First time culling: easier than I thought

[le_bwah]

So I had to cull three roos today, and it was my first time killing anything bigger than a spider. They were becoming violent with each other and crowing all night, and the few ladies I have didn't appreciate their constant advances. I decided to go with decapitation as I'd read it's the quickest (and boy, was it), and got myself some sharp kitchen shears. I was shaking right up to the moment, but after the first one it was surprisingly easy. Cleaning them (with the help of my dad) was a lot like dissecting pigeons in a physiology lab. Now I've got three little quail bodies brining in the fridge. I don't know what I'll do with the meat, but I intend not to let it go to waste.

Things I would have done differently: find something better than a cat carrier to hold them in before processing; spread out extra newspaper underneath the workspace (there was more spurting than I expected); point the heads DOWN before making the cut.

I thought I'd be more shaken up about killing, and maybe I will be yet, but right now I'm just grateful for the peace it's brought to the rest of the flock. The other boys aren't fighting, their crowing is less frequent and magnitudes quieter, and the girls aren't constantly fleeing. I've yet to see if this solves my night-crowing problem (I think I got all three problem birds), but I'm happy with my decision to cull, and I hope it will be this easy when I have to do it in the future.

 

[RosieR]

I had a similar experience. Not so bad. Kitchen shears definitely make things quick and easy.
I suggest bbqing, they turned out great! Very delicious juicy meat

 

[Spartan22]

Great job! Understanding flock management and food source gives you proper state of mind to butcher your bird, that is actually a respect to life and death.

 

[le_bwah]

Great job! Understanding flock management and food source gives you proper state of mind to butcher your bird, that is actually a respect to life and death.

That's the way I've been trying to think about it. If they're only here because of my intervention, it's my responsibility to make sure the majority of them are living comfortable lives, even if that means killing others. To waste a death would be disrespectful of the life they gave; the best way to use them just so happens to be eating them.

 

[cosmosue]

Excellent job! Go ahead check online there is a billion and one Recipes and the first time we did it we stuffed them with cheese and jalapeños and wrapped them in bacon, grilled them!

Also yes you just need sharp kitchen or garden shears and snip goes the head, I do it right in the kitchen over the sink. Lay them down, clean them up, takes about 5-10 mins a bird. Easy peasy!!!

Congrats! Is that a weird thing to say congrats to?? Well I guess maybe to some but here I think we all mostly understand what’s going on... lol

 

[le_bwah]

The remaining boys still crowed this morning, but it was at five instead of three, right about the time the robins and other birds started up. Happy to have gotten my night-crower and hoping he was the last for now.

 

[Erkenstein]

Yes they are tasty. I predict you'll be firing up the ol' incubator again pretty soon.