The most humane way

[Bryzantium]

I simply ring their necks and let them flap on the ground till they are somewhat still. Then over to the chopping block. Never had any complaints from them.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Bryzantium, I was thinking the same. We are introducing some excess roos to the chopping block but trying to figure out a 'clean' way. My DH has pheasant hunted for many years and when they knocked a bird down (not always completely dead), it was fetched then they would grab the head, spin it and break the neck to finish it off. Can you spin a live chicken easily and snap the neck?? I would much rather do that first then cut the head of it to let it bleed out. Another question (sorry to intrude on the thread) I would like to see the chicken parts used up completely. Any ideas? Liver for catfish bait and the rest of the organs I guess. Feathers will be pitched. Just don't want a lot of waste. My son was told that he had to drink a cup of warm chicken blood to (initiate himself)

WHATEVER!!

Today is the day.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Henry'schickens :

Bryzantium, I was thinking the same. We are introducing some excess roos to the chopping block but trying to figure out a 'clean' way. My DH has pheasant hunted for many years and when they knocked a bird down (not always completely dead), it was fetched then they would grab the head, spin it and break the neck to finish it off. Can you spin a live chicken easily and snap the neck?? I would much rather do that first then cut the head of it to let it bleed out. Another question (sorry to intrude on the thread) I would like to see the chicken parts used up completely. Any ideas? Liver for catfish bait and the rest of the organs I guess. Feathers will be pitched. Just don't want a lot of waste. My son was told that he had to drink a cup of warm chicken blood to (initiate himself)

WHATEVER!!

Today is the day.

We always hit the game on the back of the head with excellent results. I think most of us have had a knock on the noggin a time or two throughout our life. And know that if hard enough it results instant unconsciousness or semi conscious with little to no pain. At least until the headache sets in.

OTOH I have been to a few accident scenes and worked in a hospital and can tell people with broken necks have extreme pain. Anybody with a sprained neck can attest to this. Just because a chicken cannot exhibit pain anymore does not mean it can't feel it. Now I am not against neck ringing, the deed has to be done somehow and if that is what you are comfortable with go for it. The pain is only short term, especially if the neck is cut immediately. And it certainly is less painful than cutting ones finger or hand off on the chopping block.

If you compost you are using the rest of the chicken completely, but the offal would make good fish bait. Just a little messy cleaning the poop out of them first. Some people eat intestines, you just have to boil the poop out of them first. Kidneys boil the pee out of them.​

 

[calgal98]

Has anyone used a pruning shear and cone to cut off the head? I've been thinking it would be quick and easy, especially with a SHARP shear. ??

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

IDK but this is how I do it:

I lack the strength to completely break the neck, so I did my own adaptation.

1. Gather the bird you wish to dispatch.
2. Take the bird where the others can't see it.
3. Tie the wings together and tie the legs together.
4. Take a Pellet Gun and hold the barrel of the loaded gun just above the ear coverts.
5. Shoot.
6. Once the bird stops moving, cut the head off and let it drain out.
7. Repeat with new bird.

 

[calgal98]

That would probably work for me as well. Somehow the distance from trigger to fowl head gives a mental distance to me. I used a similar method for rabbits, but didn't need to tie them. Small cage/grass. They never saw it coming and I preferred it that way. V.

 

[WalkingWolf]

I dispatch mine with a .22 from the back of the head, what you or I are doing is pithing with a bullet. It enters the brain and scrambles it. My pellet riffle is a high quality European target rifle. But the velocity is only around 600fps and if the skull is a hard one it will not scramble the brain sufficient to drop them. With the .22 the bird drops like a sack of potatoes, at least for a couple seconds allowing enough time to pick up by the feet before any flopping starts and then it is minor.

Actually I had avoided bringing up dispatching a bird this way as it tends to bring out some debates not intended for this forum. And to be honest it is not for everybody. It would be nice if they made a affordable captive bolt for use with chickens, as a solid impact to the skull would knock the bird unconscious.

 

[walls0stone]

ok, one thing to think about....
if you draw the whole thing out for ever, tie'n up the bird, give'n him one last Lucky Strike, Make'n him/her walk the green mile and then asking what they want on there tomb stone...

you excite the bird..get the fight or flight going and that will effect the taste of the meat. This is true with all animals. When I butcher a cow, I allways do it in a way that falls into the animals every day habit. So when it comes in for grain that day...nothing is diffrent and then POP.

last year I harvested a cow that was constantly nutty...ever ready for a fight. Her meat is awful.

 

[SpringChickens]

What they do in commercial plants (which I am not saying is the most human way) is they run their heads through a trough of electrified water, which stuns them. Then they slit their throats and finish them off. Wonder if you could find a birdie taser??

 

[calgal98]

Quote:
Shoot, give ME the Lucky Strike...forget the chicken LOL