Emotional support needed to kill mean rooster

[BigBlueHen53]

Cheater....... I don't blame ya.

I know, I know. Surgeries in both shoulders, a torn tendon in one leg, fibromyalgia and a special-needs grandson. I'm such a wimp. I can't swing an axe anymore or even throw a football or swing a hammer worth.... worth .. well, chicken poop! But, hey, baby, I bake a MEAN cookie!

 

[Viksceeks]

Well I am going to throw out my alternative method here, which I use because I am not only old but also a bit decrepit so none of the methods described here work for me. I've described it before, but here goes. I load up my extra cockerels or roos into a dog crate and haul them to a local Mennonite lady who processes them for me at $1 a head. I pick them up in the afternoon dressed and ready (she says) to go in the freezer, but I rest them in the fridge a couple of days first instead. I definitely don't have to look them them in the eye and I'm in no danger of losing a finger. I don't have the strength or stamina at this point to gut and pluck so this method works for me. If you're unable to do the deed yourself, I feel there is no shame in hiring it out to someone skilled, qualified and experienced to do it properly. (As my body heals and strengthens, I do plan to ask Mrs. W if she'll teach me how, as some day I would like to be able to do it myself, though.)

I have thought of this but our local person is 5$ a head. If I ever get to processing, that will add up way to fast

 

[ShannonR]

I have thought of this but our local person is 5$ a head. If I ever get to processing, that will add up way to fast

I saw an ad on Craigslist about a week ago, someone offering up $5 per head for someone to butcher ducks. Ducks are harder to pluck, first off... they better have a plucker, or no dice. I briefly considered taking the job but at $5 per head but with no plucker that ultimately comes out to less than state minimum wage. And I am experienced, I can't imagine how long it would take someone with less experience to hand pluck and gut 20 ducks.

$5 is cheap, butchering is a LOT of work if you are hand plucking. Just saying, I wouldn't do it that cheap.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Keep a pan of rapidly boiling water to drop the body in hold onto the feet makes plucking easier now I have arthritis in my hands skinning also works

 

[ShannonR]

Keep a pan of rapidly boiling water to drop the body in hold onto the feet makes plucking easier now I have arthritis in my hands skinning also works

I know the drill. The meat chickens are easiest to pluck by far. If the water is already hot I can do 3 in just about an hour, from killing to plucking and finishing. I am particular about getting every last pinfeather, lol. Ducks though, not so much... they tend to take me a lot more time to pluck.

I have tried skinning them and decided it is a pain. A partial skin-job is sometimes convenient, though. It's getting every last bit of skin off that I find difficult. Interestingly, I find it easier to skin bigger animals with thicker hides such as deer or hogs

 

[EggWalrus]

Easiest is cone hold then take put bird upside down in cone this hold them from flopping use ax or knife to cut head off you can use plywood to build a cone even then you have it

You can use any old piece of sheet metal that you can roll up, or I've even used a traffic cone with the top cut off.
Or you can use the oldest tried and true method. find a stump or even a large hunk of firewood. Nail 2 16d nails in it at a slight "V", about half inch apart. The nails hold his head and neck stretched out so you don't chop off your fingers. Hold him upside down by the feet with your left hand till he mellows out, have your hatchet or ax in your right. Then while holding his feet with your left, put his neck between the nails and pull back just so he can't get loose. Then do the deed with your right hand. I usually have a 5 gal bucket to drop the carcass in so it doesn't run around like a chicken with its head chopped off. Once the head is off, they feel no pain. The head bleeds out in about a second and it's all over so there's no long suffering before loss of consciousness.
First time can be hard but every one after it gets easier, and you can even practice cutting it up with a store bought fryer.



The meaner the Roo
The sweeter the stew!

 

[EggWalrus]

There is no humane way to kill an animal. He isn't being mean, he is probably just being a good rooster and trying to protect his hens. Why not bring him to your local animal shelter?

So they can get a free chicken dinner? No thanks.

 

[Viksceeks]

I might just go with having someone process it. I need him gone like yesterday and the longer I contemplate doing it the harder it's getting ‍ maybe if I can sweet talk my husband to helping me I could do it, I just don't like handling him period. He's a big old meany

 

[slordaz]

I might just go with having someone process it. I need him gone like yesterday and the longer I contemplate doing it the harder it's getting ‍ maybe if I can sweet talk my husband to helping me I could do it, I just don't like handling him period. He's a big old meany

you don't think about it you just do it, being a meany is a good reason to do it catch him with hubby's fishing net oif need be and pull him out by his feet and shouldn't be to much of a problem.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You could also wait till after he's gone to roost of an evening. A lot easier than a daytime chase. Whatever you decide to do, good luck to you, we wish you well.