Whats the most humane way to kill a chicken?

[CrazyTalk]

Roosters have some purposes other than strictly providing sperm, but basically you're right - the majority of rehomed roosters either end up in the soup pot, or end up being used to bait or train dogs.

 

[blklangshandude]

Roosters have some purposes other than strictly providing sperm, but basically you're right - the majority of rehomed roosters either end up in the soup pot, or end up being used to bait or train dogs.

I hear that roosters make bad eating. It must be true since people go through the trouble of caponizing roosters. Any ideas on the best way to prepare a rooster for the soup pot?

 

[blklangshandude]

Roosters have some purposes other than strictly providing sperm, but basically you're right - the majority of rehomed roosters either end up in the soup pot, or end up being used to bait or train dogs.

I'm a realist that sometimes spoils all the fun. I get really annoyed at the attitude that there is always some wonderful family out there that wants our animal that we love so much. At the same time they love it so much they are desperately hoping to get rid of it. Deep down they really don't care what happens to the animal as long as they don't have to know about it. (Free to a good home my ***. You'll give the dog to anybody willing to rid you of the aggravation. Just be honest about it. Quit lying. The dog is a pain and you don't want it anymore) It's pretty childish in my opinion. This mostly applies to mixed breed dogs but the same principle applies to roosters. Your mutt is going to the dog pound eventually no matter who gets the dog. There is no good home for a bad dog. The same goes for roosters. Your rooster is going to end up being killed after he finishes his breeding objective or as soon as the person takes him home to cook for dinner. It is extremely rare that someone wants your rooster as a family pet or a permanent addition to their flock. If someone wants a full blooded rooster there are ways to purchase one without crossing your fingers and hoping someone is getting rid of the kind of rooster that you want. My local bookoo site has about 20 free roosters. Some people are silly enough to try to sell the rooster for $5, $10 or even $25. Some people are even sillier by putting restrictions on the taker. "This rooster is not for food. He is a pet."

I say, "Grow up. If you don't want the rooster go kill your rooster yourself." Stop pretending that life is magical. Raising chickens is not all fun and games. If you want that kind of experience then you should buy full grown hens, give them away when they are about 2 years old, never purchase a rooster and then get more hens to replace the ones that you gave away. Baby chicks sometimes die. Hatching eggs don't always hatch. Roosters have to be disposed of. It's not always nice.

 

[CrazyTalk]

I hear that roosters make bad eating. It must be true since people go through the trouble of caponizing roosters. Any ideas on the best way to prepare a rooster for the soup pot?

People caponize roosters so they can grow them larger without the violence inherent in having a whole bunch of roosters. For breeds that aren't specifically raised for meats they start hurting each other way before they're at a size that most people consider reasonable. For example, my Spitz roosters will be about 5lbs when they're adults - they started trying to kill each other at 2 lbs.

I don't think there's really all that much difference between a 18 week old pullet and an 18 week old cockerel as far as meat quality goes - the big difference is that they're going to be tougher than an 8 week old Cornish Cross.

 

[blklangshandude]

For example, my Spitz roosters will be about 5lbs when they're adults - they started trying to kill each other at 2 lbs.

Does that happen even if they are raised up together as babies? I guess I don't have as much time as I thought. I have two Blank Langshan cockerels that are 10 weeks old. I'll either need to eat them or build a few breeding pens.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Does that happen even if they are raised up together as babies? I guess I don't have as much time as I thought. I have two Blank Langshan cockerels that are 10 weeks old. I'll either need to eat them or build a few breeding pens.

Mine were all raised together - that being said, I bought straight run chicks - and ended up with 12 cockerels and 4 pullets - and I'm sure that exacerbated the problem - If I'd ended up with 4 cockerels and 12 pullets it may not have been a problem - but I'm never that lucky. I think they were 12 weeks or so when they started getting chippy and 14 weeks or so (and about 2.8lbs) when they actually started damaging each other.

I put down the first couple last week - severed the carotid/jugular - they don't seem to notice much - eyes close after a second or two and then after a couple more seconds they spasm, and that's it. I think a lot of people who have trouble (or think it's inhumane) don't actually get the artery.

 

[LindaB220]

People caponize roosters so they can grow them larger without the violence inherent in having a whole bunch of roosters. For breeds that aren't specifically raised for meats they start hurting each other way before they're at a size that most people consider reasonable. For example, my Spitz roosters will be about 5lbs when they're adults - they started trying to kill each other at 2 lbs.

I don't think there's really all that much difference between a 18 week old pullet and an 18 week old cockerel as far as meat quality goes - the big difference is that they're going to be tougher than an 8 week old Cornish Cross.

You know 18 weeks is not so old. They won't be extremely tough. As long as you let them rest in the fridge for 3 days for rigor, then roast in covered pan for 2 1/2 hrs at 250 degrees. It will be so good. This is not like a 2 year old hen. Of course, for those just lower the heat to 225 for 3/1/2 hrs. Add a few tbs of water.

Edited for content: I have 10 roosters in a growout pen. 3 mo old and 2 mo old. They squawk but no bad fighting. They were put together 4 weeks ago. I will start processing when they start fighting in earnest.

 

[blklangshandude]

You know 18 weeks is not so old. They won't be extremely tough. As long as you let them rest in the fridge for 3 days for rigor, then roast in covered pan for 2 1/2 hrs at 250 degrees. It will be so good. This is not like a 2 year old hen. Of course, for those just lower the heat to 225 for 3/1/2 hrs. Add a few tbs of water.

Edited for content: I have 10 roosters in a growout pen. 3 mo old and 2 mo old. They squawk but no bad fighting. They were put together 4 weeks ago. I will start processing when they start fighting in earnest.

Are they caponized? If not, how many square feet is the growout pen?

 

[CrazyTalk]

Linda, 18 weeks is fine, but yeah, you have to think about cooking them - you have to try to make an 8 week old bird tough. Just a little different.

As to Linda's growout pen, I'd guess that not having any hens in there helps - I think my situation (a few hens and a ton of roosters) is about the worst you can have if you don't want them fighting.

 

[LindaB220]

Are they caponized? If not, how many square feet is the growout pen?

It's a 36 sq ft pen. I have 5 3 mo olds and 5 2.5 mo olds. Not perfect but enough with a small time for run around in a small run twice a day for 15 min ea. It's totally temporary.

I have not started caponizing yet. Still need to practice on culls.