A young farmer snaps the head from a heritage chicken during hand processing.
Jen Schwab snaps the head from a heritage chicken during hand processing. Matt Schwab places chickens into a steel cone that holds the birds and then using a sharp straight razor, slits a vein in the bird's neck draining the blood. The birds do not seem to suffer as the gradual blood loss renders them unconscious. Small family farmers Matt and Jen Schwab operate "Inspiration Plantation" an organic farm outside of Ridgefield, Washington. The couple raises and harvests their own heritage chickens, and seasonally inviting their customers in the community to visit their farm and help with the poultry harvest. Once the birds are killed, they're placed in a bath of near boiling water to loosen the feathers and then rotated in a washing machine-like tub with rubber appendages that pull the feathers out. Visiting helpers can participate in every step of the process and receive a fresh chicken for their efforts.
Size: 3859px × 2568px
Location: Ridgefield, Washington USA
Photo credit: © Ken Hawkins / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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