A butchering question

[Werforpsu]

I don't think a pellet gun is appropriate.  Either use a hatchet or cut the head off with a knife.

Just out of curiosity: why do you think a pellet gun is inappropriate? (assuming a person is a good shot and death is instant).

 

[donrae]

I was pressed for time on my other answer, I'll give a little more input here....

My Honey is also a hunter, and grew up roaming the local vineyard with a pellet gun to control the rat population. He's a very good shot

He did dispatch our birds for a few years with a pellet gun. We're not allowed to shoot "real" guns where we live, so pellet it was. This wasn't large batches of meat birds, this was a few overflow cockerels now and then.

As I said, it's a small, unpredictable target. If you can drop the first one with no fuss, the rest don't get too riled up. But if the first one does the flop, you're going to have a ruckus in the pen and have to wait until they settle to get another good shot.

Getting a bad shot...well, we all know that's not a great thing. You're going to have a knife anyway for butchering, so it will be available if you need to slit a throat or decapitate after a bad shot.

I had no problems with this method, except I had to rely on my Honey being available to help me butcher. I decided last spring to learn to do it myself. He's a great shot---I'm okay but knew I could never be this accurate. So, I use a milk jug and a sharp knife.

Like so many other things with birds, I say try it and see how it works for you. It may be the best way ever, it may be not so much. Honestly, the bird's going to wind up dead either way, and you'll learn what you want to do next time.

 

[prescott14]

My husband is a great shot, he tried once and that was the last time. They are not stupid and it's wrong to mame them and not kill them right away. Watch some of the u tube videos, they show some good techniques. We cut there heads off, it's ready quick and the bird doesn't suffer!

 

[taunya1979]

We use an axe hold them by the feet and lay their head on the tree stump/chopping block n chop. I have never missed and hubby is new to butchering so he just did what I always did shrug whatever works for you guys