I need to cull, and I am freaking out a little

[runsw/scissors]

I agree the killing cone method worked well here. We used a milk jug and used the ax both. The cone keeps the chickens from moving around too much and the ax is too be as quick as I can be. I can't stand the blinking and nerve twitches either so I go and turn the hose on (so I can rinse of the block and the killing cone).

I commend you for trying again it can tough when things go bad... My son's father didn't get a clean kill with one of the roos today and that poor creature's miserable squawk isn't something I'll soon forget... We as children are taught not to hurt one another and to be kind to animals and so killing an animal is hard.

It just may be that for you killing is something better done by someone else. Me? If I had to use scalding water to get the feathers off I'd have to quit raise chickens, that is my deal breaker right there! No way, no how! We all have our lines, there is no crime in honoring your line.

 

[oshun55555]

I agree with everyone that likes the cone method, its the only way I kill now. In my youth on the farm we used the axe and later my grandmother would pop their heads off ( she cut the tip of her finger off with the axe one time and then no more axe) you can make a right nice cone out of a plastic gallon milk bottle. It will make it less traumatic for you and the chicken. But keep at it, your gonna be just fine.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
my husband shoots them in the head and I sever the neck with the tree branch loppers.. the last batch we did he didn't realize it but the sights were off on his rifle.. so when he shot one roo it wasn't a clean kill.. the bird made a squawk and laid there.. never moved when he picked him up and hung him by his feet to bleed out.. I went to make the cut and the roo was very much still alive.. so if you can't handle the shriek of a bird as the loppers slit the throat may I suggest y'all invest in a good set of ear plugs or an ipod or something with ear buds..

the shriek doesn't bother me .. I've heard it so often i suppose I'm used to it (my mother had me out helping with butchering since I was 3).. but just a word of warning for those who think that the loppers will give you a quiet kill... chances are.. they won't

 

[brandislee]

Ugh, thanks for the warning. I'm thinking ipod...

If I have to do it. I'm waiting for more than just a slightly purple comb to manifest before I decide for sure I need to cull this one. So far I haven't seen any of the other big warning signs. Or maybe I'm just procrastinating because I really REALLY don't want to do it. Who knows.