San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[hemet dennis]

Oh my gosh, did you see the latest ideal poultry deals?
They are really trying to get me in trouble.

No I didn't, what did they have ?

 

[Aumlet]

Good for you!!! Congrats! I use tree loppers, works better than trying to cut the head off and cuts the spine causing instant death- no suffering.

Oh I am so doing this next time. While the deaths weren't drawn out (looking back) they were not instant and they lasted forever as far as my emotions are concerned. That was the brutal part. Eek, I'm going to start crying just remembering it! Tree loppers it will be.

 

[vannaHaines]

Ya'll are so brave. I've contemplated processing any roos I end up with, but I just don't have the heart for it yet. How does one toughen up to perform such a task. *sigh*

 

[aaajjss1]

Vanna, i think it would be easier if we were r really really hungry lol, i just sold 5 lf light Brahma roos that were big beautiful boys. My daughter really wanted to eat them lol but neither of us could do the deed. The guy that bought them said they delicious. I feel stupid going to the store to buy chicken after that. :/

 

[vannaHaines]

I guess for me it's currently a non-issue because I don't live in a place where I can have an excessive number of chickens, but I do hope to one day have a bigger piece of land where I can free range my birds as well as breed them. *sigh* One day......

 

[dfdesigns]

I use tree loppers, too. Keep a sharp pair and use it only for chicken duties, and you'll feel a whole lot better about what you're doing!

Welcome to all the new peeps! This is a great group full of wonderful people...

Broody Breaking Project day #3 begins now. (She is still seriously cranky with me.) Between her and the Campines I moved to new digs over the weekend, I have some mighty unhappy chickens at the moment.

 

[LaPetiteFarmer]

Welcome Lisa!

Tree loppers? The ones you use to cut trees? I thought cutting the head made them suffer, and it was better to use a sharp knife to cut through the artery? I have never done it because I am such a wuss, but I asked my neighbor if he could do it few weeks ago for one of my silkie. He just chopped the head and I guess the poor thing moved for quite a while
As for plucking, I heard from my grandpa to boil water and put the dead chicken in it (hold the feet). I guess it is very easy and fast.
Dana, let me know if you broody breaking project works because I have one of my silkie who has been broody since January 10th. The silly girl is brooding on top of the roosting bar

. I even introduced the new roo to her thinking it was going to break her, but no, not at all.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Dana, let me know if you broody breaking project works because I have one of my silkie who has been broody since January 10th. The silly girl is brooding on top of the roosting bar

. I even introduced the new roo to her thinking it was going to break her, but no, not at all.

Wow, she's a tough one then. I'd put her in a suspended bottomless cage (like those wire dog crates), in your garage, and point a fan blowing lightly at her vent. Turn it off at night of course. OR. . . . give her some eggs :cd A quick chop of the head is definitely a quicker death. The fact that they move so much afterwards is...well...bothersome. Wish they'd just fall limp. Would be much easier on the psyche.

 

[perchie.girl]

...
OR. . . . give her some eggs

A quick chop of the head is definitely a quicker death. The fact that they move so much afterwards is...well...bothersome. Wish they'd just fall limp. Would be much easier on the psyche.

I think that's what the killing cone is helpful for. Are we talking about Loppers the kind with the long handles?

FWIW The movement is just residual electrical input firing off on the muscles. Once the head has no air or blood its not long before they are gone. There would be no difference cutting the juggler or lopping off the head. Once the blood stops to the brain....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Ya'll are so brave. I've contemplated processing any roos I end up with, but I just don't have the heart for it yet. How does one toughen up to perform such a task. *sigh*

You know I used to ask myself that.... Till I spoke with a gal who raised goats for meat and for sale. All bottle raised all had names and play toys.

She did all her own processing. She said the way she does her goats is she sits with them she does the cut then she talks and pets them while they pass. She didnt want anyone else to do it because it would be too traumatic for the goats. Her way of controlling their last moments.

Chickens have far less complicated thought processes. Have you ever noticed how once you grab them by the feet and hang them upside down they just relax.

For instance I have a Mumbling roo.... hes too funney. Hes a black Silkey named Truffle and while he walks he talks kind of a stecatto mumbling. Hes a scrapper too got into the Wellie pen and went after a Wellie roo . Hes half the size of the Wellie.... I tried to break it up but could only get hold of one foot on the Silky. I reached down and got the other foot and lifted him up.... LOL Chicken feet always surprise me at how soft and warm they are. He immediately stopped mumbling and dangled his wings.... like OK I give up... and went limp. I carried him this way till I could get the propper doors shut and opened then gently layed him down in his own coop. He layed there a moment generally assessing if he was dead or not then Hopped up and started mumbling and walking again.

deb