Whats the most humane way to kill a chicken?

[triplepurpose]

I think you're attitude about it is spot on and healthy! Good luck!

 

[Sutremaine]

I'm wondering, why not keep an axe for the neck and a hammer for the head.

 

[A V Davidson]

Just let it in a room with a ferret. Won't be long before you are pulling feathers. I know! Terrier dogs and cats are another way to get a bird dead without touching it.

Frogstomper


(Meant to be of humor)

 

[Old Philosopher]

I read all 125 posts to make sure I wasn't duplicating anything already mentioned. I did see two references to "pithing", plus found another thread on the subject. It's one of the methods I use.
While blkshangdude's directness might upset some folks, he makes some very valid points. I butcher between 25 and 50 birds each year, and quite frankly I'm not only interested in what method is more humane to the birds, but what method is more humane to ME.

The actual killing is a somber experience, for me anyway. Even with production line processing, I take time to thank each bird for its service and sacrifice, past and future. I want the job done quickly and efficiently, not only for the birds' sake, but mine as well.

I use a killing cone 95% of the time now, because it's efficient and quicker than other methods I've tried. I have made one observation using the cones, however. If the head is completely severed, the body reacts in the same way it does on the chopping block. Decapitation might be quick, but the trauma results in violent contractions of the muscles, including the skin muscles, and makes for harder plucking. Slitting the throat, cutting through both the artery and esophagus causes a less violent reaction, and bleeding out to the point of death is a matter of seconds. I also agree with what others mentioned about holding the bird upside down for a minute, or two before even putting them in the cone. The hypnotic effect of being inverted in the cone renders them very relaxed before the deed is actually done.

As for the pithing method, it does take some finesse and the right tool. My neighbor requested I dispatch an old pet hen for her, as she wasn't up to the task and knew I'd be compassionate with the ol' girl. The way I learned this technique is to use a very thin blade. I have a 10" commercial boning knife with a 1/2" wide blade. After calming the bird (holding it upside down, stroking the comb, talking to it, etc.) the tip of the blade is inserted into the mouth under the tongue, With a short thrust and a sideways movement you can feel the tip of the blade against the spine as the edge cuts both the artery and windpipe. The blade is withdrawn slightly, turned so the tip and edge rest in the grove at the roof of the mouth and then thrust again. A chicken's brain is about the size of a large pea, so hitting it is where the finesse comes in. Angel the blade to penetrate behind the eye sockets, toward the rear of the comb. Anyway.. there is some minor convulsing, bleeding from the mouth, eyes rolling back and it's over. My neighbor was impressed with how undramatic the whole task was. All those movements of the blade it took so long to read above actually took about 5 seconds in reality.

Chopping block with an axe, hatchet or machete (I've used them all) is at the bottom of my list. Way too much drama, and I've had birds break wings and legs flopping around. Not good when trying to process a mangled carcass.

On a final note: I agree that the next generation should know from whence comes their food. But use some common sense introducing young children to the Facts of Life. As a boy of 5, my father was witness to the butchering of a flock of turkeys. One of decapitated birds started flopping toward him. Every way he ran, it seemed the headless bird was chasing him, spraying blood and flapping its wings. 50 years later, he would get physically nauseous just at the thought of eating any type of fowl. True story.

 

[Papachook]

I isn't easy to always find a killing cone, and they seem to be expensive. I have found that traffic cones work very well and if you watch you will find them along the road (I don't mean the ones in a long line for construction of course.). You can also purchase them at home depot for about $6 - $9. You will need to cut off the top so the chicken's head will hang through. I just attach the upside down cone to my work table with a couple drywall screws.

 

[Old Philosopher]

I isn't easy to always find a killing cone, and they seem to be expensive. I have found that traffic cones work very well and if you watch you will find them along the road (I don't mean the ones in a long line for construction of course.). You can also purchase them at home depot for about $6 - $9. You will need to cut off the top so the chicken's head will hang through. I just attach the upside down cone to my work table with a couple drywall screws.

I made mine out of surplus 16" aluminum flashing material. Just rolled it into a funnel shape, and fastened the seam with pop rivets.

 

[kitrinabryant]

I agree with the block of wood and a sharp ax. My husband and I spent weeks very upset about how to end the lives of our non-egg laying chickens. When it came right down to it, I hugged and petted them as usual and then we held out their neck and with a swift chop it was done. We all die, this is a nice way to do it.

 

[NCBantam22]

I know I will get hate for this, but when I have had to kill a mean rooster, I shoot it with a .22 short(CCI CB .22 Shorts are quiet for urban areas) I don't feel that I would cut right with a knife, a .22 is quick and easy, since capturing it isn't needed. Yes, this isn't economical for a large scale, when compared to a knife, but it is less hassle for me. Just my 2 cents…

 

[pdirt]

After attending a seminar given by the featherman folks in N.C last year, I am venturing into growing organic, clean meat chickens this year. I've done a lot of research on the best and most painless methods to kill them. Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions. They really helped. What I've learned is the fact that there really is no easy way for me to kill a chicken that will ease my conscience that I didn't cause some sort of pain or discomfort......... and that's ok. It shouldn't be easy to kill anything. It shouldn't be taken lightly, and that having empathy for animal is a good thing. For me, when I participate in the act of killing something I'm going to eat, I have more respect for what I'm eating........ I eat more slowly, and never waste any part of the animal, which can be easy to do when you're buying your meat from a grocery store. So I've resigned myself to the fact that by trying my best to not cause pain, be grateful to the animal for providing my family a good, clean meal, and becoming proficient at doing the best job possible, is as good as it's going to get for me. Hopefully, that's good enough.

I think you hit the nail on the head..."killing an animal shouldn't be easy". I believe there is some sort of moral "cost" or weight in doing so. I don't mean like a sin. It should hurt a little to kill anything. The key is to feel the hurt I am inflicting, a little bit at a time, ideally during the actual act of killing (easier said than done). I once met a farmer who sold her eggs and meat at a farmer's market. I could tell she was incredibly kind and loved her animals, but she knew how to kill them and not get a hardened heart in the process.

That said, I have tried several slaughter methods and the best one I have found is this....the one that I feel most comfortable doing and seems the most humane (seems humane to me). After experimentation, I have decided my favorite method is a pellet gun to the back of the head as it is an instant "lights out". But the last two chickens I killed I did not have my pellet gun anymore and I used the axe method. They had gotten truly horrible scaley leg mites and could no longer walk (my fault). They had very little energy left and there was not much spunk or kick-back when I did the deed. In that case, it seemed as humane as could be because it was swift and done with, versus having to dig through a 10x10 storage unit to find the pellet gun.

 

[donrae]

I isn't easy to always find a killing cone, and they seem to be expensive. I have found that traffic cones work very well and if you watch you will find them along the road (I don't mean the ones in a long line for construction of course.). You can also purchase them at home depot for about $6 - $9. You will need to cut off the top so the chicken's head will hang through. I just attach the upside down cone to my work table with a couple drywall screws.

I use a milk jug. Cut out the bottom, widen the mouth if necessary. Poke holes in each side and run a piece of baling twine through to hang it from. Free

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