Culling my roosters tonight...

[lauranickerson]

I plan on keeping three out of the ten I have. I have some questions,

The keepers are 1, a pretty Production Red. He's talkative, hasn't seemed very human aggressive. Kind of hard to catch, but I can have him within a couple minutes.

2, the nicest Black Sex Link roo I have. He's the fullest, has the best barring, and seems pretty gentle. He is sooo hard to catch. I'm going to name him The Flash because he is so stinkin' fast.

3, a Golden Laced Sebright. This little guy is only a few weeks old, but I can tell he's a "he" when comparing him to the two others I have with him.

My question is: I feel like I might have a few nicer roosters than the ones I plan on keeping, but they aren't as pretty, and I want to hatch some barnyard mixes in the future and want the best looking chicks I can get.

Is this wrong thinking? I don't think they would ever intentionally try to hurt me, but on the other hand, those other few are nice, too. Then again, I have some mean ones that I don't feel bad about eating as much.


This is my first cull. Any words of wisdom on how to make this emotionally easier? The butchering will be no problem, but actually killing them is what I am worried about. I've never intentionally killed anything before.

I'm being a sissy, I know.

 

[katbriar]

Don't feel like you are being a sissy- let it motivate you to figure out how to butcher as well as you can. I find that people who are afraid or even think they can't are more afraid of doing it "wrong" than anything.

I don't have any advice on deciding which to keep. But we just put three cornish x in the fridge so butchering is fresh on my mind.

We used a cone and a very sharp knife. In fact when my husband sliced his finger on the first cut he saw it happen but didn't feel a thing. I was sorry he cut himself, but glad to know that if he didn't feel it the birds wouldn't either.

Good luck with your birds- spend time planning and it will be alright.

 

[lauranickerson]

I think I'll just stick with the roosters I've planned on keeping. I'd hate to change my mind now after investing time into holding them and getting them more used to me.

I might pick up a sharp knife on the way home. The only method we have at the moment is an axe and a wood stump. I'd rather do the knife and cone because I really don't want them to suffer, even if they are mean. Lol. And if I can't get in before they close, I'll postpone.

I want to learn how to butcher very much. If I cared THAT much, I'd pay for it to get done, but that just raises the cost of my own meat. I'd like to be able to do ducks and rabbits someday, but I'll start with chickens.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[katbriar]

You'll be a pro in no time and proud of yourself for being so capable.

I found a pattern and instructions for making a killing cone out of metal flashing on this site and Internet. First one took about 45 minutes to make. The second about 30. I used short bolts with the heads to the inside because I didn't want to buy a rivet gun. Lots cheaper.

I'm still learning too- I've only done about a dozen birds in three batches. My first was with an old timer that liked to use the axe. I'm glad I tried another method. It think the sharp knife is easier, quieter and cleaner. And there's less to go wrong.

 

[missaudrey]

how did it go? I have 10 cornish x I'm considering doing instead of paying, but am scared of the kill as well. I also read that people have used those orange cones (road construction type) to put them instead of the metal cone

 

[lauranickerson]

I didn't do it yet because I wanted to pick up a cone and a sharp knife, but Tractor Supply was closed when I got out of work. I'm planning on heading there tonight and hopefully doing it within the next couple days.

That's a good idea about the road cone! I never even thought of that. Not sure where I'd get one of those, but might be worth looking around for...

Still nervous, but I think it might get better after the first few.

 

[mapleman3]

We Processed our first Roo last night... 15 week old White Leghorn, it went surprisingly easy, My wife and I both worked on the DE feathering and de gutting, she used to work in a kitchen so she did a great job cleaning up the carcass and prepping it for the fridge to rest.

I just ordered a Swedish knife on Amazon today as the knife I was using although brand new, just wasn't sharp enough to make it easier

We will process 2 more on Thursday once my knife arrives !

Jim and Charlene

 

[crazypoultrychx]

we did our first butchering with our ducks and I was not impressed with the cone.....we used it first and it took too long for her to stop.....the second time we did it we used a very sharp hatchet and it was much more effective as we covered the birds eyes and it was very calm.....we then used the cone to hold the body and contain the blood in a bucket below.....good luck.....and no you are not a sissy.......I let my hubby take care of the first one with no knowledge myself of what he was doing.....the second I had to help with and I cried for about 30 min after.......be willing to accept the emotions.....we as women and doing this for my first time as well it was difficult to hand raise something then take its life.....but.....do it as humanely as you can and make sure the birds do not suffer and it will make it easier to deal with...hope it all works out well for you doll..........and dont be afraid to let it out......

 

[lauranickerson]

we did our first butchering with our ducks and I was not impressed with the cone.....we used it first and it took too long for her to stop.....the second time we did it we used a very sharp hatchet and it was much more effective as we covered the birds eyes and it was very calm.....we then used the cone to hold the body and contain the blood in a bucket below.....good luck.....and no you are not a sissy.......I let my hubby take care of the first one with no knowledge myself of what he was doing.....the second I had to help with and I cried for about 30 min after.......be willing to accept the emotions.....we as women and doing this for my first time as well it was difficult to hand raise something then take its life.....but.....do it as humanely as you can and make sure the birds do not suffer and it will make it easier to deal with...hope it all works out well for you doll..........and dont be afraid to let it out......

Thank you. I'm not sure why I haven't done it yet...the timing isn't right to deal with the clean up and everything. I try to tell myself that I'm going to eat meat anyways, so might as well be my own that I know was treated well and had a good life.

 

[mapleman3]

Last night We ate our roo that we processed on Monday, some herbs and slow roasting he was great