Humane ways of killing our meat birds

[mountainpridefarm]

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I had said on the other thread (which you were unable to see because it was under the beef prices) that I was looking for a way to stun. I know with rabbits breaking their necks and bleeding them out is common. So is there other ways to break their necks? And how do you learn how to do it?

 

[HLAC]

The spin the bird method of breaking necks works better form me than grabbing the bird with both hands and twisting it's neck. I learned the spin thing by having somebody else show me and actually trying it. We would kill off several dozen pheasants at a time. Pheasants are so flighty that it was the best way to do it. They'd just freak if you tried to put them on a block or hang them up. When I first did it, I often popped the heads right off because I was worried I wasn't going get enough momentum to break the neck. (I didn't want the bird to suffer and I didn't want to get clawed/spurred up) I suppose one could practice on already dead birds. When done correctly, it's pretty much just the skin holding the birds head to it's body. The neck is totally broken. It's rather 'interactive' and looks a bit violent so I think many people avoid it.

I did try it with a wounded turkey once and ended up just whacking myself upside the head with the body of the turkey. Didn't do much to help the turkey on it's way but darn near killed myself.

I've heard of people putting the chicken's head down under a wooden rod (like a rake handle), stepping on the wood (which clamps the head down) and then pulling up sharply on the bird and it breaks the neck. I've never tried that method.

 

[Buster52]

I think wringing and broom handle and slitting et al are all skill techniques. You have to know what you are doing in order to make a humane kill. The reason I like the axe is because it is a sure thing and idiot-proof, right up my alley.

 

[Jmurcks]

What about those killing cone things?
They seem pretty simple but I have heard some saying to only cut a specific part of the neck or it can cause the bird undue trauma.
I would be afraid I would miss!
It just seems more simple to me if you could put the bird in there and lop off the head...

I guess I shouldn't be putting in much input seeing I have 0% experience
but I have wondered about the most humane way, myself.

 

[al6517]

I kill my birds just like Buster does and it is really the best way to go..................

AL

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I step on their head & yank. Takes it right off. Super fast. Very little stress on them.

 

[Ibicella]

Chickens do this neat thing called "Tonic Immobility". When you hang them upside down, on their sides or back, they will go still as if they have gone to sleep or are in a trance. Lots of animals do this. Mice, rabbits, possums, pigeons, alligators, and sharks just to name a few. Some people call this "hypnotizing" the chicken, or putting it in a trance, or making it "sleep."

What's actually happening is the chicken is still fully aware, but the unusual positioning triggers a large dose of serotonin to the brain. Serotonin is a transmitter in the brain that does a variety of things like regulate mood, anxiety, feeding, sleep, sexual activity, body temperature, and a bunch of other things regarding regulation of the body. Large doses of it cause relaxation and the let-go of stress. So if left in this position, the chicken's heart will slow, adrenaline will calm, and it will relax.

Another method if you want to take off the head is can also loop one end of a string around their neck, and then tie the other end to a nail hammered into the side of the stump. Then you can stretch them out by their feet and take a swing.

 

[emys]

A relative used to put their head under a bucket and step on the bucket thus breaking the neck. I've not tried this.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
And I learned it from some guy named Al...

Oh, hi, Al!

 

[al6517]

Quote:
And I learned it from some guy named Al...

Oh, hi, Al!