Dispatching Birds - How do you handle it?

[BigBlueHen53]

The post is in the quail forums, so I did assume...

Well, pshaw! That's what I get for posting late at night! I didn't even notice.

<Shuffles off into the night, mumbling to herself >

 

[maycwindu]

Vampiric Conure, I'm a bit of a softie, too; I've never had the draw to hunt and kill anything, so killing isn't learned nor is it intuitive for me. But, I come from a science-y background and love anatomy, so once the thing is dead I really enjoy skinning, gutting, checking out the organs, etc. So, while the killing can be difficult, processing is fine.

Roosters and super aggressive hens are... a different story. When birds upset the peace of the flock, by bullying or mating incessantly, then I answer the bloodshed with bloodshed and kill the bastard. You may find that culling the aggressive ones first is easier and will help prepare you for dispatching the rest.

The way I see it, the birds provide us with eggs and meat, so in turn it is our duty to provide them with food, shelter, and a happy, healthy life. When it is time for their life to end, it is our final duty to the bird to ensure a quick dispatch.

 

[Nabiki]

Vampiric Conure, I'm a bit of a softie, too; I've never had the draw to hunt and kill anything, so killing isn't learned nor is it intuitive for me. But, I come from a science-y background and love anatomy, so once the thing is dead I really enjoy skinning, gutting, checking out the organs, etc. So, while the killing can be difficult, processing is fine.

Roosters and super aggressive hens are... a different story. When birds upset the peace of the flock, by bullying or mating incessantly, then I answer the bloodshed with bloodshed and kill the bastard. You may find that culling the aggressive ones first is easier and will help prepare you for dispatching the rest.

The way I see it, the birds provide us with eggs and meat, so in turn it is our duty to provide them with food, shelter, and a happy, healthy life. When it is time for their life to end, it is our final duty to the bird to ensure a quick dispatch.

I completely agree. That's why I keep my birds in pens on the ground with plenty of space rather than in cages. If they're going to have short lives, at least they'll have good ones.

That's another reason I decided to start raising my own meat. So many of the animals raised for meat have short, miserable lives. I don't want to support that.

 

[Coops Dad]

It's a messy affair but I think that you'll never appreciate the food on your plate until you experience the sacrifice it takes to put it ther. In my estimation, the spilling of blood and taking the life of an animal to provide for your sustenance is a sacred process and should be undertaken as such. I thank God for His provision. Then I take the greatest care to kill the chicken as humanely and as calmly as possible.

Every animal, every time.