Have to butcher my first bird tomorrow.

[Leighe]

I don't really know why i'm writing this but i guess just for a bit of no you are not a terrible person for not wanting your hens getting ganged up on by three roosters

I have raised animals for food and put them on the stock trailer. But never ended a life. I'm sure it gets easier eventuallly if you make it a way of life to provide your own meat for your family.
Thanks so much for the kind words. This forum is so brilliant.

Dearest @K.Riggs....for some of us, it doesn't get easier except in the part about cleanin and butcherin. I.cry.over.every.single.one. I literally pick them up and walk around with them talkin with them and when I put them in the cone I talk to them. (Recently read someone's post who does the exact same thing and I just smiled, we just can't put them in there and do it...we have to talk to them and love them to the end) I want them to hear my voice as they know me. I pray over them thanking them and God for their lives and sacrifice and tell them they were an awesome part of God's creation and even though it's preached animals don't have souls and don't go to Heaven...the Bible says that the day will come when the Lion will lay down with the Lamb and there will be no more blood shed so I like to think my animals do go to Heaven and if I'm wrong I kinda think God is goin to be okay with it. After a few times you don't have to sit there and think "now what do I do again"?.....or rewatch the Youtube videos, lol. But for some of us, emotionally, it isn't easier. Even the mean roosters....it's the fact that I am takin a livin, breathin life and puttin it to death. I am makin the decision. But again the Bible talks about how after the sin in the Garden of Eden (where they were vegetarian), animals had to be killed for food and clothing. So it will be, until it all ends. Take solace in the love you have provided, the good home you have provided, the healthy life he lived because of you. BTW, I'm readin a book called The Plant Paradox, and if I was still a vegetarian I would pretty much be out of anything to eat, lol. Geez!

 

[Leighe]

If I were doing it myself, I think I'd use the cone method, even though I don't think it kills as quickly and humanely as decapitation. Wishing you all the best. And again, kudos to you for making a hard decision.

You can use the cone method and still decapitate. Just put a thick board behind the head.

 

[Micaela.ph15]

You can do this! Like everyone said it has to be done and he is not going to waist. For me, my ducks are the hardest. And I'm a duck hunter! Lol have been since I was tiny. But for some reason when you have scene them grow up and see them do those cute things like play in the water and come to you it makes a huge difference. You are doing the right thing

 

[Impatient]

I've never had to butcher my own, but I do hunt/fish/clean my own so I figure it's the same other than my attachment to them. Right now I'm trying to get a tiny flock of 3-6 hens and I can't keep roos because I live in a city, the fact I can keep hens is actually amazing to me since most cities don't allow livestock. One of the perks of living in the south I suppose. Anyhow, I have 8 eggs incubating and one miracle chick from a botched incubation so I know I will probably end up with a few males and have already made plans regarding what to do with them (butcher and eat). I agree with what another poster said that if they have to go, it's probably better they go to feed you and family because of the time and expense of raising them. Even though it's months away, I'm already trying to prepare mentally for the inevitable because it's the responsible thing to do if I've brought them into the world and made the commitment for their care and at least I'll know they got a better life than if they'd been raised in a factory. I'm sure it will get easier, especially if you intend to raise meat birds, it's an unfortunate part of the circle of life. Wishing you strength and comfort in knowing you gave him a good life and you're doing it for the greater good of your flock.

 

[Akrnaf2]

I know all the methods i will use and have watched a million tutorials. A she ended up a he and i cannot have any more he's. So looks like it is time. I plan on hatching meat birds in the future so will use this roo as a practice run, it is an older bird so noodle soup it is. I don't really know why i'm writing this but i guess just for a bit of no you are not a terrible person for not wanting your hens getting ganged up on by three roosters

I am from the gastronomy sector! I can offer you a recpie!

 

[Storybook Farm]

I just wanted to echo others, and to say that I, too, struggle each year with butchering. I wrote a blog post about it just today. I thought it might help, so here's the link.

You really CAN do this... and you're doing the right thing. I stressed enormously over my first butchering, and it was tough, but there was grace in it too. May you be blessed!

 

[Impatient]

I just wanted to echo others, and to say that I, too, struggle each year with butchering. I wrote a blog post about it just today. I thought it might help, so here's the link.

You really CAN do this... and you're doing the right thing. I stressed enormously over my first butchering, and it was tough, but there was grace in it too. May you be blessed!

While I am not a very religious person, your blog post echo's many sentiments I myself have towards the eventual "harvest" time I will have to contend with. Wonderful and thoughtful writing and I'm sure it will help many facing this aspect of raising chickens. What method do you think is the most humane?

 

[Storybook Farm]

While I am not a very religious person, your blog post echo's many sentiments I myself have towards the eventual "harvest" time I will have to contend with. Wonderful and thoughtful writing and I'm sure it will help many facing this aspect of raising chickens. What method do you think is the most humane?

We use a killing cone (made from a bleach bottle with hole enlarged) and a VERY sharp knife. We catch the bird gently, pet it as we carry it to the cone, and then hold it upside down for a minute or so. Chickens held thus will go into a stupor, a sort of unconsciousness, as the blood rushes to their head. (It also helps them bleed out/die quicker.) We gently pull the head/neck down from the cone so it's stretched, and then tilt the head to give the clearest path to a quick cut. Our birds twitch 3-5 times as they're bleeding out, but they literally never know what happened.

 

[FrankHomestead]

We use a killing cone (made from a bleach bottle with hole enlarged) and a VERY sharp knife. We catch the bird gently, pet it as we carry it to the cone, and then hold it upside down for a minute or so. Chickens held thus will go into a stupor, a sort of unconsciousness, as the blood rushes to their head. (It also helps them bleed out/die quicker.) We gently pull the head/neck down from the cone so it's stretched, and then tilt the head to give the clearest path to a quick cut. Our birds twitch 3-5 times as they're bleeding out, but they literally never know what happened.

I watched a video of a guy doing this and right after he cut the throat, he opened the beak and went through the top of the mouth with his knife and pierced the brain, everything took maybe 3 or 4 seconds. What is your take on the last step? Do you find this necessary?

 

[Storybook Farm]

We don't find that necessary. I've never seen it done. From my observation, they are unconscious when we slit their throat.