Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[Kev]

Quoting is being wonky right now.. great idea on those gear ties.

Congrats on completing another extremely nice coop.

As for roosting, you can try putting them on the roosts just after dark. If you really would like for them to roost off ground, I would recommend doing it this week, don't let them to get settled in first then trying to change it... otherwise they might form a very hard to break habit in their new home.

for your eggs to hatch well!

 

[Goosegrrl]

Thank you for the excellent description. Got it. And I also have the perfect knife. An antique citrus knife, 3in long very slim blade that holds an edge beautifully. Plus it has all brass fittings and a lovely pearl handle... being a girl pretty is important. LOL

Not sure how easy it is to find theses knives outside of citrus growing areas, or if they are still made. I got mine at an estate sale of a guy who retired from citrus in the 80,s for a buck. But researching them turned them up on ebay, however there were many of lower quality on there. I reccomend this type of knife to everyone around here. It's so handy for just about everything on the farm/in the garden.

 

[chickengr]

I may have spoken too soon about the effectiveness of that aspirin. I found Lily back in the nesting box tonight when I went out to lock everybody up.

send her to me. I want a broody!

 

[chickengr]

this is the first time I didn't read all of your posts - I simply cannot kill chickens or even be near

 

[hellbender]

Quoting is being wonky right now.. great idea on those gear ties.

Congrats on completing another extremely nice coop.

As for roosting, you can try putting them on the roosts just after dark. If you really would like for them to roost off ground, I would recommend doing it this week, don't let them to get settled in first then trying to change it... otherwise they might form a very hard to break habit in their new home.

for your eggs to hatch well!

As for roosting...I have 12 inch roosts in my brooder pens. By age 2-3 weeks every chick is using it and have done this for decades.

 

[Phill98]

My grandma also used the bag method. I have neverseen her doing it, but I know how it goes. But she only used the bag with big and strong roosters. As for hens and cockerels, she just hold them for their wings.

 

[Pensmaster]

My grandma also used the bag method. I have neverseen her doing it, but I know how it goes. But she only used the bag with big and strong roosters. As for hens and cockerels, she just hold them for their wings.

Good morning Phil98

I like the bag method. I've watched several different techniques and it seems the less stressful and the cleanest method for all participants. A few of the techniques shown online are not respectful of the birds life.

I'm sure the cones work I would just need too many of them.

I don't like butcher day but I don't like the way modern meat is processed either.

How did your grandma cook the bigger roosters so they would be edible. Was there a resting period? I can't imagine folks back then giving the rooster much of a rest before eating them. I'll refrigerate mine but what if there wasn't a refrigerator to let them rest?

Peter

 

[Hholly]

Congrats on the solo cull. If I had let my 14 week old small boys grow out further, I suspect they would be sized similarly to yours (at least the littlest ones, who were close in size to my girls, who are in the 4-4.8 lb range at 20 weeks).

Almost every single NN cockerel flipped themselves out of the cone when I culled (sometimes after cutting the vessels - flying blood!!!!). The second to last, after he almost got out, I wrapped his feet together gently with large versions of these gear ties that I was already using to dunk them in the scalder once dead (see photo below). Last one I secured the feet first thing once in the cone. Totally solved the problem, and they couldn't leverage themselves out.

Your coop looks great! And so does Dumbledore. Glad he's recovered.

Use gloves when making this cut at least on the hand that holds the chickens head. Small 3" sharp pocket knife does best here. The trick is to get the blade into throat once that is done follow the tongue to the back of throat keeping the sharp edge pointing towards the neck bone and the blunt edge of knife pushing on the inside of skin once there make a slice toward the neck bone the veins run along the neck. I find it best to do both sides. Make sure the knife stays on the neck while making the cut I have had it slice though the other side before and it weren't for my glove my hand would be sliced. As I mentioned the knife must be kept sharp for ease of this operation. This took me a couple of times to get it right but I will never do it from the outside again. You can hang a weight from the beak to allow for better bleed. I have only tried that a couple times and found I did not secure the weight good enough. Sometimes a second cut is necessary if the knife is getting dull.

They will still wiggle can't get around that. I'm usually off getting the next bird bagged so I don't stay in the way of wiggle. Wrapped in the feed bag doesn't allow for much wiggle though. I usually have four going at once and that allows enough time that the first one has stopped.

Would a scalpel be good for this procedure? I think I once saw a lady do this cut with scissors, but it's been several years ago so can't be sure.

 

[Pensmaster]

Thank you for the excellent description. Got it. And I also have the perfect knife. An antique citrus knife, 3in long very slim blade that holds an edge beautifully. Plus it has all brass fittings and a lovely pearl handle... being a girl pretty is important. LOL


Not sure how easy it is to find theses knives outside of citrus growing areas, or if they are still made. I got mine at an estate sale of a guy who retired from citrus in the 80,s for a buck.  But researching them turned them up on ebay, however there were many of lower quality on there.  I reccomend this type of knife to everyone around here. It's so handy for just about everything on the farm/in the garden. 

Goosegrrl

Great sounding knife also sounds easy to find while processing. Lol

I use the pocket knife I inherited from my father in law. Reminds me of his stories as a kid growing up when I use it. Holds its edge ok but I have a steel for keeping the edge on it between birds.

Peter

 

[Pensmaster]

Your coop looks great! And so does Dumbledore. Glad he's recovered.
Would a scalpel be good for this procedure? I think I once saw a lady do this cut with scissors, but it's been several years ago so can't be sure.

Hholly
I've thought about the scalpel just not sure about the control needed if it was round handled. Scissors for this type of cut wouldn't be possible as you more have to feel the spot than see it and they would have to be a very small pair.
Peter