BRINGING YOUR POULTRY FOR PROCESSING
Sunshine Acres is dedicated to providing our poultry processing customers with a great finished product. In order to do our very best, we need your help. Below describes what we will expect from you on the day we slaughter your birds and the day you pick them up.
DROP OFF PROCEDURE
Bring birds the evening before your scheduled processing day. A time will be set when you call for an appointment. Upon arrival and before unloading, please check in with our staff to fill out your processing paperwork. Birds are processed the following morning. We do not vacuum seal, but we do provide various sizes of freezer-usable 3ml bags we close with a zip tie if you wish for your meat to be bagged.
Feed Withdraw
Possibly the most important step in your pre-slaughter procedure. All poultry scheduled to be slaughtered MUST have their feed withdrawn at least 16 hours in advance, but NOT more than 24 hours. We recommend that the last feeding be the evening before you are scheduled to drop them off at our facility.
DO NOT withdraw drinking water.
Processing Info Sheet
If you wish, you can complete the processing info sheet and bring it with you, or you can complete the form on arrival and we will assist you with any questions you have.
Click here to download the Intake Form
Transport Crates
Birds must be brought to us live in whatever you have to transport them (dog crates, cages, a pickup with a topper, etc.). You can come to pick up crates from Sunshine Acres and return the crates with your birds if needed. Birds are transferred to our crates upon arrival for drop-off. It is very important to make sure the birds do not get too hot and that they get enough air, especially in warmer months.
Coolers & Ice
Bring coolers and bagged ice when dropping off birds. We will layer your poultry in ice in your coolers provided ready for transport. Approximately 10 chickens per 60-quart cooler and one bag of ice. A 60-quart cooler will require 20 pounds of ice. Please leave the ice in the bags when dropping them off. Feel free to discuss how many coolers, etc. you will need when you call to set your appointment.
PICK-UP PROCEDURE
We will call you with a time to pick up after your poultry is dropped off for processing. Birds need to chill in the cooler on ice for 4-6 hours before freezing. Leaving birds to chill for 24 hours before freezing allows the meat to continue to relax, and therefore will be more tender.