I don't think I'm doing it right

[petrelline]

The subject is the killing of chickens using killing cones and cutting the carotid artery. I've processed about 30 chickens now using this method, and I'm not sure I'm doing it right.

I've read that when its done properly, the chicken just "goes to sleep" and other than the minimal thrashing of the autonomic nervous system
shutting down at the end, it's supposed to be mostly quiet. I've looked at youtube videos of chickens being bled out, and that seems to be for the most part what happens to them.

But that's not what happens to my chickens. I've had a couple that just lie quietly; the majority thrash like crazy to where I have to hold all of them down in the cones to keep them from backing out. I had one who kicked me so hard he cut me on the wrist.

I'm pretty sure I am cutting in the right place -- I pull the neck skin to the back of the head and cut right below the jawline, on either side, as fast as I can, and nearly all the way to the bone. I don't cut the windpipe. The blood drains quickly, as far as I can tell. But they're still taking what seems to be an awfully long time to die (I haven't timed it).

I really don't want to be needlessly cruel to any chickens I raise on their last day. Do your chickens just "go to sleep" like the story goes? What is the normal behavior like? What might I be doing wrong here?

 

[dancingbear]

No, mine don't "just go to sleep", either.

I have found that if I keep the head pulled down (sometimes tipping to one side or the other, so the cut veins are more open, like Grady does in the video) for a couple of minutes after I cut, the blood runs a lot faster, and there's a lot less flapping than there is otherwise. If I lose my grip and let go, they instantly start flapping violently.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

It sounds like you're doing it right, but even so there will be some reflexive movement afterwards. I don't like there to be blood spattered around my processing station to attract more flies & predators, so I hold the bird's head until he's still so the blood flows directly into the catch bucket. I presume they're completely over on The Other Side of the Road, the movement is just reflexive.

You could also try to calm your birds before placing them in the cone, try stroking their keel, hold them by their feet, or tuck their head under a wing & swing them into a hyptnotic trance. It also helps to tie their feet together, with a zip-tie or piece of cord, it keeps them from getting themselves out of the cone and gives you a way to hang & pluck them too.

 

[jaku]

Sounds to me like you're doing it right- sometimes they thrash around. You can minimize this by stunning them prior to making the cuts. We use a piece of wood to the head.