First Processing.... Traumatic Experience.

[Uly235]

I officially culled my first rooster joining legions of many people before me, though it was one of the toughest things I had to do in a long time. He was a Rhode Island rooster the smaller of the two, and considering we had three roosters for 8 hens, it became an excessive amount with all the fighting going over over them, keeping them separated also became a tireless chore. The only choice was to cull and so I prepared for a whole week for this reading as much information as I possibly could on everything making sure I had everything perfect.

That very day I was prepared and hung him upside down on a tree. I had knives all set, and pots all ready. It took me about 15 minutes to finally get to it, I kept panicking as he kept looking at me, back and forth I wanted to then didnt then did. Eventually I finally did right below the jaw right through the skin, I could see him panick in fear or pain. I made two very very deep cuts and blood squirted all over me as I held his head down leaving a large puddle of blood. I could not stand to look at him, so I ran inside washed my hands and cried, like I have done so in years. I had never cried so hard in so long, it truly surprised me, I assumed id be perfect at this all tough and strong like a man. Im usually good with emotions, nothing really gets me. Im sure to have cried for 10 minutes before heading back to my dismay. The horrific part was he was still alive, blinking and just looking at me, I dont know how. Everything I have learned and done seemed right, I cut really deep and he bleed out a lot, yet there he was just staring at me I could see things contracting as if trying to breathe. I was filled with so much regret, and I panicked and grabbed some shears to finish the job. He then made his last movements.

I finally then spent time holding back my emotions to get the job done and finished processing it incredibly well for a first time, I was well prepared for that. Though I ended up packaging it up and giving it to my very close neighbor who I know enjoys good healthy meat, I knew I couldnt. Since having done the deed yesterday I still suffer from horrific moments here and there where I remember him looking at me with those eyes trying to breathe, to survive, live a life with many hens. I dont know I can ever do it again. So I ask is culling just for some and not others? I refuse to buy chicken from the store and enjoy it very much, but have not tried one from growing myself, but how can I do it again, knowing I still have one more rooster to process, I honestly dont think I can. And in November I will have to process threeTurkeys I bought for thanksgiving, I just never imagined this would happen to me. Im pretty strong but this, this is a first. I feel traumatized with fleeting moments of sadness of his death and regret.

Pics just before processing. His name was Kellogs.

 

[aoxa]

Wow.. This chokes me up. I grew out somewhere around 15 extra roosters. I am not doing it. Instead I have found someone that will do it for me in exchange for chicks. They do it the old fashioned way with an axe to get it over with as quickly as possible.

I would feel the same way as you did. I am sorry you had such a horrific experience.

 

[bobbi-j]

It's never enjoyable to kill something that you've raised, but with time it can become easier (for lack of a better word). First of all, if you know you're going to process an animal, don't give it a name. Don't make a pet out of it. Don't apply human emotions to it (he was maybe trying to survive - that's instinct, but he wasn't hanging there thinking, "But, I wanted more time with the hens. I have so many regrets.") And remember that decapitation is fast and sure. One swing of the hatchet, or slice with a VERY sharp knife, and it's over in a couple of seconds. IMO, much kinder than severing veins or arteries to let it bleed out in minutes. If you don't feel it's for you, is there a butcher shop in your area that can do your turkeys for you? When we had turkeys, they were way too big for me to hold (I hold all of our chickens, DH lops their heads off with a hatchet), so DH took a cattle de-horner, slipped it over their heads onto their necks and did it that way. I hate butchering day - it's coming very soon for my excess roosters and old laying hens. I have some beautiful roosters that I'd love to keep, but they don't fit into my plans for my flock, and I can't afford to feed a bunch of non-productive hens. Once they're dead, I have no problem with it. Fortunately, I'm married to a man who grew up on the farm where we live, and has been butchering chickens all his life. Anyway, good luck with the next ones. There is nothing wrong with feeling bad about killing them.

 

[Nicole01]

My husband and I hate doing this. We have to do it together and we do use an axe. It took us 2 weeks to finally cull our internal layer. She had 20 full cook like yolks inside her.

We do eat what we cull. Once they are a year old, they don't taste as well and I use the meat usually in some sort of soup. We won't eat the dark meat of any chicken older then a year old either. That gets fed to the dogs.

 

[laturcotte1]

You made me cry. My heart goes out to both you and especially your little roo. I know I would never ever get it done.

 

[bruceh]

processing chickens is a fact of the chicken farmer or any chicken keeper . there are several ways to get over that remorse.

my rules are this.
1. raise any bird with kindness and humanly.
2. never name a chicken until you understand it's purpose
3. when you do a kill do it humanly and quick
4. thank the bird for the service provided to you before slaughter
5. use the bird for some type of food ( unless the bird is ill )


remember chicken don't have human emotions. they have instinct . when you do a kill, cut fast, hard and deep right below the jaw bone at the jugular with the sharpest knife you can find. you can always cut the head off with shears . the bird will flap a little but will be dead within seconds.

if you are a keep chickens as pets you must learn to do a kill. if a chicken is suffering in any matter either from illness, broken leg or attack , it is your obligation to end the suffering quickly.

my stand point is this if you can not kill your chicken in any given situation please don't have them.

 

[bobbi-j]

processing chickens is a fact of the chicken farmer or any chicken keeper . there are several ways to get over that remorse.

my rules are this.
1. raise any bird with kindness and humanly.
2. never name a chicken until you understand it's purpose
3. when you do a kill do it humanly and quick
4. thank the bird for the service provided to you before slaughter
5. use the bird for some type of food ( unless the bird is ill )


remember chicken don't have human emotions. they have instinct . when you do a kill, cut fast, hard and deep right below the jaw bone at the jugular with the sharpest knife you can find. you can always cut the head off with shears . the bird will flap a little but will be dead within seconds.

if you are a keep chickens as pets you must learn to do a kill. if a chicken is suffering in any matter either from illness, broken leg or attack , it is your obligation to end the suffering quickly.

my stand point is this if you can not kill your chicken in any given situation please don't have them.

Well said.

 

[Uly235]

I thank everyone for their replys, I think in any moment a chicken is suffering id be ready. Im still wonder why I succumbed to emotion, not long ago I had a chicken drown in the ducks pond and I buried it without feeling to much. Im sure when thanksgiving comes around ill be ready, Its something I know I have to do and only i as being the one to raise it. Its something I have to learn and grow from, but I agree that an axe is a better choice and I will do so with the turkeys. So far though im inclined to keep both of the roosters just because one I wanna keep for genetics and the other surprisingly a silkie is the greatest protector of them all, its truly unbelievable. Im getting better also, just something ill have to get good at.

 

[bobbi-j]

I thank everyone for their replys, I think in any moment a chicken is suffering id be ready. Im still wonder why I succumbed to emotion, not long ago I had a chicken drown in the ducks pond and I buried it without feeling to much. Im sure when thanksgiving comes around ill be ready, Its something I know I have to do and only i as being the one to raise it. Its something I have to learn and grow from, but I agree that an axe is a better choice and I will do so with the turkeys. So far though im inclined to keep both of the roosters just because one I wanna keep for genetics and the other surprisingly a silkie is the greatest protector of them all, its truly unbelievable. Im getting better also, just something ill have to get good at.

There is a big difference between finding a dead chicken and killing it yourself. It's more personal. It does get better as time goes by. Especially if - from the start - you keep telling yourself that you're raising them for food, not for pets. That's what I do, anyway.

 

[donrae]

And it's fine not to watch them, like look them in the eye. I couldn't do that anyway. Look into a killing cone also, I find one really helps me depersonalize the whole thing. Plus, less flapping, blood more easily directed where we want it to go.