Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[Beekissed]

This is the link posted (I think on p 554?) earlier in this thread. She uses scissors to kill/decapitate! Fast !

I couldn't get past them struggling to get those chicken's heads down to the bottom of their jugs...why not just mount those jugs on a tree and cut a bigger hole at the bottom? Works like a charm and no time lost in digging for a head, hands free working too.

 

[jimbob86]

I couldn't get past them struggling to get those chicken's heads down to the bottom of their jugs...why not just mount those jugs on a tree and cut a bigger hole at the bottom? Works like a charm and no time lost in digging for a head, hands free working too.

Purpose built cones work better, if it matters that much..... and are not hard to make, really............

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I couldn't get past them struggling to get those chicken's heads down to the bottom of their jugs...why not just mount those jugs on a tree and cut a bigger hole at the bottom? Works like a charm and no time lost in digging for a head, hands free working too.

Yeah, that bugged me, too.

I've got a good steel killing cone. I'll use the same thing, but rather than trying to cut the vessels and let them bleed out (difficult to get right and a bit upsetting), I would put in cone, restrain legs, then quickly decapitate.

I'm really going to try this next time I cull.

- Ant Farm

 

[Beekissed]

I can see scissors working on 3 lb CX but not on my regular LF birds. They'd have to be one expensive~and huge~ pair of scissors to cut through their necks...I've broken any poultry scissors I've ever owned just trying to cut wing joints and such.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I can see scissors working on 3 lb CX but not on my regular LF birds. They'd have to be one expensive~and huge~ pair of scissors to cut through their necks...I've broken any poultry scissors I've ever owned just trying to cut wing joints and such.

There was the comment about bypass pruners. I've got some seriously strong bypass pruners... Bet that would work well...

- Ant Farm

 

[fisherlady]

I can see scissors working on 3 lb CX but not on my regular LF birds. They'd have to be one expensive~and huge~ pair of scissors to cut through their necks...I've broken any poultry scissors I've ever owned just trying to cut wing joints and such.

There was the comment about bypass pruners. I've got some seriously strong bypass pruners... Bet that would work well...

- Ant Farm

I agree with Bee on questioning the effectiveness on large fowl birds, I would definitely have a backup plan on hand... but I am not familiar with the bypass pruners, will have to handle some at the hardware to check them out firsthand. Always good to hear of alternatives and different experiences.

 

[fisherlady]

I would have to get a pair of pruners out of the shed to see, but I think mine are the 'parrot' type...I have long handled 'limb loppers' for bigger branches. I don't think I would be able to get enough pressure with short handles to get through a neck and spine quickly, would definitely want to experiment on a real chicken neck from a previously butchered bird before trying on a live one. I have no doubt they would work great for culling younger birds though.

 

[Penny Hen]

I am so torn. I have 4 roos and only need 2. None are mean like the red roo that I processed last year. He spurred me one time too many and that made it easy. But these guys are nice. And they have the most gorgeous feathers. Until I get out to the pen I can say that I will keep the senoir roo (Long John Silver) and the youngest (Moose) because he is a brown silver. These are Olive Eggers of Marans/Ameraucana breeding. But Blue beard has a gorgeous mottled beard. And Yellow Legs have so much red bleeding through his shoulders it looks like a sunset. And I worry that "dissappearing" them from the flock might be upsetting to the rest. Everyone saw me grab up Rufus when he attacked me that last time and carry him away to the house from which he never resurfaced. But they also knew he deserved it because he had been jumping me for months. Even Long John would beat him up when Rufus would jump me.

 

[LeafBlade12345]

I am so torn. I have 4 roos and only need 2. None are mean like the red roo that I processed last year. He spurred me one time too many and that made it easy. But these guys are nice. And they have the most gorgeous feathers. Until I get out to the pen I can say that I will keep the senoir roo (Long John Silver) and the youngest (Moose) because he is a brown silver. These are Olive Eggers of Marans/Ameraucana breeding. But Blue beard has a gorgeous mottled beard. And Yellow Legs have so much red bleeding through his shoulders it looks like a sunset. And I worry that "dissappearing" them from the flock might be upsetting to the rest. Everyone saw me grab up Rufus when he attacked me that last time and carry him away to the house from which he never resurfaced. But they also knew he deserved it because he had been jumping me for months. Even Long John would beat him up when Rufus would jump me.

You could always sell them on Craigslist or at a local supply shop. If you post an add at a feed store you may get some takers. You can also post on here in the In need of free rehoming section with pics to see if there will be any takers here.

Regards,
Leaf

 

[Beekissed]

I am so torn. I have 4 roos and only need 2. None are mean like the red roo that I processed last year. He spurred me one time too many and that made it easy. But these guys are nice. And they have the most gorgeous feathers. Until I get out to the pen I can say that I will keep the senoir roo (Long John Silver) and the youngest (Moose) because he is a brown silver. These are Olive Eggers of Marans/Ameraucana breeding. But Blue beard has a gorgeous mottled beard. And Yellow Legs have so much red bleeding through his shoulders it looks like a sunset. And I worry that "dissappearing" them from the flock might be upsetting to the rest. Everyone saw me grab up Rufus when he attacked me that last time and carry him away to the house from which he never resurfaced. But they also knew he deserved it because he had been jumping me for months. Even Long John would beat him up when Rufus would jump me.

I wouldn't worry too much about what the chickens may feel about it all. They pretty much don't have the capacity to worry about things like humans do and are blissfully unaware as they go through their chickeny lives. They do notice when the flock changes but they don't seem to waste much time in feeling bad about it. God didn't fashion them with a human's ability to reason and feel emotions so they work mainly on instinct.