I chickened out!?

[kelsnod]

Sorry for the terrible pun, but yeah, I totally chickened out. Please forgive me in advance if I sound really pathetic.

So, I have 16 Cornish X's that I had planned on "harvesting" a few of today and I really thought that I was prepared...apparently not?
This is my first time raising meat birds and things have been going great. All of my birds have survived and are very healthy and happy. I even did a fairly good job of keeping myself emotionally detached from them (although I can't help seeing that they have their own personalities...). From the day got them, I've been reminding myself that I will kill and eat them and I've been totally okay with the thought - even excited about it.

I've spent months and months (even before ordering my birds) researching the killing process, watching videos, looking at articles and pictures, etc. I convinced myself that I was totally prepared to do this. I've even dissected things in an anatomy class before, including cats, which I love way more than chickens!

Anyway, today I got everything set up for killing my birds. I gathered all the necessary supplies and set up my space. I heated my pot of scalding water to the perfect temperature and went to get my first bird. I knew that the hardest part for me would be the actual killing of the bird. Once the bird was dead, I knew I would be able to handle it pretty well. By the time I hung up my first chicken by its feet, I was shaking. I had the knife in my hand and was trying to feel for the carotid arteries, but I couldn't find them because I was shaking so much. After a good couple of minutes of freaking out, I decided it wasn't fair to keep my chicken hanging in that position so I took it down and returned it to its coop.

I knew exactly what I had to do but for some reason I couldn't get myself to do it. Do you guys have any tips for a first timer like me who is a little jittery about it? Videos make it look so simple. It's so much harder when a bird that you raised from a two-day old chick is staring at you looking very confused. Sorry if I sound like a whimp. I feel pretty pathetic myself, considering that I was actually a little excited about this when I got the birds...

 

[lazy gardener]

Were you alone? I'd suggest that you have someone with you for moral support, even if all they do is stand by and encourage you. Perhaps you would be more comfortable with a different method. Luckily for me, my husband dispatches the birds, then I do everything else, so... like you, I'm working up the courage to kill my first bird. Perhaps a broom stick, or a pellet gun point blank before the knife?

 

[snow5164]

When I let it be known I was Leary to dispatch ( nice word for cut their heads off) my babies I had numerous offers for help, I agree with lazy gardner , get some encouraging help .
Me myself? I think I'll just sell them on eBay

 

[adylina]

I don't think that is pathetic at all! It is never a bad thing to value an animal's life, even if it is a meat chicken. Killing is something most would agree we should have an aversion to, although for many of us homesteader/farmer types it is a necessity. I would agree that moral support helps, and I like to spend a good amount of time petting and calming the bird first, it surprisingly can help put you at peace as well. Instead of hanging them upside down, try holding the bird in your lap while sitting with its feet towards your belly and head between your knees before dispatching it, you can still pet it that way and calm it and the bird will be more comfortable if you need to take a good length of time. (might want to wear mud boots to keep your shoes from getting blood on them.)

 

[donrae]

I agree to get some help. I would also advise not to fret about where you cut. Just cut the whole blessed head off. If you can find just the arteries easily and get them, fine, if not, just slice all the way across the front. Use a cone and cut hard and fast, and walk away and let the bird bleed. You don't need to stand and watch, the bird can die all by itself.

 

[enola]

I have been butchering chickens for 50+ years. I still have problems with the killing part. But, it does get better. Get someone to help you, moral support is s great thing.

 

[TripleOval]

I totally agree with using a cone and walking away. Also, position the bird so it's "facing away" from you.

 

[Amina]

Just slice hard across the side of the throat and you'll get the arteries. You don't have to find a pulse first or anything... Just make sure the knife is on the side of the throat, and that it's in between the feathers (rather than trying to cut through the feathers). Give one hard slice, and it will work.

 

[SuperLuke]

If it feels wrong dont kill them

 

[donrae]

If it feels wrong dont kill them

Right, because dying of congestive heart failure is so much fun for the birds.........