Harvesting/processing

[Rogus6324]

I read a thread from Siri search. It was discussing the broomstick method of killing. The person concluded she would use a cone. I made that mistake this year. I have a brand new cone. I was unable to get the birds head through the opening. My birds weighed 9 lbs at least live. I was so upset. Fortunately my brother happened to be here and we ditched the cone to hang the bird and stick it in the neck.. after that I concluded to grab the birds by the legs hang them . Pull as much skin forward of the neck bone and use a sharp sticking knife to go through the skin I bunched up, let them bleed out, then chop head off. At the beginning I grabbed them by the wings to put in the cone and that was traumatic for both myself and the bird.

 

[nuthatched]

That's why I use a hatchet or .22, less chance of mishaps.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

A lot of people make their own "cone", often out of a large plastic bottle so the bird fits. If I remember right, @Molpet has a nice photo of what they use. Or some people roll their own out of some materials. I don't know what material your cone was made of or how large it was. You may have been able to enlarge the hole with tin snips, a knife, a saw, or something.

Congratulations on finding a solution, things often do not go as planned. You'll find that we all do these things differently. No matter what you are trying to do there are almost always many different ways to do that which can work. Just because someone does it a certain way does not mean that it is the only way or the best way for everyone.

 

[Molpet]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

A lot of people make their own "cone", often out of a large plastic bottle so the bird fits. If I remember right, @Molpet has a nice photo of what they use. Or some people roll their own out of some materials. I don't know what material your cone was made of or how large it was. You may have been able to enlarge the hole with tin snips, a knife, a saw, or something.

Congratulations on finding a solution, things often do not go as planned. You'll find that we all do these things differently. No matter what you are trying to do there are almost always many different ways to do that which can work. Just because someone does it a certain way does not mean that it is the only way or the best way for everyone.

Yes my CX didn't fit in the cone and I went with a cut up kitty litter jug. I tape the ankles so they can't get away.

Lots of people hang them also

 

[FunClucks]

Welcome to the forum! I always keep a second method of dispatch available so if something goes wrong I can end things quickly.

I used to use English method (similar to broomstick but in your arms), but 6m CX were too strong for me, so I switched to wrapping the birds in a large bath towel, placing them on my lap under my arm, over a 5 gallon bucket. Firm control of comb/head, and a very sharp knife. You know when you've got the cut right, and when you're done, and it doesn't make a mess. This is not the method I thought I'd use the most when I first started, but it's where I ended up.

Sometimes it can take a bit to figure out what works best for you.