I hope.not.to.offend

[backyardmomma]

I am looking for the most respectful way to cull ducks. I about to Incubate some eggs. And well frankly I don't want to scare them before death. This is very important. I don't want to kill them but I want my food to have a real life. And to feel loved tell the moment they are needed. This is a spiritual thing almost. I can only find culling methods that frightened the poor things first. Can any one help me.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/876138/humane-culling#post_13309757
Many people use their birds for meat, and none want their birds scared before. This is a common misconception, even the most hardened processor knows scared animals give soured meat. It has to do with adrenaline, everyone wants calm animals, quick death. This thread should give you good tips. And try to remember, you will give these animals a very happy life, they are just going to have one really bad day.

 

[backyardmomma]

Thank you. I am very realistic about this choice.lol I may even cry.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Wear black long sleeved shirt (it helps if you do not see the blood) have everything you need on hand and ready before you even approach your birds. If in doubt go with over prepared, instead of risking needing to stop halfway through for something. Just keep telling yourself you did right by these animals. I have processed some birds and we take cattle to the butcher, truthfully I find the cattle harder (even though we do not do the actual work) it really does help me to remind myself these animals had a good life and in nature these animals would probably have died a harder death then I have given them, and lived a harder life.

 

[halfwildacres]

The first one is the hardest and it's totally ok to cry. I'm not ashamed to say that I did when I did my first chicken. After you do the first one it becomes easier. As everyone else has said, just know that you've given them an excellent life.

 

[KARy408]

Very interesting topic!

Don't know if you're familiar with the Kilcher family, featured on the TV show, Alaska the Last Frontier, but they use a totally unique and pretty awesome method for harvesting thier poultry! I've only seen it done on a Turkey, but I'm sure you could work it on Ducks or Chickens as well.

Basically, they separate the selected bird from the rest of the flock and then put a large pile of food down on the ground. Naturally, the bird approaches the food pile and stands over it to begin eating. They give it a minute or two, for the bird to settle in and feel comfortable. When it is good and distracted, the executioner then approaches casually from behind, with a machete in hand. He stands behind or to the side of the feasting bird and then takes a golf swing with the knife, cleanly removing it's head before the bird even knows what happened! I know that sounds kinda brutal written out this way, but watching it on TV, the ease and grace of the process completely blew my husband and me away!

 

[backyardmomma]

I like this idea. Now to get a machete