Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[ronott1]

A problem with re bar would be the tendency to decapitate the chicken. I have done that before and it is quite messy

 

[rebrascora]

I have accidentally decapitated before using a broom shank and didn't find it particularly messy at all. I would certainly encourage you not to be afraid of that outcome as it is better to pull too hard rather than not hard enough, particularly if you are doing surplus cockerels at 16+ weeks as oppose to 6-10 week Cornish X, as their ligaments and sinews are much tougher.

 

[Kusanar]

I wonder if you could make a device that would do it... Say a board with a notch cut into it for the neck to rest in, then the bar on a hinge, so you lay the bird down and put the bar in place, then pull once standing on the bar. You could even do it with one foot on the bar since the bar is hinged...

They make something similar for rabbits that hangs on the wall.

 

[BantyChooks]

I don't care about messy---I just want the bird dead as fast as possible. Thanks for the input, all, I quite appreciate it.

 

[BantyChooks]

I have accidentally decapitated before using a broom shank and didn't find it particularly messy at all. I would certainly encourage you not to be afraid of that outcome as it is better to pull too hard rather than not hard enough, particularly if you are doing surplus cockerels at 16+ weeks as oppose to 6-10 week Cornish X, as their ligaments and sinews are much tougher.

The birds I need to do in are x-large 1 yr old cocks, so yeah, pretty tough.

 

[RUNuts]

Afraid you get the Goldilocks' answer. Not too hard & not too soft. Find one just right. I'd imagine too hard is better.

One quick movement. Step & pull. Imagine pulling your pants up after having been caught with them down.

 

[BantyChooks]

I ended up doing those birds the regular way, but I processed some more today and tried the broomstick. It worked fantastic! I'm never going back to decapitation again.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I ended up doing those birds the regular way, but I processed some more today and tried the broomstick. It worked fantastic! I'm never going back to decapitation again.

Yeah, I definitely prefer the broomstick method. I wouldn't even attempt the decapitation on my own.

 

[BantyChooks]

Also, I did use the length of rebar. The birds didn't exhibit any signs of distress due to weight. I think I had a nice surface for it: deep forest floor made up of many years of pine needles and leaves. The ground sort of bounces when you walk on it, but it wasn't so soft that I couldn't get a good pull on their neck.

 

[BullChick]

It’s time to revive this thread. I’m going to look for answers, but be on the alert for a repeat question or two.