Humane Slaughter questions

[aart]

Some have said straight into the pot is also effective as resting.

Ehhhh...I don't know about that....maybe with a baby cornish. but not an older bird.
I can feel the rigor when plucking, not 10 minutes after the kill.
But have heard the same.

Yeah I do have a tree looper, I just watched a broomstick method video. Very similar to how my brother cleans ducks and geese after hunting

Which vid...can you link?
I've only seen one that didn't take the head off.
I only CD for euthanasia, slit for meat slaughter to drain blood better.

It's hard enough to slit throat, gotta get between between those feathers, even with a good sharp knife. Taking the whole head of a live bird would be hard without helping hands, IMO....and I never have help.

 

[bmanty]

Ehhhh...I don't know about that....maybe with a baby cornish. but not an older bird.
I can feel the rigor when plucking, not 10 minutes after the kill.
But have heard the same.


Which vid...can you link?
I've only seen one that didn't take the head off.
I only CD for euthanasia, slit for meat slaughter to drain blood better.

It's hard enough to slit throat, gotta get between between those feathers, even with a good sharp knife. Taking the whole head of a live bird would be hard without helping hands, IMO....and I never have help.

Here is the video link

I am sure its hard, I have done some neck ringing when some of our older birds just couldn't walk anymore that was quick, (its unreal how fast that hits them, one day they are out and about and then the next they cant get out of the nesting box and are basically just going to sleep and no movement at all, I have no idea how old the original birds were when I purchased my house) just looking for faster ways.

 

[Joeschooks]

Here in UK we are limited to cervical dislocation by law. So I guess that leaves the broomstick method or a dispatcher such as in the pic below. What are everyone’s thoughts on wall mounted dispatchers v broomstick?

 

[Morrigan]

Some great advice here. I completely concur that it does get easier in terms of skill and confidence, but not easier in term of emotions. I'm always a wreck the night before.

I'm fortunate that my husband does the actual dispatch of the chickens using the hatchet and stump. He learned that the key with that method is to make sure you have a good, heavy, and very sharp hatchet. One easy swing should do the job.

I have dispatched meat rabbits using CD with aid of a wall mount. With rabbits at least, the wall mount helps to hold the rabbit more comfortably at waist level and do the dislocation in one swift motion. If done correctly, it's a very fast death, and a little less bloody.

The only other advice I have is that if you are butchering older hens, make sure you save the fat. It is simply to render down and lasts for weeks in the refrigerator. It has an incredible, deep chicken flavor and is unbeatable for roasting potatoes and other veggies.

 

[aart]

Here is the video link

Ah, another head ripper - more decapitation than CD, not what I want when applying euthanasia.
Cervical Dislocation is shown in this video at about 1:00,

it's the only CD video I've found that doesn't remove the head.
-Notice the slight divot in the ground under the stick and neck, this will keep the bird from being choked.
-Notice that she slowly stretches out the neck and legs before giving the short sharp jerk that breaks the neck close to the skull, this is key to success IMO.
I've found this technique to be very effective.

Here in UK we are limited to cervical dislocation by law. So I guess that leaves the broomstick method or a dispatcher such as in the pic below. What are everyone’s thoughts on wall mounted dispatchers v broomstick?
View attachment 1266913

Have seen this used in a video, they didn't get the device close enough to the head, tho I don't think they'd used it much...would be effective if properly used.

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

If the chicken is only 3 to 5 years old, are you completely sure they have stopped laying? I thought that chickens lay eggs for longer than that...

 

[Larry55]

Problem is people dont usually eat their pets. I dont think of my chickens that way. Humane depends on your definition. I have slaughtered chickens but i dont like doing so. But if its to feed my family then i will. Never gets easy taking a life. I do advocate doing so quickly.

 

[Mrs. K]

Killing is the hardest part. Once that is done, it no longer bothers me. I ignored the advice to not feed them before you butcher, and it really does make it easier to process them if they have not been fed. Some of us, have to learn the hard way.

I did get a plucker that mounts to a drill head, and was very pleased with it. however, with an old chicken, skinning would be fine.

It helps me to distance myself from the birds for a while, I don't watch them for enjoyment, just feed and water for a few days before the deed.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I ignored the advice to not feed them before you butcher, and it really does make it easier to process them if they have not been fed.

Absolutely!
That was one thing that worried me the most, removing the anus without spilling the contents and contaminating the meat, having empty intestines will go a long way to avoiding that. I get everything setup the day before to process first thing in the morning, crate them off the roost at night, over a poop hammock, no feed just water. I do give them a tablespoon of grains 20-30 minutes before killing, makes the crop easier to find and remove.
I found this blog to have the best pics showing where to slit the throat and how to remove the anus. http://ramblingredneckmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-process-chickens-at-home.html

 

[Mosey2003]

Once you have a feel for how hard to pull, you can absolutely leave the head on and use the broomstick method. It worked on my year old rooster, too, just took more force.