Chiller. What are my options?

[Psyxologos]

Hi all. I could use some advice please. I am thinking of getting a chiller, but my problem is that where I want to put it I only have a clearance of about 5' 10'' (1.77m) or so. I realise this is too short for an upright chiller, so my question to you kind folk of Stalking Directory is, will a 'sidewise' (I am not sure what the correct term is) chiller be appropriate for deer? If so, do you have any suggestions? Many thanks in advance...

 

[prometheus]

Ideally you would want to hang the deer in the chiller to and use gravity to let the remaining blood drip from the carcass. However if that's not possible you will have to go with a less than ideal solution, Could you build a chiller outside to accommodate your needs ?

 

[limulus]

You can get 5ft upright fridges.

Something like this p'raps?

 

[Psyxologos]

Thanks gentlemen. I appreciate the advice. I suspect that this 1.44m upright larder fridge is going to be touch and go for an average sized roe though, will it not? This is why I was thinking of one that I can rest the deer on their side. I could potentially have some space outdoors where I could build a chiller, but then we are talking about a lot of money, and I will have to content with the elements and temperature. It is a sticky situation I feel...

 

[Ronin]

The simper option would be to joint the deer - in the case of smaller species like roe you would easily fit a quartered animal in the space you specify.

Or perhaps sever the rear above the pelvis, and hang the halved animal, pretty sure you'd fit it in.

 

[Psyxologos]

The simper option would be to joint the deer - in the case of smaller species like roe you would easily fit a quartered animal in the space you specify.

Or perhaps sever the rear above the pelvis, and hang the halved animal, pretty sure you'd fit it in.

I suppose this could work. My only issue is that I want to hang the deer for a few days before I take it to a butcher to process it for me as I have no larder or the skill to do so myself. I thought it would be easier if I had the whole animal in one piece before I skin it and take it to the butcher for processing...

 

[limulus]

Go to a best practice day and learn to butcher it yourself....its very easy once you've seen it done and had a practice or 10.
If not you could build a simple lean to in the yard and put a drink chiller type fridge in that.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

You can hang the roe from the pelvic bone using a large 'S' hook. Then the back legs drop down and save at least a foot in hanging height. I use the same method in my walk-in chiller which is only 2m tall and I have hung a 300lb red stag in there successfully suspended with its neck just above the floor.
MS

 

[devon deer stalker]

I built this outside, as can be seen i can get a fallow in it, if its a red i section it up.
(Distortion in photo caused by my gopro camera)

Cheers
Richard

 

[danpd]

If its for your own use and processing then a horizontal fridge, or a quartered carcass would be fine. If you are intending to sell the whole carcasses then the dealer/butcher will curse you, as to be butchered properly and efficiently the beast needs to take on a certain shape or set whilst hanging.

 

[Psyxologos]

Once again, thanks for all your answers. Indeed, it will be for my own consumption. I have no plans to sell any game to a dealer etc. Building a chiller outside is probably not that easy, as I am confined by space and as I said earlier, the weather elements and the cost might be forbidding. I think my best bet is a horizontal fridge which I can have in my cellar. I now need to find one that is reasonably priced but able to do what I need it to do. Any suggestions anyone?

 

[I. Farticus]

Best bet as a first port of call is eBay... I bought a double-door Lucozade fridge off there for £100 delivered! Too tall for your space, but the bargains are there to be had in every shape, size and capacity known to Man

AFTRON AFWK3370 Wine Cabinet/Refrigerator/Fridge | eBay

Cheers
i.

 

[Psyxologos]

Best bet as a first port of call is eBay... I bought a double-door Lucozade fridge off there for £100 delivered! Too tall for your space, but the bargains are there to be had in every shape, size and capacity known to Man

AFTRON AFWK3370 Wine Cabinet/Refrigerator/Fridge | eBay

Cheers
i.

Many thanks. I shall have a look. All the best!

 

[willowbank]

I suppose this could work. My only issue is that I want to hang the deer for a few days before I take it to a butcher to process it for me as I have no larder or the skill to do so myself. I thought it would be easier if I had the whole animal in one piece before I skin it and take it to the butcher for processing...

Hi If you are taking it to a local butcher will he not hang it for you, offer him an extra fiver, I may have been lucky but my butcher hangs ours for 21 days then joints them.

ATB WB

 

[Psyxologos]

Hi If you are taking it to a local butcher will he not hang it for you, offer him an extra fiver, I may have been lucky but my butcher hangs ours for 21 days then joints them.

ATB WB

He told me they have a no fur or feather policy, so it has to be skinned. I cannot hang it if I skin it, can I? I thought it has to be hang with its cape on...

 

[david1976]

He told me they have a no fur or feather policy, so it has to be skinned. I cannot hang it if I skin it, can I? I thought it has to be hang with its cape on...

I hang mine skin off, I find them ever so slightly easier to cut this way and customers have never complained.

 

[Tom_Ov]

I wouldn't give up on an upright fridge if I was you - I have a Bosch larder fridge that I bought off the 'bay for £50. It's 153 cm tall. With the shelves out, I can hang a fallow pricket in it and that's without any modification, just wedging a bar across the top shelf holders. As Mr. Spanker says, hanging via the aitch bone saves a lot of space.

The Bosch fridges have an internal fan as well, so are well suited to the purpose.

 

[Psyxologos]

WOW! many thanks for that. To be honest, I much prefer to have a chiller indoors, and an upright one seems to be the best option. Now that I know there is a space saving technique like that, I am definitely will be keeping my eyes open for one of these...