How do i cull a Rooster

[aunt sissy]

One of our "girls" turned out to be a rooster. We were part of the 10% that they were wrong when it came to sexing them. Since we live in a neighborhood (outside city limits) we can't have a rooster...choose not to have a rooster. I have tried to give it away to a couple people who have chickens and live on some land but they don't really seem to want him. The plan was to cull them when they stop laying and use them for food but I'm having second thoughts. LOL! Since I am starting to tear up just reading how to do it, I am not sure I can actually pull the trigger...I mean axe. Please tell me this gets easier...

P.S. If anyone is in the Eugene, Oregon area and wants a pretty rooster he is your! I believe he is a speckled Sussex but he might be our silver laced.

 

[The Mother Hen]

Sorry for the late reply! I do not get on here often but I need to.

When I culled my first hen I was not ready for it. You MUST prepare yourself mentally and emotionally if you plan to have your hen meet Mr. Axe. Also, make sure everything is prepared before you do anything. Do not just chop and then not know what to do. Do some research about it unless you've already have.

After your first hen/rooster chopping it will get easier. The hens ARE going for a good cause and they are not being tossed away to feed some wild animal. I think if the hens get 3 meals a day, a little TLC, and a safe place to call home, they can at least become food for their owners when they get old. If you plan to turn your hens/roosters into soup, it's best not to name them.

 

[Blammmo]

Killing cone and axe works best for me, quick and they can bleed out a bit before processing

 

[Teppler]

Put an ad on Craigs List for FREE Chickens. Someone will take them off your hands.

 

[TylerJ1966]

I grew up on a large laying ranch as a kid and was taught a much cleaner method. Grab the bird by both legs with your right hand. Make sure the saddle or back of the bird is up or facing your left hand. Place the middle finger of your left hand under the beak and your index finger behind the bird's neck just below the head. Pull your hands apart while rotating your fingers until you feel separation without pulling the head off. In essence, you're bending the head backwards in the unnatural direction, snapping the neck. You still get a lot of flopping, but no mess.

It's still not the easiest thing to do to a pet, but sometimes necessary for a bird that cant be saved.

I've seen a few Youtube videos of people using a milk jug to control the bird during bleed out. Maybe that's a better option for you.

 

[Pat11]

Thanks TheMainException "the Humane Dispatcher" you mention would this be using a broom stick? I'm not sure how i came across it, but there is a lady on You Tube and she shows how to break the neck by laying a broom stick on the ground, putting the head under the stick, placing right boot on the broom stick and doing the same with the left as quickly as you can, then putting all your weight on it, then pulling gently, the neck actually gives way and breaks in half, without rupturing the skin and having blood everywhere.

Its amazing how things move along on you, one moment i'm trying to find out the best way to do this and the next i'm forced into.

My head Rooster Le Roy is looking sick/very old, i did a post asking for advice in the behavior section, found him the other day in the laying box's where he stayed for 2 days and 2 nights, he finally got out and has been outside last couple of days, and at night on the perch, but tonight he is back in one of the laying box's sound asleep. I notice during the day he is huddled in corners sometimes on his own sometimes with the others, Anyone got any ideas?

I really didn't think i had a problem with the other roosters, but on the 8th or 9th i went out and one of the young roosters is very much worse for ware, so i went looking for someone in simliar condition. Found him, (no i hadn't tagged him yet nor named him, ) so i followed him around and realized he wasn't letting up on this other rooster, so i resolved there and then he had to go, if he was the cause of Le Roy hiding in the laying box's well that just wasn't going to happen anymore, and i couldn't have him beating up the other roosters to this extent.

So thanks to everyone's posts and showing me how others do it, i got a large plastic bag and cut a hole in one corner, put him in it and popped his head out through the hole. That had him contained and not flapping around on me.

And yes it was very quick and a lot more acceptable to me than the other options. I believe it's the first time in 56 years that i have knowingly killed something. and yes i have named most of the others!!

https://www.maunindustries.com/humane-bird-dispatcher/

 

[HenHangout]

I grew up on a large laying ranch as a kid and was taught a much cleaner method. Grab the bird by both legs with your right hand. Make sure the saddle or back of the bird is up or facing your left hand. Place the middle finger of your left hand under the beak and your index finger behind the bird's neck just below the head. Pull your hands apart while rotating your fingers until you feel separation without pulling the head off. In essence, you're bending the head backwards in the unnatural direction, snapping the neck. You still get a lot of flopping, but no mess.

I might try this. I had to put a disabled hen down and was squeamish because of how friendly and innocent she was so I use a 22lr bullet to the brain and she flopped around for what felt like a minute. That was my first but I may have to remove some more.

I've hunted pheasant before and if they are merely injured I swing them around by the neck and that usually gets the job done but I'd like something cleaner like you suggested.

 

[Mrs. K]

Get a couple 5 gallon buckets, it is helpful and keeps them cleaner.

I think the broomstick would be best for you. No blood, but there will be flapping. If you put them in the bucket, it kind of keeps that contained.