New to chicken killing....

[Mattemma]

I need to kill my sick hen. I have never killed a chicken. I have a hachet in the garage somewhere,and was thinking that was the best way to kill her. Will chickens generally stay still if you lay their head on a a solid surface? I am worried she might move when I swing,and I will just injure her.

Been reading about twisting the neck.Dislocating the spine.Starter fluid.Gasing via the car. Shooting(I have no gun).Wacking the head on a hard surface. Something about baking soda.Putting them in a freezer......well you get the idea that there are many ways.

Nervous as I am I think(could be wrong) that chopping off the head is best. I can't go running to the vet every time I need to put down a sick animal.

So when you did your FIRST killing what method did you use,and what do you do now???

 

[jambunny]

Personally the only thing I can do is head chopping. But I do agree I have just injured and then had to hit again. It makes me actually cry. But if you devise something to hold the head and neck in place it shouldn't happen.

 

[jarcoo0153]

Find an old stump and put two nails in it,close together but were you can slide its head through. Then streach em out, then give it a wack! This is how we butcher our birds, works great! Make sure you hold the wings, because it is going to flap for a good while, and wear old clothes, incase of blood splatter!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
This is the easiest and best.

 

[Mahonri]

We processed a roo this afternoon.

I held it down in a make-shift cone, Son jumped on a shovel and cut it's head off. We held it tight while it bled out. Big roo and it's ready to go into the oven tomorrow morning for Sunday dinner.

 

[mystus808]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB5x3CcY6UE

Try the swinging thing idk if it will work but i seems to stun them.

 

[booker81]

I process chickens by hanging by their feet and slicing the neck with a very sharp knife. Done calmly and quickly, they don't seem to notice, and flapping doesn't start until they are near death and the whole random body movement starts up. Hanging upside down seems to stun/calm them. I don't leave them like that for long while they are alive, but only wait for them to relax so they don't move when I cut. Within a minute or two after cutting, they've expired.

I know folks talk about wringing the neck like grandma, but well, it's not as easy as it would seem

If you read in the meat bird section, there are few stories about failed neck wringing. I know when duck and goose hunting, we have to wring the neck to finish off mortally wounded birds, and well, it's not only hard and takes a lot of effort, but it's pretty.....gross. Even to me. I prefer to waste another shot.

 

[Mattemma]

Thanks for the posts. I watched some people doing the deed on you tube. I think I will try the nails in the stump,and wrap her up in a towel or plastic bag to control the wings. Tomorrow will be the ideal day because ds will be in school,and dd with be out with grandma. I don't have anyone to help me so I need to set things up for one person killing. My hen is heavy with gut bloat.Possibly infected for 2 months now.Since no treatment worked it is best to do this.

My grandma and her sis did the hold by feet and slice the neck. I might do that later on.Maybe with a cone. This first kill I know I will hesitate.

On a positive note I keep telling myself that this will possibly bring me one step closer to having meat birds.Either that or I will go vegan.

Thank you again.

Going to go check out the meat bird section and feed the hen some special treats.

 

[ValleyofRoses]

I've done the method where you hang them by their feet and slice their neck, and agree that it was a very calm experience. Definitely easier for me to handle than chopping the head...Although, having to kill them is really tough, it's something you have to get used to I guess. There's no way I'll eat one of my own though, it's just too sad. Good luck!

 

[midget_farms]

I tried the neck wringing thing 1 time. The head popped off right in my hand.

Didn't care for that.

The next time I used my lopers & it was quick & painless - but still not that cool.

After that I started with the hatchet method.

None are very pleasant.

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.