Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Well, turkey processing day finally rolled around! We raised three big white turkeys this year—two toms and a hen—and boy, did they turn out great. Instead of keeping them whole, we tried something new: skinning and parting them out right away. It was so much faster and cleaner, and there wasn’t that heavy “harvest day” smell hanging around afterward. By the end, we had about forty-five pounds of turkey ready for the freezer—legs, thighs, breasts, and even ground meat. You’ll hear us chatting about catching salmon at the cabin, getting our first deer, and what we plan to do with all this meat.
Our favorite vacuum sealer: amzn.to/3X5iSjY
Small Bags: amzn.to/4qEQrab
Large Bags: amzn.to/4oLB3qG
Favorite Boning Knife: amzn.to/48TONeB
The turkeys were calm, easy to raise, and honestly, great company out back. We’ll definitely be doing this again in a couple of years... but for tonight, no turkey on the menu.
---------------
👕 Shop Our Merch: bonfire.com/store/1870smerch
🌻 HOSS Garden Tools & Seeds: shrsl.com/33ehp (Promo Code SHOP1870 for free seeds!)
🌱 MIGardener: migardener.com/1870
🌺 GREENSTALK Vertical Gardens: greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870 (Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
🥫 FORJARS Canning Lids: forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911228.45BY9FFxdg (Promo Code SHOP1870 to get 10% off)
🍃 HARVEST Right Freeze Dryers: affiliates.harvestright.com/1182.html
🔦 OLIGHT Flashlights: bit.ly/3z6daku (Promo Code SHOP1870 for 10% off!)
🛒 Our Favorite AMAZON Finds: amzn.to/3ihSgZP
---------------
Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
Pinterest: pinterest.com/that1870s
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
---------------
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
---------------
00:00 Intro and setup for turkey processing day
00:56 Harvest recap and turkey details
01:16 How we processed turkeys differently this year
02:49 Why skinning made everything easier and cleaner
03:12 Cooling and sorting the turkey meat
04:53 Salmon and deer harvest stories from the same weekend
06:18 Talking with the processor and first deer experience
07:23 Smoking and canning salmon plans
10:06 Prepping turkey breasts for Thanksgiving and everyday meals
13:27 Grinding turkey for ground meat and sausage
15:21 Final meat totals and reflections on the harvest
17:32 Why raising turkeys is worth it
18:34 Lessons learned and future turkey plans
19:27 Wrap up and closing thoughts
Well, turkey processing day finally rolled around! We raised three big white turkeys this year—two toms and a hen—and boy, did they turn out great. Instead of keeping them whole, we tried something new: skinning and parting them out right away. It was so much faster and cleaner, and there wasn’t that heavy “harvest day” smell hanging around afterward. By the end, we had about forty-five pounds of turkey ready for the freezer—legs, thighs, breasts, and even ground meat. You’ll hear us chatting about catching salmon at the cabin, getting our first deer, and what we plan to do with all this meat.
Our favorite vacuum sealer: amzn.to/3X5iSjY
Small Bags: amzn.to/4qEQrab
Large Bags: amzn.to/4oLB3qG
Favorite Boning Knife: amzn.to/48TONeB
The turkeys were calm, easy to raise, and honestly, great company out back. We’ll definitely be doing this again in a couple of years... but for tonight, no turkey on the menu.
---------------
👕 Shop Our Merch: bonfire.com/store/1870smerch
🌻 HOSS Garden Tools & Seeds: shrsl.com/33ehp (Promo Code SHOP1870 for free seeds!)
🌱 MIGardener: migardener.com/1870
🌺 GREENSTALK Vertical Gardens: greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870 (Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
🥫 FORJARS Canning Lids: forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911228.45BY9FFxdg (Promo Code SHOP1870 to get 10% off)
🍃 HARVEST Right Freeze Dryers: affiliates.harvestright.com/1182.html
🔦 OLIGHT Flashlights: bit.ly/3z6daku (Promo Code SHOP1870 for 10% off!)
🛒 Our Favorite AMAZON Finds: amzn.to/3ihSgZP
---------------
Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
Pinterest: pinterest.com/that1870s
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
---------------
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
---------------
00:00 Intro and setup for turkey processing day
00:56 Harvest recap and turkey details
01:16 How we processed turkeys differently this year
02:49 Why skinning made everything easier and cleaner
03:12 Cooling and sorting the turkey meat
04:53 Salmon and deer harvest stories from the same weekend
06:18 Talking with the processor and first deer experience
07:23 Smoking and canning salmon plans
10:06 Prepping turkey breasts for Thanksgiving and everyday meals
13:27 Grinding turkey for ground meat and sausage
15:21 Final meat totals and reflections on the harvest
17:32 Why raising turkeys is worth it
18:34 Lessons learned and future turkey plans
19:27 Wrap up and closing thoughts
