Question about method

[HEChicken]

I was in TSC this afternoon and looked at a "how-to" book for slaughtering all types of animals. Curious as to what they might suggest, I flipped to the poultry section, where they showed a two-step method. Step One was similar to Joel Salatin's method - hang the bird, and slice across the throat. But then the book suggested a Step Two, which was to take the knife, look for a groove in the back of the mouth and push up through the mouth into the brain. It went on to say that when you hear a squawk, you're done. I have never heard of this before and am wondering if this is a well-known/used method by BYC'ers. The reason they gave for doing it is that it relaxes the muscles, making plucking easy. I am a vegetarian because I don't like the inhumane way commercial animals are treated, but am looking forward to chicken dinner provided by my own backyard roosters, because I can have peace of mind that they have had good lives free-ranging my backyard and were killed humanely. But Step Two sounds less humane to me than just letting them bleed out and lose consciousness. The squawk would tend to indicate the bird is aware and feeling this, even if death does follow immediately afterward. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of or tried this and what they thought of the method?

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

The method is called pithing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/search.php?search_id=1837449856


ETA: I have never tried it - I am a hatchet girl. But might try it some day.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

The squawk is when the brain is severed from the spinal cord, it's a muscle contraction.

Steve in NC

 

[Germaine_11.20]

pithing is actually supposed to be more humane when done correctly. I pith and usually get it right, not always. It is never an easy thing to do, but you do what you gotta do.
The feathers really do pluck easier when you pith the bird.
BTW when you slice the throat, the bird is going to flop around. Be prepared for that. I find when pithed the bird flops less. Look up the post if you are considering it and learn how to do it. There is a trick to getting the right place.

 

[HEChicken]

Thanks - that word wasn't mentioned in the book but I do recall hearing it.

HorseFeatherz NV - that link isn't working - was it to another post about pithing? I can probably do a search for it....

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
I am sorry - not sure why but works for me (maybe cause I did it while signed in?)

I just used the search in the blue bar - put in pithing and had it search titles only in meat birds.

 

[alicefelldown]

You can't link another person your search results. It is a dead link when viewed from a different account.

Here is a good post on pithing: Well I DID IT!! Pithing vs. Hatchet.... Graphic pics**** https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=90607

 

[jaku]

It's a pretty well known method, but I don't think too many people bother with doing it.