- Thread starter
- #11
The weight off my shoulders now is immense. I strongly believe the birds I have remaining now are hens, behaviorally, visually, could not produce any foam from them, I am happy with what colors I have remaining. I chose to not keep a rooster, with being in a high risk category for today's politics I decided I want to streamline things, and now my quail I can easily pick up and breed & hatch again with an unrelated rooster if the time and life events align better than the next few months might be.
Thank you guys for your words of assurance, it was extremely helpful. In the end I did not butcher any, 3 of the 5 were honestly young & lean and it wouldn't have been worth it I think for the effort needed. I thanked each of them and dispatch was immediate (used a pipe-cutter, dislocated & cut but did not decapitate, it cupped them actually very nicely). This I think was a really good first cull, it was all peaceful for them and a little bizarre but successful for me. I did feel around at how easy manual dislocation would be, these birds really are held together with scotch tape and a prayer! I have learned a few lessons without sacrificing the wellbeing of the birds and I am at peace with all of this, and the ladies will appreciate the quiet and no overbreeding. Next time I do this I will plan ahead with a better set up (and not at 8pm!) to better set myself up for success with butchering the birds. Thank you all.
Thank you guys for your words of assurance, it was extremely helpful. In the end I did not butcher any, 3 of the 5 were honestly young & lean and it wouldn't have been worth it I think for the effort needed. I thanked each of them and dispatch was immediate (used a pipe-cutter, dislocated & cut but did not decapitate, it cupped them actually very nicely). This I think was a really good first cull, it was all peaceful for them and a little bizarre but successful for me. I did feel around at how easy manual dislocation would be, these birds really are held together with scotch tape and a prayer! I have learned a few lessons without sacrificing the wellbeing of the birds and I am at peace with all of this, and the ladies will appreciate the quiet and no overbreeding. Next time I do this I will plan ahead with a better set up (and not at 8pm!) to better set myself up for success with butchering the birds. Thank you all.
