Tips for getting through first cull.

[Vicker]

We don't butcher very often, but it's hard every time. We use a cone. I am fortunate enough that my husband is willing to make the cut. Since mine aren't meat birds and are either roosters or old hens, the meat doesn't wow me. As others mentioned, they have to be cooked differently than a pack of chicken from the store. The flavor has more depth, though. I wouldn't force myself to be the one to kill and eat the bird if I struggled very deeply with the notion. I wouldn't have a problem giving it to someone else, though.

 

[Sharkspeare]

We butchered chickens and ducks for the first time this year. A few thoughts.

1. We kept in mind our purpose. We bought fowl so that we could reduce dependence on grocery store meat. We know exactly what they are fed and how they are raised - not in factory farms, but with wholesome food and a wonderful life. That was our purpose.
2. It's a solemn task and we take it seriously, and it makes us appreciate ALL of our food more. We see this as a positive, not a negative.
3. We keep our minds to the task, but the task is done with love and gratitude. I guess what I am trying to say is that once we make the choice to butcher, we become more "businesslike", and that is how we begin the emotional transition from "We love these beauties!" to "It is time."
4. We agreed that if it was too emotionally hard - THAT'S OKAY. That just means that we would have to sell our flock and maybe keep a couple of birds as pets only and that's that. It is okay to know yourself and respect your spirit. We ended up being able to have a good process, physically and emotionally. It deepened our appreciation and gratitude for food, and ended up being positive for us. We're all different, and not every answer works for every person!

You'll find what works for you, and getting input from others here is so helpful.

 

[ladyearth]

Of course he wants to live. we are animals too. its a shame we as human take their lives. We humans think we have the right to.
Thanks all

 

[Stillplaysindirt]

I was raised on a farm. My parents had hundreds of hens and we rasied all our meat. I don't know if I really did chop off a hen's head, but I think I did when told to do so. We had so many hens that they weren't pets. 35 years later, it's so hard to think about killing a hen, little lone, to do it. I'm now a vegetarian. I know how smart and wonderful the cows and pigs were, I just can't eat them. And, the industry treats them so badly. I do have 3 or four hens for their eggs. I let them live out their lives. Sometimes, there's been no way around it; sometimes, "it" has to be done, ending one hen's or roo's life. I'm a wreck weeks before and, it seems, months after. I use a sharp hatchet. You have to put all your force behind it, because the neck bones are very tough and hard to cut through. One clean, quick, hard stroke. Just reading about the "broom" method makes me sick. I want it over quickly for them. Best I did, when I couldn't find anyone to keep the roo ( I can't have roosters in town), is have a neighbor guy do it for me, one time. If I can, if the hens are "just old" and not suffering, I let them live their lives out. I have three hen houses with pens on my lot. One for the new babies (easily dis-assemble when not needed), one for the laying hens, and one for the retired. All, except the babies, each group has free feeding yard time most every day. I let one group out at a time. It's just a commitment I make.

 

[barchorses52]

I need advice.

The thing I am trying to overcome is, killing an animal that is perfectly healthy, causing no problems, and has the desire to live. I feel selfish for taking that away.

A while ago I bought three 2 1/2 months old "pullets" due to Covid I couldn't see them before bringing them home. Once I got home I opened the box and was 99% sure two of the three were actually roos. I confronted the lady but she insisted they were girls and wouldn't take them back. I got my first chickens at the very beginning of April so I'm still fairly new to chickens, but obsessed enough that I spend all my free time on BYC reading everything possible. She has had them for years. I figured "What do I know" and kept telling myself they were pullets till the saddles and sickle feathers came in. I bonded with the two of them, so giving them away is hard, let alone culling.

With my first batch of chicks I got straight run Ameraucana's (NOT Easter Eggers)
All four Ameraucanas, the single EE I had, and one of the cochin x brahmas were roos. I kept the brahma x cochin and managed to give the rest to breeding homes.

I was left with only two ladies so I needed some more girlies.

The three pullets I bought were supposed to be two lavender orpingtons, and one BR. I managed to rehome the barred last weekend, the other LO roo is still looking for a place. (They are not actually LO, they are blue EEs.) I don't want to give him to someone to be meat. I figure if his fate really is to become dinner, it might as well be for me. I have put too much time, money, and love into these birds, just to give someone a free dinner.

If I were raising cornish X I imagine this would all be easier for me. If I didn't harvest them, they would be miserable and have a hard time walking, not a fate they should have, and wouldn't live very long anyways. I also wouldn't bond with them as their purpose would be food, not eggs and company like layers are.

I just can't get over the fact that he wants to live and is not causing problems by living. I also don't need the meat, so I feel cruel for taking away his life.

Any advice on how to get over this guilt hurdle?

I remember being a little girl and we had chickens my grandmother would go get dinner and pick 1 out then get her axe, and there was a stump she would whirl the chicken around in a big circle, poor chicken I am sure it was dizzy, then lay it on the block all the time she had it by its legs.
Then whack with the axe. Off went the head. Then she would throw it to the ground and it would run around till it would drop dead. There was dinner. It was a way of life. We have gotten so high society that we think everything should live. If you want to eat I guess you better get the guts to do it. The way life is now we may be going back to the old ways. I havent killed any of mine thank God when I haves Roos I have a friend who comes and gets them and gives them to Mexican families who dont think twice. But I may get the courage to do it because the meat is better than store bought.
Just think of all those hatcheries and how they raise them.......INHUMANE. At least your Chickens have had a good life till they get axed. Good luck! It will be the best chicken dinner you ever had!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

As a heads up, broomsticking is recommended by most vets and meets the AMVA euthanasia standards. It's considered VERY humane and more reliable than an axe.

Also as a heads up, OP has rehomed the rooster already.

 

[writerskramp]

As a heads up, broomsticking is recommended by most vets and meets the AMVA euthanasia standards. It's considered VERY humane and more reliable than an axe.

Also as a heads up, OP has rehomed the rooster already.

A machete works good too.. better I'd say.

 

[Stillplaysindirt]

Of course he wants to live. we are animals too. its a shame we as human take their lives. We humans think we have the right to.
Thanks all

 

[Stillplaysindirt]

As a heads up, broomsticking is recommended by most vets and meets the AMVA euthanasia standards. It's considered VERY humane and more reliable than an axe.

Also as a heads up, OP has rehomed the rooster already.

Dear Earthlady: I don't know if I pushed all the right buttons to get where I wanted to go to reply to your strong words in regards to those who eat meat. What I want to say is: Sometimes, eating meat is an unquestioned tradition. I believe it's just that "meat eaters" don't know the "meat" as an intelligent life who may have been terribly mistreated their whole living life and inhumanely killed. Without knowledge about and without experience with these living beings, people don't know that they choose to eat was once a living being who is intelligent, affectionate (as in, having the capability to form affectionate, loyal, caring relationships), and "full of life". If you've never known an animal on their terms, you won't know who they are. And, kind information, i.e.words, (and experience ) can gently lead others to new ideas. And, in many ways, animals I find are kinder and safer than humans are. I believe angry words will destroy the path to learning new things and possilble positive change. We all grow at our own pace. Sometimes, for me, it takes awhile to understand. I find kinder words more easily "chewed on" and more easily assimilated. Best we can do is be respectful and gently true. We are all learning, I hope. Best regards. (For example: Pigs are very kind, affectionate, and intelligent. They are clean animals, if they have the space to be so. They will choose one place in their confined space to use as a potty. Some have learned to read words, more words than dogs. There was one pig at the county fair who could release any "lock" on his "cage", no matter how the owner tried to keep it in. It loved being free to meet and greet the people. Due to fire precautions, owners could not use any key or coded lock on animals cages.) Knowledge is power for change.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I don't know if I'm doing this right. I'd like to reply to your strong words in regards to those who eat meat, i.e., once living animals. Sometimes, it's an unquestioned tradition. I believe it's just that "they" don't know meat as living beings who are intelligent, affectionate (as in, having the capability to form affectionate, caring relationships), and "full of life". And, in many ways animals are kinder and safer than humans are. If you've never known an animal on their terms, you won't know who they are. And, words (and experience )can gently lead to new ideas or destroy the path. We all grow at our own pace. Sometimes, for me, it takes awhile to understand. I find kinder words more easily assimilated. Best we can do is be resectful and gently true. We are all learning. Best regards.

I was just stating facts about broomsticking VS using an axe in the post you quoted.

And sometimes it's just being deeply unhelpful and rude to enter threads about eating animals with an attitude that those people are ignorant and could just go vegan and don't understand and know animals. If you don't like to eat animals, please don't, and keep your deeply personal judgements of other people to yourself. Please don't reach out to me again with this stance.