What is the Best Way To Cull a Chicken for a Squeamish Person

[nao57]

Looking back people who don't farm reading this would be kind of horrified at us. XD

 

[cassie]

Looking back people who don't farm reading this would be kind of horrified at us. XD

I remember once sitting in a restaurant with a group of fellow dairy goat breeders. We were all having a lively discussion about artificial insemination when I looked up and saw the stunned expressions on the faces of the fellow diners.

 

[Molpet]

I think the noise from an electric/battery knife or saw would freak the bird out.
The sawing motion doesn't sound too good either. A quick slash cut I don't feel, but I sure felt it when I hit myself with a battery saw

 

[MountainWoman73]

I'm so glad you're thinking ahead and asking this! I favor beheading rather than neck-wringing because it's a comfort to me to see that the chicken is definitely 100% dead while all that reflexive flapping is going on. I use a meat cleaver and a nice flat stump with two nails in it for a butcher block. I thank the chicken, then hold them upside down by the ankles for just a moment until they go very still. Then I put the head between the two nails to give a little tension on the neck and chop the head off quickly. I then hold the body by the ankles until the flapping is done. My birds are all named pets, and I don't have any trouble doing this. It's just important to 'do it like you mean it' -- quick, no-nonsense. I always have my water boiled ahead of time so I don't have to go back inside until I'm done plucking and cleaning the bird - it is a bit messy. You got this!

 

[NatJ]

I favor beheading rather than neck-wringing because it's a comfort to me to see that the chicken is definitely 100% dead while all that reflexive flapping is going on....It's just important to 'do it like you mean it' -- quick, no-nonsense.

Me, too. Once the head is off, I know that nothing I do to the body will be felt by the bird. I remind myself to chop hard--I want to do everything else gently, but I do not want to hit "gently" with my hatchet or machete! I want that head definitely OFF at the first chop.

Be aware that bigger birds have sturdier necks than smaller birds, and a big old tough rooster will have the toughest neck of all, so you have to chop harder for a bigger/older bid. Hitting too hard is not a problem--just makes a bigger slice in the chopping block. But if you don't cut all the way through the first time, it's both miserable and difficult to finish the job.

I then hold the body by the ankles until the flapping is done.

I sometimes put it under an upside down bucket, then put a foot on top of the bucket to make sure it stays there. If you just let go of the body, if will flap and splatter blood and head downhill to the nearest mudhole. Once the head is off, none of that matters to the bird anymore, but it makes a mess, and some people find the sight quite distressing. (I've also met people who wanted to watch a "chicken run around with its head cut off." As long as I know the bird is dead--head completely off--, I'm willing to let it go flap around if someone wants to watch.)

 

[mominoz]

I went thru this only with my ducks. First one was injured too badly, and I put in back and used a sledge hammer. I don't recommend this. I searched a lot too. As a woman often the broomstick method or ax is too awkward .(and older women) I settled on an air rifle. Walter Terrus from pyramid air guns online. The old way was to stun with a board or stick , then cut throats. Well, stunning makes sense as you him them hard and pain is delayed. So a gun does the same thing or a slegehammer. The cut throat of live animal is tough. I can process once dead... but taking the life is hard. I can give a head shot from close up and if in right spot kills instantly. Can even work on a goose...but can't miss...but even if I miss, it is a tiny stun to them and if I am quick I can get the other shot in. I am pretty good at aiming and at close range easy. I have put smaller birds in a sack or pinned them in corner and used an air pistol too. A Crossman you can pump up... Get at least a .22 ...works for me...In future I may have to use our real .22 for the large geese if I have too...I also tried CO2 on baby ducks that had to be culled... doesn't always work and now I use the airpistol, just so much faster if I have too,instant. beats 'running over them in a bag with your truck' I heard about... FWIW

 

[aart]

For slaughtering I use a cone and slit the jugular and carotid.
This was the best example I found of where to slit.....but with layers you've got to get between the feather shafts...also shows how to cut around the vent.

For euthansia:
Cervical Dislocation is shown in this video at about 1:00,
*Click the 'Watch this video on YouTube'

it's the only CD video I've found that doesn't remove the head.

**Notice the slight divot in the ground under the stick and neck, this will keep the bird from being choked.

***Notice that she slowly stretches out the neck and legs before giving the short sharp jerk that breaks the neck close to the skull, this is key to success IMO.

I've found this technique to be very effective.

 

[CindyinSD]

I use a cone. I do attempt to pith. I haven't figured out the right angle to make the bird go limp, but I'm sure I'm going through the brain. Hopefully that renders the bird senseless. I cut the carotid on one or both sides and allow the bird to bleed out into a bucket lined with a plastic bag and containing a generous amount of straw. It takes a few minutes. You do often have to hold the bird in the cone. Maybe shackling its ankles would make this unnecessary, but I haven't tried that. I just hold it.

Here are links to two very helpful books:

https://a.co/fMf2Ccb

https://a.co/eFf9dTj

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

I will soon have chickens and am contemplating the best way to cull a chicken being that I’m squeamish. I have never killed an animal (aside from spiders, but only if they are near me lol) and don’t know if I have the stomach to kill a chicken but am really wanting to have a little homestead. I really don’t want to slice it’s artery in its neck...I read a lady who used a cone and sharp tree limb lopers which sounds like one way. As hands off a way is what I’m looking for

Catch the bird by the eyes, either between the dominant hand's two fingers or by the thumb and first finger around the neck. Tilt the bird's head slightly downwards, so it points towards the bird's tail (this posture aligns the joints so that dislocating the head from the neck is much easier).

 

[Blw18]

I will soon have chickens and am contemplating the best way to cull a chicken being that I’m squeamish. I have never killed an animal (aside from spiders, but only if they are near me lol) and don’t know if I have the stomach to kill a chicken but am really wanting to have a little homestead. I really don’t want to slice it’s artery in its neck...I read a lady who used a cone and sharp tree limb lopers which sounds like one way. As hands off a way is what I’m looking for

I’ve just now come across this thread but I’ve read through everything. My preferred method, and I know this is not for everybody for sure, is to use a really accurate .22 rifle or pellet rifle and shoot the chicken right where the skull meets the neck. Majority of my chickens free range 100% of the time and are not always easy to catch so this works great for me and I probably have done several dozen this way. I’ve hunted all my life so making a clean, ethical shot in the right place comes second nature and I won’t pull the trigger unless I’m confident the bullet will hit its mark. Waiting until the chicken is resting quietly or not moving and making sure no other chicken or object is in the background before taking the shot it important. For me, this eliminates the stress of being captured and held down for the chicken and it’s an immediate “lights out”. A shot at the base of the skull will destroy part of the brain, brain stem, spinal cord, one or both of the main arteries, and depending on the shot, the windpipe as well. I like this way because you never have to even touch the bird to kill it and they will often just plop down, flap their wings for a few seconds, and go limp. But like I said, this is not for everyone and if shooting a small target isn’t your forte, I wouldn’t recommend it.