Chicken diagnosis - probably easy for you guys . . . ?

[Prairie Mary]

Ok Silkie, Guess I need to go to the next step and learn how to do the dirty deed. I helped my family butcher chickens years ago but never had to do the killing myself. My brother did the ax method but I read in the Storey book that that's not the best. Guess I'll think about it. She's probably not big enough to eat since she feels like your pictures look. I hand raised them all so I don't know if I could eat her or not. The girls free range so she's probably tough anyway. You suppose?
Thanks again.

 

[silkiechicken]

In general, I tend to say not to eat any bird who isn't healthy for your own health as when one thing goes wrong, it is likly a combination of things, and the open doors for infections/parasites to also take a hold.

Since she is older, doing your first time at cervical dislocation might not be easiest, but basically you pull the head from the neck fast and hard as to break it. The axe method is acceptable as it does quickly cause an end but does tend to get blood everywhere. You may check out the meat bird section for ways to best cull. I would just break the neck myself.

Methods involving gassing with DIY ways IMHO are inhumane so I would avoid them as there is no point to add 30 seconds to 5 minutes of undue stress when it can be done in a second with a swift off of the head or breaking of the neck.

Good luck.