batch of 25 would cost about $7.25 each, and a batch of 10 would cost $13.25 each.
- Johnson Poultry Farms in Wilmington, Ohio (Clinton County). https://johnsonpoultryfarm.wixsite.com/johnsonfarms, 937-685-2052
- Johnson’s only processes the chicken. They do not chill, cut up, or bag.
- They recommend you chill the birds in ice water for 4 hours before packaging.
- They offer same day processing with appointment.
- Be aware of requirements when transporting birds to the plant.
- They are closed for processing until April 2021.
- From what others tell us, they are often difficult to contact (won’t reply to phone call/email).
- They charge $3.25/Cornish Cross, and $3.45 for all other breeds. But again, no bagging.
There are other options on our website at the link above, including videos on how we process, the equipment we use, and renting our processing equipment. ODA has approved others to process chickens using our equipment at our farm, but we are not allowed to physically help or process our chickens at the same time. We may offer low cost ($5) processing demonstration classes in the spring if there is interest, but you will not be allowed to physically touch the chicken.
If you process your own chickens, we sell high quality shrink bags with zip ties for $1 each.
As a last option, we will accept all drop-offs of meat birds and heritage chickens, no matter the age. Understand that most drop-offs become food. Federal and state regulations prohibit us from purchasing grown chickens.
While we understand that this information may cause a wrinkle in your chicken raising plans, there is still time for you to consider alternatives and make plans for processing. Please share this information with others who may be raising chickens this year, especially with 4H/FFA groups. You may be able to combine flocks to avoid large processing fees.
Best wishes with all your chicken raising in 2021. Feel free to call us if you have questions or need clarification.