Delicate Question

[gritsar]

Quote:
I don't eat my pets either, but I'm too much of a wuss to do the deed myself. Seriously I would have nightmares for weeks. DH takes them off away from the house and uses a .22 to the head.

Note: The word "cull" literally means to remove or set aside. So in terms of poultry it means to remove from your flock; by re-homing, seperating or killing.

 

[Kassaundra]

So far I have had to cull 2 do to injuries. I have to say I am not a hunter and before those two chickens had never killed anything bigger then a squash bug. The first time I used the slicing the neck while hanging upside down, have to say it was nighmarish!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the most horrible experiences of my life and will never do it again. Next time I did the hachet method, it was extremely difficult to do the deed w/o closing my eyes. It wasn't as horrible as the slicing the neck, but I have decided to get a pellet gun (live in town so no real gun), I figure this will be easier for me to actually do the "deed" as well as have a preditor deterrent (I know it won't kill the main preditors).

 

[SkyWarrior]

I've butchered chickens either because they were meat birds or because they were dying or because they were excess roos. Since I've hunted and cleaned game, dispatching a chicken is relatively easy.

That being said, we use an axe and take the head off. If you do this, have something to hold the wings or you'll deal with a bloody mess.

I understand that there are people who could not eat their pets. I think it depends on the amount of emotional attachment people have with their chickens. I got the chickens for food -- eggs and meat -- unlike my other critters. I wouldn't consider eating my llama, horses, cats or dogs, but that's because I have a different relationship with them. (I also don't consider them food items). I'm not a vegetarian and chickens, geese, turkeys and ducks are all on my menu. I simply am willing to give my birds a good life and a humane death. (Unlike some commercial places.) But that is another topic and one I won't argue about.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
x2 for me.
In my family I am Flock Mistress and this includes any processing (or culling, tho, *knock wood* I haven't had to cull an injured or malformed) falls to me.
I have known all along these birds are for food, but I have relationships with them all, and we have an understanding about our situation. They have good lives and want for nothing (but CORN! all day, every day

I went into chicken-keeping knowing this was a reality, and have spent time learning from people who know what they're doing, which helped a lot.
For me, it is almost a spiritual experience. I hatch them, I tend them, and I send them on to the next thing. I nourish them, they nourish me.

 

[Highlander]

Quote:
I have one of those too, I used it the last time I processed my extra boys. The thing I didn't like about it was that I was never 100% sure that they were completely dead because of all the reflex movements afterwards. At least when you use an axe and the body is flapping around you know you haven't made a mistake because the head is still on the block.

 

[moetrout]

I use a hatchet and an old stump as it has been done for many many years. The first is probably hard for most anyone, but after that no biggie. I will eat my pets, can't stand to see it go to waste. Then again I'd eat YOU if we were stranded and I was starving!

 

[7L Farm]

I can kill a deer no problem. Killing something that I hatched & raised is rough. But I do it with quail you just rip their heads off. Chickens I've only killed one thus far & it was a roo. Chopped his head off with an axs.

 

[Impress]

Quote:
You scare me.

 

[Ridgerunner]

To me, the most humane way is the way that you can do it sure and quick, especially sure. If you live in suburbia with kids and other people around, you obviously cannot use a .22 if you are a responsible person, but in certain circumstances, it is fine. I'd suggest a small shotgun if you are not that confident in geting a clean kill with a .22. If you have the body strength and are familiar with an ax or hatchet, that may be the best method. Wringing the neck works. So does the broomstick method. For some the killing cone is a good method. And there are many other methods. But the main thing is how you can actually do the deed without closing your eyes, flinching, or doing something that injures the bird instead of quickly killing it. Sure and quick.

 

[write2caroline]

Yes, I think it is good knowledge to have in the event that you do need it. We had a dog attack and my hen was hurt. I had a feeling she was not going to make it and I felt she needed to be put down but my family wanted to see if she would pull through. Well, she did not and I think it would have been far kinder to put her down fast.

If you hold them upside down they relax and the deed is not so gory.

Caroline