Does the killing get easier ?

[dirtyshoes]

it shouldnt get easier really. its just the price you have to pay to have a real chicken on the table. if its worth it to you then its worth it and that makes it doable. If you want a real tomato— there's a price there too— it just a different currency.
If you dont want to kill and you dont mind eating flavorless chick then head on over to the store and pick one up. If you careabout flavor— pay the price. once you do its hard to go back.
Culling for sick birds should be thought of as compassionate. culling roosters? well if youre keeping pets and they are not working as pets then take them somewhere give them away if you cant deal with the alternative, but part of giving them up is giving them up. if somewants to eat it and is willing to take that on then thats their biz not yours.
Just as I wouldnt have you raise my pets —I wouldnt have you butcher my meal.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I wouldn't say it ever gets easier - more like you get used it. Once the actual "deed" is done it becomes just a chore to us. Like others have said you need to do your part and make it quick as possible.

Steve in NC

 

[jjparke]

I think even animal lovers eventually lose patience with roosters. And yes it gets easier every time.

 

[giasmom]

Quote:
Now thats a nice (but differant) outlook on the whole subject, I like that way of thinking ( I think) !

 

[giasmom]

Thanks to everyone for your replys, I thought this thread was long ago dead. I still have yet to kill for the food. I have had to cull a few chicks for other reasons. I was okay with it.

 

[Buster52]

Could it get easier? I'm not sure how it could.

Yesterday was my first experience processing birds as an adult. The last time I participated in the killing of chickens for food it was as an 8 year old child, so I was dreading this. One of the roosters I was actually quite fond of.

However, fellow BYCer Al "Real Men Can Cook" al6517 came to walk and talk me through the steps. There were three roosters, he did the first and explained the process from preparation to butcher all the way through to brining a bird. I did the second and he walked me through it beginning to end, and made sure I did the third one correctly.

I was so focused on the process and doing it right (probably why we call it processing) that the part I most feared was a mere step on the way. I used an axe, so it was a quick, humane death. Once dead, the bird became not a living bird but food to prepare for the table, emotionally no different from the actual cooking process. It was all over before I knew it.

I was so pleased with the results that as soon as Al left, I went online and ordered 25 meat birds from Ideal.

So, if anyone else is worried about any of this, I strongly recommend getting someone to assist you who has been there, done that. Or, find someone near you who is getting ready to process some birds and go help them. It is extremely effective.

In fact, I was so impressed with it all that I have solicited a colleague (who is Muslim) to let me go with him next time he plans to buy and butcher a goat, to see if that is something that will work for me, as well.

I have a very strong emotional incentive for all of this, though. I just know too much about factory farming, too disgusted with the industrialization of our food. I just can't bring myself to continue to participate in it. It was either this or stop eating meat altogether.

 

[SportTees]

Great idea- have a buddy help

 

[Crickett]

I was very interested to read this and the various answers that people gave. I had to cull one of my Buffs when she was attacked by a wild animal and got her legs chewed off. It was very emotional for me, but I knew it had to be done. She was suffering so. Anyway, I have several "extra" roos that I have been considering for freezer camp. I think I could handle the plucking and gutting part, it's the killing that I'm held up on. Perhaps I'll just take them to the butcher's and let them handle it. Coward's way, but at least I know they had a decent life. Then again, I suppose i could get myself psyched up and do it myself. I'm looking forward to my own turkey dinner this year!

 

[jaku]

I'd say it gets easier after you figure out what you're doing- it goes MUCH smoother!

 

[Lu King]

I don't think I could kill anything, unless it was dying and obviously in pain. My husband is just about ready to kill a lot of extremely mean roosters. I don't know if he actually means it or not. And I have a relative who has never killed anything, but said she would do it for me.