The Ballista Bolt Gun for Stuning Poultry during culling

[smithmal]

I need to cull some of my ducks as they are no longer laying. I've done one round of culling in the past using a kill cone and cutting the jugular. Saw a video of "The Ballista" which is a bolt gun used for rabbits and poultry.

Here's a video of it being used to stun a chicken.

After stunning the poultry should be bled. The Ballist is relatively inexpensive ($65) and no ammo, electricity or cartridges needed: https://www.bunnyrancher.com/store/p42/The_Ballista_-_Penetrating_Bolt_Gun_.html

Anyone used one of these? Any thought on this?

Is the skull thickness of a duck decidingly thicker than a chicken? The manufacturer does have a larger more powerful device but I'm not sure it would be needed.

Thanks,

smithmal

 

[pennyJo1960]

never heard of either need to do more research

 

[aart]

Yep, have seen these before, never used one but sure looks effective.
I would think that if it would work on a rabbit it would work on a duck...
...tho have never slaughtered either.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Jpat

 

[Jpat]

after alot of conaideration and trying out about everyway you can kill something an
axe is my choice everytime

if someone decides to eat me i hope they use an axe

 

[cluckmecoop7]

if someone decides to eat me i hope they use an axe

 

[fatcatx]

Reviving this thread hoping to get the opinion of someone who has used one. Looks easy to use but I don't want the expense unless I know so. I don't like the throat method and I'd use an ax if I wasnt concerned I'd lose a finger each time.

 

[fatcatx]

Just checked bunny thread too - only thread I found had naysayers but no one who had actually used it?

 

[Isaac 0]

I have always and will always use the axe method, to eliminate the need to hold the head down, simply put two nails in the log at a V and set the head in there( It doesn't hurt the bird)
If you are careful you won't lose a finger, I have been doing this method for year's and I still have my Seven fingers left.

 

[fatcatx]

I guess it's a self-confidence thing. Maybe if you knew me you wouldn't trust my ax-swinging abilities either. The bolt gun seems more fool-proof because you've got the head firmly pinned down by the gun with little chance of them moving their head at the last second.

Seems like it would be less messy too since you can do it in a cone over a bucket. But maybe these are all false assumption.