I have 2 handreared cockerels, both good affectionate boys, both of which I'm attached to. But we only have four hens, so I decided to cull one of the roosters. It was not my first cull. Never had any problems before even with birds I've been very attached to (a house chicken ).
Anyway, I got the machete & dumped the bird on the table held by its feet like normal..... a grey barred roo with a wonky crest, no name. He had gone for me in the past once, but never again & is usually very sweet & boss roo.
My normal method of culling is the favourite "chop of its head".
The bird just wouldn't keep still. All the over birds just lie there & off goes their head... After a second blow which took off half his neck feathers, but missed his neck I decided to try some thing different. The broomstick method. I was very forceful with this.
Laid the birds head on the floor - check. Placed broomstick handle over the back of birds neck & place foot on it - check. Pull up hard - check.
Bird went floppy. Then I turned to go inside & he opened his eyes & looked at me looking terrified & upset. Understandably. This didn't faze me, I just felt disappointed I hadn't done it well enough. Right?
So I tried again - harder! He flopped again. This time we got to the kitchen when I heard a quiet croaky "Bock!"
By this point close to having a nervous breakdown thinking about all the suffering I'm causing, I raced outside again. This time I pulled so hard I heard a crack & I nearly fell over backwards as his head got yanked so hard, it flew out from under the broomstick handle. I was pulling up & back on the body, incase anyone was wondering.
This time I thought "Yes, I've finally done it. Roll on sunday dinner" before I heard the bl**dy thing quietly gasping for breath once I was back in the kitchen. He just hung limp with his eyes closed, beak open & I felt terrible. So I put him on the floor & fetched a bowl of food & water which he gulped down. He seems recovered already apart from being very quiet, but I just can't try again. Now he's perched on the back room sofa while I'm on the PC writing this.
It was made even worse by him seeking reassurance from me about what just happened
Why do animals have to be so trusting?!!
I've just tried to kill him & he still wants to sit on my knee & be petted
He's obviously got a very sore neck & missing feathers. I'm lousy
I've always prided myself on how humanly I've killed my birds, but that one just wouldn't die. After this, no chance will he be sunday dinner
just can't bring myself to cause him more trauma,
Guess he'll be on his own until I buy him more ladies ....
Anyway, I got the machete & dumped the bird on the table held by its feet like normal..... a grey barred roo with a wonky crest, no name. He had gone for me in the past once, but never again & is usually very sweet & boss roo.
My normal method of culling is the favourite "chop of its head".
The bird just wouldn't keep still. All the over birds just lie there & off goes their head... After a second blow which took off half his neck feathers, but missed his neck I decided to try some thing different. The broomstick method. I was very forceful with this.
Laid the birds head on the floor - check. Placed broomstick handle over the back of birds neck & place foot on it - check. Pull up hard - check.
Bird went floppy. Then I turned to go inside & he opened his eyes & looked at me looking terrified & upset. Understandably. This didn't faze me, I just felt disappointed I hadn't done it well enough. Right?
So I tried again - harder! He flopped again. This time we got to the kitchen when I heard a quiet croaky "Bock!"
By this point close to having a nervous breakdown thinking about all the suffering I'm causing, I raced outside again. This time I pulled so hard I heard a crack & I nearly fell over backwards as his head got yanked so hard, it flew out from under the broomstick handle. I was pulling up & back on the body, incase anyone was wondering.
This time I thought "Yes, I've finally done it. Roll on sunday dinner" before I heard the bl**dy thing quietly gasping for breath once I was back in the kitchen. He just hung limp with his eyes closed, beak open & I felt terrible. So I put him on the floor & fetched a bowl of food & water which he gulped down. He seems recovered already apart from being very quiet, but I just can't try again. Now he's perched on the back room sofa while I'm on the PC writing this.
It was made even worse by him seeking reassurance from me about what just happened

I've just tried to kill him & he still wants to sit on my knee & be petted

He's obviously got a very sore neck & missing feathers. I'm lousy


Guess he'll be on his own until I buy him more ladies ....
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