I processed a Polish roo this morning. He was becoming a problem and either I'd have to do it or someone else would. I really didn't want to do it. The poor guy hatched alone (though under a broody) and never fit in to the flock. He was kept from eating as much as he should have by them and terrorized often. He was skittish as he could be yet a jerk, too. From the time he was a week old, if he could, he'd rush at anyone. I got a couple new hens a week ago and he's been terrorizing them. So he just had to go. Never could find a home for him as a breeder, and he wasn't good quality anyway.
What I didnt' expect is that in the end, it didn't bother me. I caught him and held him and he put his head under my arm and relaxed right away, as if to say "Ahhh I never got this before, protect me!" And I cried. And cried. Don't get me wrong, I've processed chickens before. But this guy made the waterworks start. I just felt so BAD for him! So I said a prayer for him, that he never know the loneliness again that he did in this life, put him in a kill cone, waited for him to be calm, then cut his jugular and let him slip away peacefully. Crying all the while.
But once he was gone, I felt really good that I'd held him and talked to him beforehand and preparing him for eating didn't bother me one bit. That really surprised me. But maybe that's because I've done this before. My first one I ever did bothered me. I could barely eat it. This guy though, all I can think of now is how good he'll be.
So yes, it is kind of sad, but they had a good life and were treated with kindness and respect, unlike their commercially raised cousins. Like Saladin says, "My birds only have one bad day."
This is why I won't process my own birds, I know I will never be able to eat them if I do the dirty work.
