To kill a hen or to not kill a hen, that's the question...

[Livia Ammon]

Would shooting her be a humane way to kill her? I know someone who killed their roo that way and I'm thinking about sending my hen to him.

Shooting isn’t bad if you don’t miss

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Breaking the neck is fast, painless, and not very difficult. Just use a broomstick and hold it down over her neck with your feet. Pull up on her feet hard and fast. Her head may or may not come off, but the important part is that she won’t be in pain.

Oof, that sounds like I would have to be brave. I have never killed a chicken, and that sounds scary.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A: She isn't paying her rent, so to speak; B: I don't want her soft shelled eggs that often break to create egg eaters out of my other hens; and C: She isn't a very nice hen, so she's not tempting me to keep her in that respect.

Why would you want to pass her off to someone else. You sound like someone that will own up to their responsibilities.

If you look through the "meat bird" section of this forum you can find details on a lot of different ways to kill one for butcher. The main thing is to find a way that you can do it without closing your eyes or flinching. You might just injure her and prolong her suffering or injure yourself. The killing cone is probably the most used on here with many different ways to actually do the killing. I use a hatchet and stump. There are other methods, even shooting them.

Would her meat still taste good? She is pretty old...

You are limited in how you can cook her. Coq au Vin is generally used to turn an old rooster into a gourmet meal but will work on an old hen. The marinating is important in that method. Chicken and dumplings is a traditional way to turn an old hen into comfort food. A crock pot or pressure cooker can work. I like to use them for broth and pick the meat out for sandwiches, chicken tacos, or chicken salad. Your problem is not so much taste as they can be so tough you can't eat them if they are not cooked properly. But farmers' wives and hunters have been turning old birds into food for thousands of years. Do not try frying, grilling, or roasting.

It is important to age her before you cook her. Let rigor mortis pass, otherwise she will be so tough you can't eat her. Store her in a cool place like the refrigerator or an ice chest with ice until you can freely wiggle a joint, usually two or three days. Clean her first before storage.

 

[DemeterAD9]

You can shoot her, chop the head off, or break the neck. All methods are fast and work well when done right. I did the broom stick for 2 hens yesterday and ended up shooting a rooster in the head with a pellet gun as he got away from me. All were pretty much instant death. Do some reading up before attempting to kill her so you know what to do and what to expect.

Eating older birds is perfectly fine and should be tasty enough if cooked properly. Low heat and slow cooking is the best way for older animals. I would crock pot it then pick the meat off the bones and make a soup with the broth.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think for most inexperienced people, the death throes are the worst. But truthfully they are a very good sign. The bird will flap wildly, and hard. People think that they did something wrong, and the bird is still alive and suffering, but that is false. Hard death throws means the bird is dead.

And know, that if you do it today, you will be glad tonight.

Mrs K

 

[LaFleche]

the yolk is almost white in color

Capillary worm infestation can be the cause of whitish egg yolk colour.

she eats... A LOT

See above: worms deprive the bird of essential nutrients, so it will always feel hungry.

So, what would you guys suggest

Reading your posts I get the feeling that you do not like this hen anyway for several reasons. So there would be no reason to treat or keep her.

If you don't feel like eating her, your dog can.
If you have a neighbor who would kill her for you, let them have the bird to do as they please.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Capillary worm infestation can be the cause of whitish egg yolk colour.

See above: worms deprive the bird of essential nutrients, so it will always feel hungry.

Reading your posts I get the feeling that you do not like this hen anyway for several reasons. So there would be no reason to treat or keep her.

If you don't feel like eating her, your dog can.
If you have a neighbor who would kill her for you, let them have the bird to do as they please.

Hmm, I've never heard of Capillary worm infestation... I'm not going to treat it because I would rather just kill her, but it's interesting that that could be the reason for the yolk and eating habits.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Any bird over a year never taste good doesn’t matter how you cook it lol

 

[LaFleche]

Any bird over a year never taste good doesn’t matter how you cook it lol

I even eat my 6+ year olds and they make wonderful chicken soup.

It may of course also depend on their overall living conditions and feed.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I even eat my 6+ year olds and they make wonderful chicken soup.

It may of course also depend on their overall living conditions and feed.

I have yet to eat a decent one lol