Need Advice-I'm too soft hearted to butcher the cockerels

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

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That's a tough issue for a lot of folks to face, especially those of us accustomed to our modern urban culture. It's an unfamiliar concept, to kill an animal by ourselves for our own food, to kill an animal we're not frightened of, or threatened or disgusted by. That's why it really helps to consider them like produce you grew for the table. You wouldn't say "oh that's such a beautiful tomato, I could never eat that! Instead I'll pick these from the branch that poked me in the head, and those ugly ones there."

For some people I don't think it's easy no matter where you live. From 10 till 18 I lived in the country till I joined the Navy. Then from 22 till now I've been back there. I've taken 30 to 40 deer in the past 20 years. My first one at 14. I've never had a problem with taking wild deer. Now if I had raised them from babies that I bottle fed and kept warm in my house. It would be totally different. I wouldn't be able to kill them. I was hoping to sell or trade my extra roos so this didn't happen but I didn't have any luck. So now Ive put my mind to it that this is what I have to do. And I think how good they'll taste and how healthy they'll be without all of the chemicals used to make them grow fast. I haul liquid chicken feed from time to time to Tysons and Pilgrems Pride. I don't know what is in it but it sure does stink

 

[tackyrama]

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Well, I only have one year of college so obviously I don't know much. I am 62 yrs old and have heard this many times over the years, in books, movies, etc. I live in a state where there is a large native American population. A very good friend I went to school with is half Ojibway and lives on the reservation now. I remember him talking about ceremonies and giving thanks for a kill. There you have it. You don't have to take my word, after all I'm uneducated. If there is any Native Americans reading this post please give us your thoughts.

 

[danielbrown]

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Yep a just look at it like chore and don't over think it. If you sit there and tell your self that you can't do you'll make your self believe that you can't do something.

 

[dirtyshoes]

one of the most beautiful things I ever saw I saw inside a chicken I had butchered. I dad mis IDd a hen as a roo and as I was diong the evicerating thing I discovered she was a she and was developing a row of eggs. that cascade of developing eggs from almost shelled to tiny tiny yolks was about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Wounldnt have seen it if I hadnt butchered that bird. Just do it you never know whats there for you— its much more than the killing part.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

Well it rained all morning. It finally let up around noon so I went out and shot 2 little RIR cockerels. And started on those. And finished those and went out and shot 2 NHR cockerels and now they're done. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I just took all of the advice that everyone gave me to heart and got it done. So thanks to you all. If anyone hasn't done it yet it's not so bad. I didn't have an axe. Only a machette. My grandpa used to shoot some in the head....so I did the same. I guess everyone has their own way of doing it.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

good for you! glad it wasnt so bad.... its hard to march out there tho, i know.

but i hope that you are proud of yourself and dont take it too hard. if you cant eat them in their ...ahem.. true to life form... dont feel bad about putting them in a pot (or crock pot!) and cooking them down for stew and stock.

next time you'll know and maybe even get some meaties!

good for you

 

[Bossroo]

Rooster Cogburn Jr. :

Well it rained all morning. It finally let up around noon so I went out and shot 2 little RIR cockerels. And started on those. And finished those and went out and shot 2 NHR cockerels and now they're done. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I just took all of the advice that everyone gave me to heart and got it done. So thanks to you all. If anyone hasn't done it yet it's not so bad. I didn't have an axe. Only a machette. My grandpa used to shoot some in the head....so I did the same. I guess everyone has their own way of doing it.

Congratulations on your dispatch. However, I would ask you to NOT shoot your birds with any type of firearm. A firearm projectile will go through the chicken head and travel to places unkown and may be lethal to another living being. A BB or pellet will kill a chicken or it just may bounce off the scull and hit an unintended victim. A .22 bullet will travel a mile and just may hit an unintended victim with deadly potential. Thank you for listening.​

 

[jjparke]

My first was difficult but I can tell you this- it's gets easier every time. The only thing I think about now is YUMM meat in the freezer baby.

 

[twentynine]

Congrats on accomplishment. Let the safety lecture on fire arms go. Obviously you are a responsible person.
For me it was always an issue of smell. I could kill them, but the smell of wet feathers would make me sick. I did over come this, but it wasn't fun or easy.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

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We ended up getting all 7 done despite the rain and thunderstorms. We didn't even get started till after noon sometime. We got 6 wrapped and in the freezer and had one for supper. We butchered 5 NHR's and 2 RIR's. Leaving me with 4 NHR's and 2 RIR's running around. Things seem to be getting better already. My Silver Phoenix that I never see was running around the yard this evening and My 3 Russian Orloffs that stick together and I wouldn't see them till time to go into the coop, they came out of their hiding place in the woods and were in the yard walking around. Maybe things will be more relaxed with out all of the chasing going on. I hope so.

And there was no smell or wet feathers. We pulled the skin off feathers and all.

I got my first rifle at 11 and shotgun at 13. I know how to handle a firearm. My property is surrounded by 100' and taller pine trees. A stray bullet would not go past them. Plus, I'm standing two feet away and pointing down at about a 45 degree angle. The bullet is buried in the dirt after passing through the neck. I used a .17 Magnumbthat is way more powerful and faster than a .22. It's about 3500 feet per second. My 30-06 deer rifle is maybe 2600 feet per second. Depending on the weight of the bullet. And the .17 shoots well over a mile. So I am careful about what I shoot and where I aim.