Using a bullet instead of a hatchet?

[yinepu]

My husband shoots ours.. he uses a 22 long rifle with stinger rounds. He said if you are going to shoot from across the yard make sure you're a good shot.. if you are shooting close up make sure you have something to shoot into (bale of hay.. dirt pile.. ) so you don't get any ricochets off of rocks.

the stinger rounds do a much better job than a regular target round and they are a bit better than the average hollow point as well. the only chickens he had any problems with were two "ninja chickens" who would jerk their heads out of the way at the last possible split second.. he finally chose a point blank shot with both of them..
He did hit one turkey in the neck with the stinger rounds.. nearly decapitated the bird.. so having a precise shot to the head isn't really that important if using the stingers

Normally we bind their legs with zip ties and let them rest .. they are happily pecking away at the ground and never saw what hit them. Plus he shoots from a distance (much better aim than I am.. but he's in the military and shoots a heck of a lot more than I do).
after he shoots them I lop off the heads with a tree lopper and scald right away.. never have much blood left in them after he shoots them.. so bleeding them out isn't an issue


He said it's really not a matter of shooting a chicken or turkey being a good or bad way to kill one.. because the bullet does do the job.. it depends on the skill of the person doing the shooting as to how clean of a kill it is.

 

[donrae]

We had a mixed breed roo who was stalking one of my hens when they were all free range. I got tired of him basically raping her all the time and asked my honey to take care of him. Honey got a pellet gun (can't shoot a real gun where we live) and shot him in the head from about 20-25 feet. That roo went down right there, it did kick around a little but nothing too distressing. He tasted like chicken.

 

[naillikwj82]

I myself would not use a firearm to dispatch a chicken (unless it was bigger than me). If you are intent with using a handgun, then you should still use a restriction cone (killing cone) to keep the bird calm, and inverted for blood draining. Also the bird is well placed should your attempt fail, a knife will finish what was started. Remember to place your shot in the back of the head, and pointing towards the ground (backstop). Keep in mind a 22 stinger is a very fast round and will fragment more should is hit a stone, concrete, or metal object. In fur trapping we always use 22 cb caps, slower and more effective. Be careful which ever method you use.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Using a firearm to kill a chicken at close range is both unsafe and overkill. A sharp hatchet is quicker, allows you more control, and renders the bird dead quickly.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've seen the damage a richochet can do, but I still use a firearm where necessary. I don't see using something as dangerous as a fiream as necessary for killing a chicken I can catch. I keep thinking of Little Tony's knee. I think a lot of it does depend on where you live and what your experiences and comfort with that particular firearm is. I've done lots of hunting, especially squirrel and rabbit, but I've never shot a chicken with a gun.

Have you tried the nail method when using a hatchet? Drive two big nails in the chopping block so you can hook the chicken's neck between the nails and stretch it out. That keeps the target still and gives you a good target. And use a hatchet or ax that is not too heavy for you to control. Maybe practice chopping some wood so you get comfortable with the ax or hatchet. Those can be dangerous too if you can't control them. But whatever method you use, you need to be able to do it properly.

 

[snooptwomey]

I am new to chickens and havent gotten into doing meat birds yet, but I am curious to this so called "neanderthal" method of broom sticking. . what is this?

 

[EweSheep]

Its like putting a broomstick down on top of the chickens neck and pull it very hard. I find this method very useful because I can not pull the neck in the most effective manner.

I am new to chickens and havent gotten into doing meat birds yet, but I am curious to this so called "neanderthal" method of broom sticking. . what is this?

 

[yinepu]

I myself would not use a firearm to dispatch a chicken (unless it was bigger than me). If you are intent with using a handgun, then you should still use a restriction cone (killing cone) to keep the bird calm, and inverted for blood draining. Also the bird is well placed should your attempt fail, a knife will finish what was started. Remember to place your shot in the back of the head, and pointing towards the ground (backstop). Keep in mind a 22 stinger is a very fast round and will fragment more should is hit a stone, concrete, or metal object. In fur trapping we always use 22 cb caps, slower and more effective. Be careful which ever method you use.

My husband uses a 22 long rifle.. NOT a handgun
They bleed out just fine with the shot to the head.. The birds are calmly pecking away at the grass when the shot is fired and their legs are tethered so he's not chasing them all over the yard. The exit wound allows for plenty of blood loss and when he hands the birds to me there is only a drop of blood left.
And as I have stated before.. My husband is in the military.. he shoots guns more than the average person and also shoots some guns most guys (and some gals) can only dream of firing. He knows what he's doing and when we go to the firing range he puts the local "good ol boys" to shame. Shooting a bird may not be for everyone.. however we have dispatched hundreds of birds this way with excellent results.
As for the stinger rounds.. he has tried other rounds and for the turkeys and big roos the stingers do a cleaner job.

 

[yinepu]

I am new to chickens and havent gotten into doing meat birds yet, but I am curious to this so called "neanderthal" method of broom sticking. . what is this?

There are videos on youtube showing how to broomstick a rabbit.. same method is used for chickens.. what it does is dislocate the head from the spinal column

the animal is held by the feet (back feet for rabbits) with it's head on the ground (the animal's belly would be facing towards you). A broomstick is placed across the back of the skull where it meets the neck.
you can get help or do it by yourself.. if doing it by yourself you place one foot on each end of the broomstick (in essence straddling the animal's head). Then give a firm hard yank on the legs. it needs to be done fast since you are trying to separate the head from the neck.. but not so hard as to remove the head from the body completely (i'm sure a strong guy could easily pull off a chicken's head if he wanted to). A gentle tug won't do it and will only cause the animal to struggle.

I have broomsticked rabbits.. but I prefer not to
just a personal choice

 

[yinepu]

I've seen the damage a richochet can do, but I still use a firearm where necessary. I don't see using something as dangerous as a fiream as necessary for killing a chicken I can catch. I keep thinking of Little Tony's knee. I think a lot of it does depend on where you live and what your experiences and comfort with that particular firearm is. I've done lots of hunting, especially squirrel and rabbit, but I've never shot a chicken with a gun.
Have you tried the nail method when using a hatchet? Drive two big nails in the chopping block so you can hook the chicken's neck between the nails and stretch it out. That keeps the target still and gives you a good target. And use a hatchet or ax that is not too heavy for you to control. Maybe practice chopping some wood so you get comfortable with the ax or hatchet. Those can be dangerous too if you can't control them. But whatever method you use, you need to be able to do it properly.

There ya go.. experience with the weapon used to dispatch any animal is the deciding factor.

I won't use an axe because I doubt my ability to make a good clean kill.. so I use tree loppers.. they work for me

my husband uses the 22 long rifle because it's what works best for him.