The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[loanwizard]

My birds don't flop on the lawn.... wait a minute.... I have a yard! I either hold the chicken over the bucket, or tie it in the noose by the feet hanging from the basketball hoop.

Anyhow, unless y'all are worried about bruised ankles.....

 

[stonykill]

My birds don't flop on the lawn.... wait a minute.... I have a yard! I either hold the chicken over the bucket, or tie it in the noose by the feet hanging from the basketball hoop.

Anyhow, unless y'all are worried about bruised ankles.....

I use zip ties. Quick and easy. Grab the bird, zip tie it's legs. Grab the axe and remove the head while holding onto the bird. Keeping the entire body on the chopping block. It can wiggle, can't flap.I never checked for bruised ankles

. 2 reasons I do it this way. 1 like I said earlier it is the way I was taught. AND there is no way anyone can convince me that bleeding to death is more humane than an instant death with an axe. I'm all about the quickest death possible. I owe it to the birds.

 

[loanwizard]

I use zip ties. Quick and easy. Grab the bird, zip tie it's legs. Grab the axe and remove the head while holding onto the bird. Keeping the entire body on the chopping block. It can wiggle, can't flap.I never checked for bruised ankles

. 2 reasons I do it this way. 1 like I said earlier it is the way I was taught. AND there is no way anyone can convince me that bleeding to death is more humane than an instant death with an axe. I'm all about the quickest death possible. I owe it to the birds.

Well.... I used to use a hatchet, but apparently I wasn't very good at it. I now use a handle.... any implement handle... and yank. I too think instant death is the most humane.

I haven't tried the vampire method since, with my adeptness with a hatchet (sarcasm alert), I am afraid to search for the right spot with a scalpel. I might cut off my dang thumb!

 

[nxb161]

NXB161 not really familiar with traveling distances in pa, but while visiting lancaster a few yrs back I found a company called lancaster agriculture, an all natural menonite run company. www.lancasterag.com. they sell organic chicken feed. If nothing else, they mail an interesting newsletter and catalog.

Lancaster is 1-1/2 - 2 hours away. I'm leaning more toward natural and soy free, mainly because of the organic prices. I've been talking to people locally about what feed mills are in the area. There is one not to far from my work that I'm going to try to talk with this week to see what they offer and prices. Thank you for the web address, I'll check it out after I send this.

 

[stonykill]

Well.... I used to use a hatchet, but apparently I wasn't very good at it. I now use a handle.... any implement handle... and yank. I too think instant death is the most humane.

I haven't tried the vampire method since, with my adeptness with a hatchet (sarcasm alert), I am afraid to search for the right spot with a scalpel. I might cut off my dang thumb!

flattest edged hatchet or ax you can find will work best. Or it does for me. Your typical cheapo hatchet has a very round face. Flatter face, square strike, head off 1 swing. Then stand there for 30 seconds to a few minutes , hang up the bird (already have zip ties on it) and grab the next. After a few of them I usually go in and eat breakfast while they hang and the water is warming

 

[PeepsCA]

So I take it that none of you guys pith your birds? I was told by an OT poultry friend of mine that if you quickly and correctly pith their brain they are basically brain dead and don't feel the knife slice, but the heart still pumps while they are bleeding out. Plus pithing them helps release the feathers if I choose not to scald them before plucking. Is this misinformation? Typically after I pith them they go limp, and there's no spasming or flapping until they've bled out most of the way.

 

[stonykill]

So I take it that none of you guys pith your birds? I was told by an OT poultry friend of mine that if you quickly and correctly pith their brain they are basically brain dead and don't feel the knife slice, but the heart still pumps while they are bleeding out. Plus pithing them helps release the feathers if I choose not to scald them before plucking. Is this misinformation? Typically after I pith them they go limp, and there's no spasming or flapping until they've bled out most of the way.

with the birds literally having a pea sized brain I just wouldn't trust myself to get it right. From experience I would have to say the heart still pumps after the head is removed. That is the only explanation I have for what I see.....

 

[Leahs Mom]

Please define: Pith

 

[stonykill]

Please define: Pith

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/214150/how-do-you-pith-a-chicken



3rd post or so down gives a good explanation.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Got it.

I wouldn't do that. Don't see the point.