I have tried the shears and I think they would work if the curve of the blade was steeper and longer. The necks tend to pop out of the blade is what I have found.
Answering for BC it holds the neck out so you don't chop your leg off. I have used it. It is not a bad way. You hold the legs or have them tied together so you can hang it to bleed..
I am also not a fan of the killing cone. I will try it this year with a PVC pipe clippers and see how it happens.
I did not keep feed records, as that was not my goal.
I had two goals a larger thigh and leg (dark meat ratio to white meat) and longer life spans so they can breed on their own. I have gotten it. I have 2 friends here in Minnesota with flocks of these now. We are going to make one more...