I must admit, I read the OP to my husband last night, as he was asking me how we were going to dispatch our bad roo. That prompted him to ask if he could shoot the rooster (no), could he use his splitting maul on it (no), could he PLEEEEEEASE shoot it (NO!)
We caged the roo overnight with water, and today I merely tied a rope around a tree, had DH make a slip knot and make a second rope with a slip knot. Got the roo, carried him upside down to the tree, put his feet in the hanging slip knot, snugged it nicely, and put the second one over his head. Got my scalpel and quietly under his jaw. He bled out, didn't start flopping until he was almost bled. DH was messing with the lawnmower and didn't know the deed was done until I walked by with the roo in a bucket.
Sorry to say, worked out MUCH easier! I did think of you the whole time though!
Edited for spelling....spelled "knot" four different ways. Sigh.