For the vegetarians here, don't read this.
I had a disturbing thing happen to me this morning. I had selected 4 cockerels for processing and had them in their own building and pen for a few weeks to soften up their muscles and give them some flavor. One had gotten out and went with his old flock so I decided to butcher the other three this morning.
I went out just before dawn about 6 to pull them off the roost. Carried them one at a time to the killing cone and did the deed. I had to go to Lowe's for a propane tank refill for the turkey fryer (aka scalder). So after I bled out the last one and heard him flopping in the cone I got in the car and left.
Last night was pool night so wife had to lock them up. When I returned from lowes, there was a rooster running around in the yard but I hadn't let any birds out yet. I first thought one didn't get in when she locked up last night. I looked at the cone and there was no rooster head hanging out of it.
The one I killed was out running around after (I thought) had bled out. I thought I'd never catch him again before night fall.
He still had the noose around his neck that I use to maneuver their huge combs and wattles into my homemade cone. I threw him some scratch and grabbed the 'leash'.
I picked him up and calmed him walking around for a half hour petting him and talking to him. Trying to get the lactic acid dissipated.
Finally I finished the job.
In my defense it was still dark out this morning and my flashlight showed a steady stream of blood into the compost and I heard the steady splash.
