DH's way of doing the deed.

[Bossroo]

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Does long board = baseball bat?

No, long board means long board.

It's actually a 2X2 that's 6ft. long.

FORE !!! Watch out Woods.

 

[darkmatter]

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If the DH is doing it, it must be the right way. I'm a DH, but the Missus says the "D" doesn't stand for Dear.

 

[Winsor Woods]

I don't have any "humane" problems with this method for dispatching the chicken. There are other benefits of cutting the jugular and letting the chicken bleed out, though. A properly bled out chicken lasts longer in storage and I think they taste better. If you're going to eat the chickens soon after processing, it's not really an issue. If you want them to keep in the freezer for a few months before you eat them, you may want to bleed them out. Try some both ways and see what you think. Make sure to properly label the ones you put in the freezer so you can compare the bled chicken to the "Whacked" chickens.

Dan

 

[drunkdog]

and I am guessing the 6foot length eliminates much of the need to chase chickens around

 

[Wolfwoman]

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[PunkinPeep]

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I'm not trying to hijack this post, but i have personally completely lost my stomach for jugular bleeding (as opposed to strait beheading). I've watched too many chickens hang there, looking around for 2 to 3 minutes. I can't handle that. Beheading is instant and sure.

 

[trilyn]

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I'm not trying to hijack this post, but i have personally completely lost my stomach for jugular bleeding (as opposed to strait beheading). I've watched too many chickens hang there, looking around for 2 to 3 minutes. I can't handle that. Beheading is instant and sure.

Oh, that's nasty, yeah-I think I'd be beheading too!!

Hey, if the board works-why knock it? I think I'd be worried only if the chicken is running around the yard with a dazed look and a bump on the head! If its out cold and then you chop the head off or whatever, seems like it'd be fine to me!

 

[kathyinmo]

I read a thread here on BYC a while back .... I think it was someone from England (?) told about how they do it. The first thing they do is to hold the chicken by the legs and then they use much force and swing the head into a wall (or building or something). This knocks them out before the kill, I think they said.

 

[dancingbear]

Kathy, I wonder if that was the guy I remember, he was in one of the Scandinavian countries. He said to be legal where he is, he's required "to faint them first." (I think he may have been using translator software, that doesn't quite get the nuances of language.) Does that sound familiar?

If so, he posted a video on You Tube, and showed how he did it. I was impressed, and not sure I could be as quick, or as coordinated. Maybe somebody else will remember the guy's name and maybe have a link to the video.

I'm thinking I'll try hanging them up by the feet like I usually do, but hit them on the back of the head and try to knock them out before I cut anything. I have 8 to process this week, I might do a couple this evening. I slaughter outside, then bring them inside to finish, so sometimes I slaughter a few just before dark. That way I get to work inside where it's cool. Or in the winter, where it's warm.

Today I've been doing garden stuff, and taking my cooling off breaks on the computer.

 

[kathyinmo]

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That could be what I am thinking about.