Processing ducks and geese and chickens

[davidsonroost]

Hello,
We (my husband, brother, and I) processed our three Pekin ducks last week. We had no experience with any of the steps before. We had raised chickens for meat, but took them to a local couple who processed them for us. This time, the couple was too busy during the window we needed the ducks done (for pin feathers) so we did them ourselves after tons of reading.
The process we did worked well for us. I read (I think on here?) to make a little jacket for the ducks out of a grocery shopping bag and duct tape. You cut a small hole in the bottom of the bag and slip the ducks head in. Then you tape the duct tape (a bit tighter than you think you need to) around the duck's wings, about in the middle. The purpose of this is to stop the ducks from flapping after the deed is done.
We then made a little slipnot bailing twine leash for the ducks. We had a stump from a tree, and we caught the ducks (the were not tame), put on the "jacket" of plastic and duck tape, said a blessing, then laid them down on the stump, the "leash" was pulled tight while the feet were held, and the head quickly removed with a sharpened hatchet.
With the "jacket" on the bird, we were able to immediately hang the bird for bleeding out. I liked this method better than the discribed slitting throats, as you have no doubt if the bird is dead or not. Also, it required very little in the means of special tools. I don't know how humane it was compared to slitting throats (which I have read experienced people say is the most humane?) but for rank beginners like us, it was swift, effective, and definate.
I'm not sure this helps, just throwing out my 2 cents

I was kind of thinking same thing. My husband said to just chop off head with ax. With me though I didn't know. After seeing the pictures though and seeing that artery cut and let it just bleed out. To me for a few seconds maybe mins it is suffering. With the ax though it's a quick kill and no suffering. So for us after talking about it we will use a very sharp hatchet or ax. I am so glad I found BYC I have gotten so much advice and great advice from so many fine people. Thank you for your 2 cents lol it was actually worth way more than that.

 

[jdywntr]

Great advice and I will only add to practice your swing and chop first. My first time processing was a muscovy drake and they have thick necks. It did not go well, partly due to my hesitation but also my not practicing my swing first. Have a back up plan in mind just in case you decide you can't do the axe. I now slit the throat. I process by myself (trying to get the hubby to help). It takes a little longer but I slit the throat and hold the neck out to help the bleeding. Then I hold the wings to prevent too much thrashing. It is peaceful looking. I have done more chickens than ducks (no geese yet) and they calm quickly when upside down.

Also, ducks and geese will have thicker vertebra than chickens so keep that in mind if using an axe. I had read to practice with branches.

 

[LightningTFarm]

This post does sound cruel to some and I'm sorry for this but this outcome is one of the reasons we got them. Ok my question is what is the best way to kill a duck and goose and chicken? I have always heard to wring a chickens neck and I just don't like the sound of this. Is there a better way? I will be having to do this in a month or so when it gets a little cooler.My husband says he really isn't looking forward to killing one of the geese because those are his favorite but he knows why we have to and that is why we got them. So to spare him lol I will be doing the deed.

Welcome to BYC!!