Homesteading Today has some terrific forums on livestock.

Here is a link that might be useful: Homesteading Today

If that does not work for you try using culling. I didn't find anything good on that either. I orderd a book on Amazon Carla Emery's Old fahioned recipe book (an encyclopedia of country living)Learned alot from this book!

Why would you use the word culling?

Culling is merely the act of removing inferior individuals from the herd or flock. It could be for many reasons, sickness, injury, or lack of breed characteristics.
The word is often used incorrectly. Culling does not mean killing, although the words sound similar. Culled animals may be killed, but that is not implicit within the definition. Culled animals may be sold, given away, auctioned, or disposed of in any other way in which one would dispose of an animal, including but not necessarily killing.

If you used the word culling, and got any hits on your search, you'd be starting out on a site who's contributors already aren't clear on what they're talking about. I'd prefer to get some more factual information.

Wow, Patrick! Life must be cold, clear and unforgiving in New Hampster.

Actually it's weirdly warm and wet in New Hampster.
But George Bush says global warming doesn't exsist so it must be so.

As far as butchering birds back yard chickens has a meat bird forum. Lot of those people do other animals so they might be able to answer other questions.

I've done it. Not a favorite job by a long shot but it feels good going into winter with a freezer full of meat.

Here is a link that might be useful: backyard chickens

I need to know how to get my DH to NOT name the chickens, it's so much harder to kill one when she's named Tippy or Muffin than to just go out and kill the white one or the brown one. My chickens are all so old now, they'll probably be too tough to eat anyway. Since they all have names, I guess we are running a rest home for hens. Cheryl

Just don't let him name anything that is meant to be meat.
I have my pet and egg girls and then the meat birds. I keep them sorted in my mind. The meat birds where only refered to by the collective name "McNuggets". The pet birds all have their own names.I don't watch the meat birds closely and learn their personality quirks or let myself notice anything that will identify them as individuals.

I have a series of books called "Foxfire." They are full of information on all tasks associated with simple farm / country living. They were written as a school project in the 1960's and have risen to "cult-like" popularity.

They have everything from Corn-shucking to canning. There are several sections in Volumes 1 -3 on killing, skinning and preserving meat.

I actually used this book to build my stone foreplace in our house. The fireplace works so well...you can barely stand it in the living room when it is blazin' with a few sticks of hedge in it.

They are also filled with tales / stories from the mountain people of North Carolina. I wouldn't take $1,000 for any of the ones I got. These are a must for any homesteader or "farmer/do-it-yourselfer."

Brian