I feel sort of guilty?

[CMV]

Every one who has ever processed birds has at least one cringe worthy story about processing gone wrong. One year while processing geese I missed on my killing swing with the ax and only half-severed the neck. The bird screamed bloody murder and leaped into the air, spraying blood everywhere (and I do mean everywhere), and flapping its wings so hard I couldn't get a decent grip on it. It took only about 20 seconds to get the bird under control and its head lopped off, but it felt like an eternity. I felt like the world's worst person. I used the profound sense of failure I experienced that day to make sure my killing technique was improved. I will never mess up like that again.

Processing is never fun, but with time and repetition it does get easier. Have a step-by-step plan in place when you do the processing. Work on improving your killing technique. Try not to concentrate on the negative aspects of your task, but on the positive (good, healthy food for you and your family). If you can make the processing go smoothly, then you will feel better about it after. It becomes tolerable.

Sorry for your lousy day. Good luck.

 

[eKo_birdies]

Quote:
lol with an airsoft?

and the hills are always echoing with the sounds of gunshots anyway.. this is Colorado. no sheriff so much as bat an eye.

so i guess that would make me the screaming wife?? i figured i'd be the one doing the shooting

 

[ssbs]

The technique I learned is to take the chicken and pull it's wings behind it, lay it on the ground and put one foot on the wings, put your other foot on it's feet.. Take your hands, hold a knife in one and the head in the other.. Slit the throat.

After a few seconds you've got a chicken that is ready for scolding

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
lol with an airsoft?

and the hills are always echoing with the sounds of gunshots anyway.. this is Colorado. no sheriff so much as bat an eye.

so i guess that would make me the screaming wife?? i figured i'd be the one doing the shooting

Airsoft rifles work, just aim well, and have one high powered enough to take one out.. Been there where I had to use it on some birds I couldn't catch and was tired of having around.

-Daniel

 

[rockinpaints]

I take them to local Amish family........$2.00 a chicken!

(yep, i'm a wimp)

 

[justbugged]

Well the first time my son did the deed he cried. So here is the same thing for that I did for my son.

He cried after he killed the bunny too.

It is good that you have the feelings, you know now for sure that you will never become a serial killer. We use a traffic cone that get attached to the picnic table. We pop the bird into the cone, and DH uses a sharp knife to cut the head off. I have yet to actually do the deed, but my time is coming. I am planing on using pruning shears. I have worried that I won't have enough strength to get a complete severing of the birds head.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Until I woman up and brave myself into doing this deed, I read the mishaps of those of you who have. *hugs* for you. It didn't sound like such a great experience, but in time I'm sure you'll get it all figured out.
As for me, I've got a mama in her 70s who will take to task what must be done. We'll form a partnership, she does the dirty part that I can't yet handle, and I'll do the plucking.
''

 

[ixnay]

A cone (traffic or otherwise), and a sharp knife. Stretch out the neck by grasping the head and pulling, and slice just behind the jaw. As long as you hit the major blood vessels, you're doing it right. There's a lot of stuff about how you shouldn't cut the trachea, but if they're upside down, it doesn't seem to make any difference. Yes, there's a lot of moving around, but that's why you want a cone. The first time, I needed some serious internal application of whiskey afterwards (and I'm a veterinarian, albeit the cat-and-dog type). I always thank the bird, and apologize for any pain involved.

It does get easier, but hopefully never "routine."

The eating, and the sense of responsibility for my carnivorous ways, definitely makes it worthwhile.

-- Nan