Whats the most humane way to kill a chicken?

[Old Philosopher]

After 150 posts, I can't remember where we left off. But IMHO, the easiest method for both the butcher and the bird is the killing cone, and a slit throat with a VERY sharp knife. Actually, a straight razor would be best.
Minimal pain from the cut followed by massive blood loss and unconsciousness. I've found that cutting the throat is preferable to decapitation in the killing cone. When decapitation takes place, the body's nervous system goes berserk. A severed jugular vein results in much less reflexive response.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I wasnt raised eating our birds either. i taught myself to do it later on as an adult. i wanted the experience of a close connection, as well as to be able to take more personal responsibility in shepherding the full life-cycle of my familys birds. Theres also the simple practical matter of what to do with a coop full of hens no longer laying--the only responsible alternatives are to feed them for their entire natural lives (which for us is not economically viable), to give them away to someone else to eat (which isnt alwsys an option, but when it was alwsys made me feel like an fool when i thought about giving away so much good food and then BUYING expensive frozen organic chicken), or slaughtering and eating them yourself (which just seemed the only viable option left).

Now my wife helps me slaughter, and she wasn't "raised that way" either. but she is a practacal, frugal person who sees the sense of it and also enjoys participating in the full cycle of raising the animals, from cooing over the babies, to daily care of the birds, to culling the flock.

To each their own, of course, but its worth examining why we do or feel the things we do and encouraging ourselves to adapt to circumstances and rise to the occassion sometimes when its appropriate, even if it means getting outside one's comfort zone. This stuff isnt hardwired.

Know this is an older thread but researching the most "humane, easy & fast" way to cull a chicken. Haven't had to do it yet and not really looking forward to it but it's part of the cycle. triplepurpose - I too never was raised in a family that did farming but had the desire to do a full circle "thing" when I was in my 30's. Why I chose rabbits is beyond me, yes they're cute & cuddly but I did. Got alot of ribbing about "killing Peter Rabbit" but everyone waited for my Rabbit Burritos. After reading this thread, think I'm going to try the broomstick method first, it's very similar to how I did my rabbits....Foot on head & pull, instant snap....It took a few days to get into the 'frame of mind' to do the culling and I needed the family gone from the house when I did. It's not easy but the circle of farming.

 

[Old Philosopher]

.......It took a few days to get into the 'frame of mind' to do the culling and I needed the family gone from the house when I did. It's not easy but the circle of farming

Don't feel bad. I got through that every year, and I've been doing it for over 50 years.....

 

[BBQJOE]

So what is the most accident proof, humane way to cull roosters.

Morphine drip.

 

[Old Philosopher]

Quote: .22 cal pellet pistol, 1/2" from the back of the head at night while they're roosting.

 

[cruisinsusan]

DO NOT DO THIS ! I tried the bucket of water once and it was horrific. The chicken held her breath and took ages to die with me sobbing and holding her down. I had nightmares for ages. If I had to do it again, I would do the cone and very sharp knife.One quick slice and "lights out". No room for error or fuss.

 

[AlisonT100]

I tried to wring my first chicken's neck but I was so unsure if I'd done it correctly, my husband & I ended up cutting her head off with a meat cleaver.

These days, we ALWAYS use "the broom handle". Lie the chicken face down on the floor and soothe her by ensuring her legs are behind her, face/head stretched out forward, and stroking her feathers to calm her. Place a broom handle across the back of her neck and straddle it with both feet firmly in place, then grab the body and pull upwards and fast until she's decapitated. Have a bucket on hand to put the still-flapping body into (this is due to neural activity still taking place, and not pretty, so get away from it all for 10 minutes with a brew and a book), then clean up thoroughly. The head isn't nice, I must admit, but after I was quoted £25 by the vet to euthanise a £12 hen, it was a no-brainer (pardon the expression:/). I had to "man up" (despite being a woman), and learn to kill my chickens when they were suffering. The broomstick method is very fast (if you practise your stance a few times), a sure thing, and hopefully causes little to no pain.

 

[Old Philosopher]

I don't know if I mentioned it earlier in this thread, but I've found when using a killing cone, there is less drama if the bird is not completely decapitated.
It's all reflex, but I found if I cut the artery and trachea, but not the spinal cord, there was much less flopping around. Just a few twitches toward the end of bleeding out. Less traumatic for me, anyway.

 

[Mosey2003]

I just used a scalpel and cut the jugular, it wasn't bad.

 

[KrisandLuna]

I'm a vegan, so I am highly against cruelty but I know my dogs need meat to survive and I'd rather raise the birds humanely in a wonderful acreage with a wonderful life and slaughter the mean ones, but my concern is the bird suffering....

I can kill a fish, regularly do so for meat for the dogs. But I was wondering if I can use the same method for birds as it works so well with fish.

Bonk in the head, renders the fish unconscious, then bleed them out. But instead, I'd cut the head off when they're unconscious.

Has anyone tried this? Is it worthwhile to try?