First time killing chicken. Advice please help

[babyscuz]

On thursday we will be dispatching our first roo, he's a big boy weighing in at nearly 6 pounds, not bad for first go, anyway, here is the method we're going to use is the cone method, put the chicken in the cone and cut the vein in neck, does anyone agreed with me or it this a painfull way for the bird to die, im very worried as i don't want to stress the bird or be put off chickens, please someone help!!!!

 

[PegramPoultryProprietor]

I just recently did my first cockerels and I used a cone and a razor blade. Unless you want one flopping around everywhere and a coating of blood on everything, use the cone. Also, by cutting the vein under the jaw you can bleed out most of the blood in a bucket. It was so easy my first time I went and got a second one

 

[babyscuz]

wow that helps loads thanks, you didn't stun it did you, and also did you gut it strate away?

 

[RWD]

Gut after plucking or skinning.

 

[cslosberg]

We also processed our first 2 birds this way (minus the cone, just strung them up by their tied together feet). The most important thing is for the knife you use to be super sharp. The sharper the knife the better the cut. Then we held the body while bleeding out into a bucket below. This part of the process took about 90 seconds.
Good luck.

 

[PegramPoultryProprietor]

I held the head down so to keep the bird firmly in the cone while it bled out. I also had this page up for reference.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=109583

It's the top listing on the sticky thread at the top of this section.

I have chicken in the oven and it smells good.

 

[Hinotori]

I didn't have a cone yet when I did my cockerel yesterday. I will for the next one. Just tying the feet and hanging wasn't enough.

 

[laura877]

I just did some the other night kinda this way. Our deck is about eye level. I looped binder twine around their legs, tied them to the rail that was at eye level and let them hang upside down for 10 or 15 mins. When I was ready to butcher, I stretched their necks out and with my sharp hunting knife, took one quick and swift slash to the neck and then just left them to bleed into the grass. They didn't know what hit them as they didn't flop around much afterwards. Then you can just hose off the grass.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I hang them and lop off the head and it really is much more humane that cutting the jugular. I have the whole process written out if you like I can send it to you.

 

[emptynesterMom]

I was worried after I processed my first batch of meaties, that I was doing something wrong as they would invert in the killing cone while twitching. With the second batch, I tried to really observe what was happening. I agree the sharper the knife the better. I placed them in the killing cone and pulled the head down and stretched out. Feel for the edge of the mandibles or jaw bones and make two quick cuts one on either side and just under the edge of the mandibles. You should see an arterial spurt as you hit the carotid arteries. I maitained my hold on the birds head as they bled out. This was very quiet and as the bird became unconscious they then began to have what appears to me to be a seizure. I know, from talking with my patients, they have no memory of seizure activity. Based on this, I don't believe the bird really felt anything. Whewww, I don't mind processing but I don't want to cause any undue suffering because of my inexperience or ignorance.