Using a bullet instead of a hatchet?

[Sundown_Farmer]

For one thing I don't process chickens at night and I only do a few at the time. You do it your way and I'm going to continue to do it my way.

Process at night? No, catch them at night and process in the morning. Chasing chickens is for the birds.

I'm a big advocate of doing our own thing and of discussing each or our own methods. That's how we improve and evolve our methods over time. By the tone of your posting I believe you are offended. That was not my intention.

Again, I suggest the efficacy of the knife is enhanced or diminished by skill and skill can't be taught on Youtube. Blowing the chicken's head clean off requires less skill but offers additional liabilities.

 

[cassie]

I have read on several threads now people saying a bullet to the head was unsuccessful in killing a chicken, they have sited the "small brain" of the chicken as a reason. My question is for those that have had the problem have you caught the chicken and then shot it point blank in the head or shot from across the yard? The chickens brain may be small but it's still in the skull, bullets do periferal damage so it seems to me if you have the chicken restrained and shoot point blank that should do the job.

Other threads have said it is beneficial to pith the chicken prior to slitting it's throat (a knife to the brain) wouldn't a bullet to the brain be the same?

Anyone have a positive outcome shooting the chicken to kill it? If so exactly where do you shoot it?

I am asking b/c I have tried the hatchett and knife and disliked both, so am considering a bullet for next time, and would like to be as prepared as I can be for it.

You'd better be a really good shot. The chicken brain is not very large and if you miss it by even a little you are going to cause more and bigger problems than the ones you are trying to prevent. In my own case I am not strong enough to wield a hatchet so I hang the chicken up by the feet and use a very sharp utility knife. If the blade is sharp it is not going to cause much pain, and they bleed out very thouroughly this way. Killing chickens is not a pleasant chore no matter what method you use, but it is necessary, and you need to find something that works for you.

 

[kfacres]

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.

Speaking from personal experience- no bullet or ammunition will do the job of bleeding out a carcass- as a knife or axe will- you are shooting that animal in the head- the jugular is not found in the head. I've hunted, killed, and butchered more animals in one year than most people in a lifetime- and I would never resort to shooting chickens-- unless it was the only option... As I have already stated- the only time I have found shooting domestic poultry to the be only option is when butchering free ranging guineas. The first one isn't such a bad problem as a .22 long rifle with a scope- will place the first and only shot directly into the head--- but by the time you get to bird number 10= you are just slinging lead at them from nearly 1/4 mile away. They are not stupid birds.

As if butchering and raising your own chickens isn't expensive enough-- why put on the cost of a shell?

edited by staff

 

[cutechick2010]

I know what you mean I had an EE just like that glad it is gone. He put me against ever owning another EE rooster. Never again.

Really? I have had several of them that never gave me a problem. I don't think it's the breed in this case, probably just was that individual. I have had roosters of lots of different breeds, it has always seemed to me to be an individual thing. It also seems like it can be sort of contagious, odd as that sounds. My Mom had five roos of all different breeds in her chicken house last year, one went mean and it seemed like then all but one started to go mean after that.

 

[cutechick2010]

You sound like a good friend of mine, LOL. She is the one who taught me how to "do" a chicken, and we learned together how to process a cow, but that is another story!

Anyway, she uses the knife method too, for the exact same reasons you stated. I think when I do it all alone my first time, I will probably use the hatchet. ( I have done it before, just not all by myself) For my own peace of mind I need that instant Thwack! head off and done feeling. I could never use a gun because not only is my aim not good enough, but I have always had a horror of "messing up" and not killing them instantly. One of my main reasons for starting to raise my own meat animals was so that I could be sure they lived and died in the most humane way.

I like the sharp knife in one draw over the juguler vein back tword myself (don't saw). I have cut myself a lot of times with a good knife and it is nearly painless or I had to look to see who was really bleeding. My birds rarely squawk and are usually calm... until they give up the ghost.
I have a wiz-bang so plucking has never been a problem.

 

[cutechick2010]

For one thing I don't process chickens at night and I only do a few at the time. You do it your way and I'm going to continue to do it my way.

You wouldn't have to process them at night though, you just put them in a cage and do them in the morning. No chasing OR processing in the dark.That is what I do with mine anyway.