Rooster

[lalo navarro]

My rooster starting to crow and become very aggressive I want to smoke him! My question is should I do it in front of the other chickens I mean I know it sounds silly but what kind of effect does it have on them if any I'm new to raising chickens I bought 8 one turned out to be a rooster now he's huge and kind of a nuisance I have never considered him a pet I knew this day would come one day I don't want to kill the hens I want the eggs I just want to do this respectfully to them and the rooster any tips are appreciated as I said I am a newbie!

 

[FridayYet]

Not sure if it makes too much of a difference, but I always do it out of sight and smell of the other chickens.

 

[donrae]

I've butchered in sight of the flock. By the third bird or so, I had a group of hens gathered round, eagerly awaiting the next "treat"---they loved the innards. None ever missed a beat in laying, etc.

The only bird that was ever disturbed was my rooster Tom. He was free ranging with some hens and I butchered some cockerels he'd lived with in the grow out pen. Now, Tom had specific genetics I want in a breeding bird, but he's not the bravest or the brightest. He approached the cockerel in the killing cone (bird was already dead), and you could almost see his thought process...."Hey Phil, whatcha doing there? Why are you hanging like that? Looks pretty weird......OMG! Something's wrong with Phil! I think SHE KILLED PHIL.....Run for your lives!"

It was pretty comical.

Tom still freaks out when I handle him.

Like I said, not the bravest bird ever.

The hens don't care one bit.

 

[Pork Pie]

Not sure if it makes too much of a difference, but I always do it out of sight and smell of the other chickens.

Me too, but occasionally the hens will be their usual nosy selves and hang around to see whats going on. They don't turn their beaks up at drinking the blood

 

[FridayYet]

I've butchered in sight of the flock. By the third bird or so, I had a group of hens gathered round, eagerly awaiting the next "treat"---they loved the innards. None ever missed a beat in laying, etc.

The only bird that was ever disturbed was my rooster Tom. He was free ranging with some hens and I butchered some cockerels he'd lived with in the grow out pen. Now, Tom had specific genetics I want in a breeding bird, but he's not the bravest or the brightest. He approached the cockerel in the killing cone (bird was already dead), and you could almost see his thought process...."Hey Phil, whatcha doing there? Why are you hanging like that? Looks pretty weird......OMG! Something's wrong with Phil! I think SHE KILLED PHIL.....Run for your lives!"

It was pretty comical.

Tom still freaks out when I handle him.

Like I said, not the bravest bird ever.

The hens don't care one bit.

Good to know. I was afraid the chickens would associate me with the killing and not food. (LOL) Anyways, my area where I hang my cone is away from the coop/run so I'd be out of sight of them no matter what.

Funny story about Tom.

 

[junebuggena]

I slaughter while the flock is shut in the run, simply because they would be a complete nuisance otherwise. They love blood and organs.

 

[lalo navarro]

Wow I didn't think they would like their own kind of blood!! They are like little velociraptors lol ok that makes me feel better I just don't want my hens thinking they are gonna get the axe! Pun intended

 

[Ridgerunner]

I slaughter while the flock is shut in the run, simply because they would be a complete nuisance otherwise. They love blood and organs.

This.

I keep an extra bucket handy when I butcher for stuff I feed back to the flock. This includes the digestive tract, fat, male sex organs, internal egg making factory for females, lungs, and other bits and pieces. I cut them into pieces. I keep the gizzard, liver, and heart for my use and the chickens get the rest of the internals. I only feed enough so they can clean it up before dark so I don’t attract predators.

 

[lalo navarro]

I did it! I got his head off with one swipe of a meat clever went out and bought one didn't really have one I was confident in using I took one pic of him hanging but it so cold outside my breath covers most of the pic I will post later.

 

[Maeschak]

I did it! I got his head off with one swipe of a meat clever went out and bought one didn't really have one I was confident in using I took one pic of him hanging but it so cold outside my breath covers most of the pic I will post later.

Congratulations! Did you use a wood block/stump method with two nails to hold the head or something else?