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Do you slaughter your birds in front of the flock?

Poll Results: Do you slaughter your birds in front of the flock?

 
  • 46% (22)
    Yes
  • 53% (25)
    No
47 Total Votes  
post #1 of 54
7/3/12 at 5:35pm
Thread Starter 

I'm about ready to slaughter a bunch of meaties and it would be much easier to process them near the hen house. This seems like it could be cruel but I have no experience with this. What do you all do/think?

3 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Silkies, 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Americauna, 2 Iowa Blues, 1 Black Copper Marans, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Black Sexlink, 10 mix chickens, 3 Pekins, 3 Black Runners, 1 Blue Runner

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3 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Silkies, 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Americauna, 2 Iowa Blues, 1 Black Copper Marans, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Black Sexlink, 10 mix chickens, 3 Pekins, 3 Black Runners, 1 Blue Runner

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post #2 of 54
7/3/12 at 6:03pm

I don't slaughter anywhere near the flock.  When I was a kid (that's quite a while ago), I was given the job of dispatching a crate of chickens for processing.  As I approached the 'chopping block' with the fourth or fifth chicken, she started screaming and struggling.  I felt that for sure she knew what was coming - I released her.  Since then I have always dispatched birds out of the line of vision of the others.  Just a personal preference on my part.

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
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Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
post #3 of 54
7/3/12 at 6:48pm

I used to worry about that sort of thing. I was afraid I would upset the rest of the birds, so I would even hide those waiting for departure out of sight.

 

No more. The birds watch with something more like curiosity, up to the point of putting them in the cone, they just sort of watch me slit the bird next to them. Now my layers are my cleanup crew, snatching every little piece that falls off the processing table and fighting over it.

 

Gruesome creatures, chickens.

"There are too many books in the world to read in a single lifetime; you have to draw the line somewhere." --Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

What I'm reading now:  Bullspotting: Finding Facts in the Age of Misinformation, by Loren Collins.

 

 

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"There are too many books in the world to read in a single lifetime; you have to draw the line somewhere." --Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

What I'm reading now:  Bullspotting: Finding Facts in the Age of Misinformation, by Loren Collins.

 

 

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post #4 of 54
7/3/12 at 7:26pm

If it has to happen, it's away from the main henhouse.  It happens in the backyard close to the kitchen, and only once every couple weeks or so, if that. 

Nevertheless, they ARE free-range and a certain nosy individual nicknamed Speckles thought that the blood bucket was her business a couple of weeks ago.  She seemed to enjoy it....never mind the Jersey Giant roo that just met his demise.

They don't have any moral compunctions about the situation.  Neither did our paleolithic ancestors......
 


Edited by partsRheavy - 7/3/12 at 7:28pm

I used to work in an auto parts factory, which is the reason for my handle.  Chickens aren't as heavy, but they're much more entertaining than auto parts!!

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I used to work in an auto parts factory, which is the reason for my handle.  Chickens aren't as heavy, but they're much more entertaining than auto parts!!

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post #5 of 54
7/3/12 at 9:19pm
Thread Starter 

I'm leaning towards trying it with them watching the horror show and see how they react. The few that I have killed have been away from the flock but it was an inconvenient place to do it. Thanks for the replies. :)

3 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Silkies, 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Americauna, 2 Iowa Blues, 1 Black Copper Marans, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Black Sexlink, 10 mix chickens, 3 Pekins, 3 Black Runners, 1 Blue Runner

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3 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Silkies, 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Americauna, 2 Iowa Blues, 1 Black Copper Marans, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Black Sexlink, 10 mix chickens, 3 Pekins, 3 Black Runners, 1 Blue Runner

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post #6 of 54
7/3/12 at 9:30pm

I vote for no...please don't do it in front of the others 

Super Lucky Mom to 1 chihuahua (Penny), 1 toy poodle (Auggie), 2 cats (Kitty and Paddlepaws), 1 parakeet (Tweety) and 1 Maximillian Pionus (Peanut) plus 2 human kids! Wife to 1 very loving and understanding husband!! 1 Black Australorp (Velvet); 1 Salmon Faverolles (Junie B); 1 Splash Marans (Alice); and 1 super sweet Buff Brahma (Peaches) RIP Peaches 04/23/2012-06/18/2012

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Super Lucky Mom to 1 chihuahua (Penny), 1 toy poodle (Auggie), 2 cats (Kitty and Paddlepaws), 1 parakeet (Tweety) and 1 Maximillian Pionus (Peanut) plus 2 human kids! Wife to 1 very loving and understanding husband!! 1 Black Australorp (Velvet); 1 Salmon Faverolles (Junie B); 1 Splash Marans (Alice); and 1 super sweet Buff Brahma (Peaches) RIP Peaches 04/23/2012-06/18/2012

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post #7 of 54
7/3/12 at 9:35pm

I think that is unnecessary and cruel, to be honest.

Michelle

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Michelle

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post #8 of 54
7/3/12 at 9:37pm

ive never slaughtered a chicken.. but if i had to.. i wouldnt do it in front of them. I dont want them to fear me lol

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post #9 of 54
7/3/12 at 9:56pm

I always do it in sight of the pen(well, anything is in sight of the pen really) the chickens dont give hoot about watching their kin go. I got a few that play tug of war with me and the dead bird.... they run up and grab either a foot or wing and wont let go.... and of course they are the clean up crew of the blood puddle and any viscera they can get their little beaks on.

 

Remember that chickens dont mind eating one of their own when its still alive just cause it has an injury.

Also what freaks animals such as cow, sheep and pig out when you slaughter anywhere in sight is not that they see their kin die its the smell of blood(instinct, run away from blood or the predator gets you too). Chickens sense of smell is basically non-existent so they dont really care unless I run after them screaming cause they got into the "good organ-meat" bowl and made off with a heart or something thats MINE!

Boothcreek Ranch

proud breeder of LF Leghorns(Black,Partridge/Blue Part, Buff, Silver), LF Black Australorps, LF Ameraucanas(B/B/S, Buff, Silver), Pilgrim Geese, Muscovy Ducks(B/B, Choc), Australian Spotted Ducks, Cortunix Quail(Gold, Wild, Tux, Rosetta- also avail in blue/silver, whites), Ringneck Pheasants, French Red Leg Partridges and Black Shoulder Peafowl. Striving for Exhibition type

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Boothcreek Ranch

proud breeder of LF Leghorns(Black,Partridge/Blue Part, Buff, Silver), LF Black Australorps, LF Ameraucanas(B/B/S, Buff, Silver), Pilgrim Geese, Muscovy Ducks(B/B, Choc), Australian Spotted Ducks, Cortunix Quail(Gold, Wild, Tux, Rosetta- also avail in blue/silver, whites), Ringneck Pheasants, French Red Leg Partridges and Black Shoulder Peafowl. Striving for Exhibition type

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post #10 of 54
7/3/12 at 10:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fancyfowl4ever View Post

I always do it in sight of the pen(well, anything is in sight of the pen really) the chickens dont give hoot about watching their kin go. I got a few that play tug of war with me and the dead bird.... they run up and grab either a foot or wing and wont let go.... and of course they are the clean up crew of the blood puddle and any viscera they can get their little beaks on.

 

Remember that chickens dont mind eating one of their own when its still alive just cause it has an injury.

Also what freaks animals such as cow, sheep and pig out when you slaughter anywhere in sight is not that they see their kin die its the smell of blood(instinct, run away from blood or the predator gets you too). Chickens sense of smell is basically non-existent so they dont really care unless I run after them screaming cause they got into the "good organ-meat" bowl and made off with a heart or something thats MINE!


Wow those crazy chickens!

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Meat Birds ETC › Do you slaughter your birds in front of the flock?