- Apr 28, 2013
- 17
- 1
- 22
So Sunday my mother came up to visit us and the grandkids. When she was over I was showing her the egg layers in the brooder, the meat chickens in their pen and the new Chicken coop that is close to being done. While she, the wife and kids were in the front yard I thought I would bring one of the larger(5week old) cornish x out of its pen and lets it free roam under supervision in the front yard. It has been cold but Sunday it was BEAUTIFUL and 60's so a perfect time to sit back and watch it roam and do its thing. We are new to chickens so this is all like a sweet science experiment still to us. Well once the dog(Benelli) the beagle found the chicken and started getting excited I thought I should put it back. Well while I was hanging onto it my wife noticed I had some blood on my hands, then found it on my shirt and on my pants etc. Once we did a little checking we noticed that it was coming from the chicken.
Nothing ever bit, chased, excited the chicken more than normal so we can't figure out what happened. Looking closer we find that the wing elbow or joint has actually dislocated and is protruding through the chickens skin!!! I was mortified. When we purchased these I KNEW that they were to eat but I felt responsible for the condition that this bird was in. I didn't know how but I was the one holding it. So, we wrapped the wing close to the bird and put it back. Closer to the end of the day I went and checked on it again and found that the gauze was pulled off and the other birds were picking on the wounded bird. I couldn't take it. After about another hour I decided that the best thing to do would be to dispatch the bird.
Now I am a hunter, have been my entire life so I had no doubt that I could and would do what was necessary. So I heated the water, put a couple nails in the chopping block out back and grabbed the axe. I won't lie I did say a couple nice words to the bird before hand but it was more apologizing for having to take it before its goal maturity date. I calmed the bird and in a very fast manner, cleanly executed the bird. It was fast and there was absolutely no suffering. Cleaned the bird and put it in the fridge for the next day!
Monday night I fired up the weber charcoal grill honored that chickens life with a Budlight can up its butt! And let me tell you, that was the best darn chicken I have ever tasted! Now I am sure that part of it tasting so good was the fact that I know where it came from, how it was raised, how it was killed and stored. But man oh man what a bird.
So my question for you all is this. Do you think I did the right thing? Have any of you had a similar experience? I have another bird of the same age in the pen right now that I think has a broken leg. She is having a pretty hard time getting around. But I am going to try to let her go. She is still eating a drinking as of tonight. What would you guys have done if you were in my situation?
Nothing ever bit, chased, excited the chicken more than normal so we can't figure out what happened. Looking closer we find that the wing elbow or joint has actually dislocated and is protruding through the chickens skin!!! I was mortified. When we purchased these I KNEW that they were to eat but I felt responsible for the condition that this bird was in. I didn't know how but I was the one holding it. So, we wrapped the wing close to the bird and put it back. Closer to the end of the day I went and checked on it again and found that the gauze was pulled off and the other birds were picking on the wounded bird. I couldn't take it. After about another hour I decided that the best thing to do would be to dispatch the bird.
Now I am a hunter, have been my entire life so I had no doubt that I could and would do what was necessary. So I heated the water, put a couple nails in the chopping block out back and grabbed the axe. I won't lie I did say a couple nice words to the bird before hand but it was more apologizing for having to take it before its goal maturity date. I calmed the bird and in a very fast manner, cleanly executed the bird. It was fast and there was absolutely no suffering. Cleaned the bird and put it in the fridge for the next day!
Monday night I fired up the weber charcoal grill honored that chickens life with a Budlight can up its butt! And let me tell you, that was the best darn chicken I have ever tasted! Now I am sure that part of it tasting so good was the fact that I know where it came from, how it was raised, how it was killed and stored. But man oh man what a bird.
So my question for you all is this. Do you think I did the right thing? Have any of you had a similar experience? I have another bird of the same age in the pen right now that I think has a broken leg. She is having a pretty hard time getting around. But I am going to try to let her go. She is still eating a drinking as of tonight. What would you guys have done if you were in my situation?
