Whew.............. I did it!

[Kassaundra]

And I didn't even have a stiff drink before!

This was my first bird to follow through and process. I had to euthanize two before but was so tramatized from the act of killing them I couldn't process them. This too was a mercy kill from an injury that just wouldn't get better, but I learned from my first two and this time after I did the deed I practiced caponizing then processed for meat he was young and small so I just used the legs and breasts, they are soaking in salted ice water as I type.

I learned a lot from this time also. I learned the importance of fasting prior to processing (not done in this instance). I learned the "trance" that they are supose to go into while hanging upside down doesn't always happen. (this one never did) I learned I need more practice w/ my caponizing mentor before doing it for real. I learned I need better tools for the job. and most of all I learned I CAN do it.

I did the deed w/ a air pellet gun, for me made all the differance in the world, instant death, I know the bird didn't even know it was coming. I got tons of negative comments when I first asked about it (using a gun for the deed) and several supportive and instructional comments, thanks it really helped knowing where exactly to aim.

 

[SIMZ]

Congratulations on passing that milestone! It's really a big deal!

My husband is in charge of the dispatching and I take over after plucking. It seems that I should know the whole process, but it's the dispatching part that stops me. Using a air pellet gun seems much more feasible for me to be able to do. Can you direct me to the link you're referring to. We'll be processing next weekend and I might give that a try.

 

[MyTDogs]

X2!!

Congratulations on passing that milestone! It's really a big deal!

My husband is in charge of the dispatching and I take over after plucking. It seems that I should know the whole process, but it's the dispatching part that stops me. Using a air pellet gun seems much more feasible for me to be able to do. Can you direct me to the link you're referring to. We'll be processing next weekend and I might give that a try.

 

[bj taylor]

X2!!

X3. how did you restrain the bird. how close did you hold the barrel. where did you target?
congratulations.

 

[Kassaundra]

Here is a link to the answers I got about using the gun to kill chickens.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/622099/using-a-bullet-instead-of-a-hatchet


It's not real long and there are some very helpful posts in it. As to the gun I have it is a Beeman dual caliber air rifle (grizzly X2) model 1073. I intended to use the .22 size pellet but our Walmart didn't stock them so I used the .17 caliber pellet at point blank range. I did everything like I was going to slit their throat (killling cone type method) hung him facing away aimed at the base of his comb aiming towards the beak center of head. This way you don't have to be a marksman. He died instantly, but did do the death throughs, there was a hole in his head the size of my pinkie finger and he bled alot through the hole, I was prepared to slit his throat after death, but he bled so well I didn't really need to. I really wanted a hand gun type, but the rifles had more power and I wanted it done the first time, so I opted for the rifle.

The gun was basically the biggest power air rifle at Walmart (easy access) and was about $120, it will use both sizes of pellets. I will go up to the .22 when I go to a bigger store that has them. The pellet did not go through the birds head which I was concerned about since I was doing this in my garage. I live in town and have a viewable back yard and didn't want to be carrying guns and dead birds around my back yard.

The gun was very easy to use, even for a complete novice. I've always had a fear of shooting "long guns" b/c when I was young my Gpa had one and I remembered one time seeing his shoulder after he used it and it was black from the kickback, anyway this was very easy to use just one pump and it is at full power.

 

[Kassaundra]

X3. how did you restrain the bird. how close did you hold the barrel. where did you target?
congratulations.

basically point blank maybe an inch from the head, base of skull pointing to the beak base, center of head.

 

[angelbabyamy]

Congratulations! I recently butchered my first chickens and was stressing over how to kill them. There was no way I could cut their throats, so this is what I came up with. I used a large traffic cone to put the bird in, then my husband made a noose out of a nylon bootlace (he wouldn't kill them for me) and we tied one end to a 32 ounce filled gatorade bottle. We slipped the noose over the chicken's head and the weight of the bottle held it down and straight. I used some heavy duty resharpenable hedge cutters and lopped their heads off. Quick and easy and no hands on!

 

[Kassaundra]

Congratulations! I recently butchered my first chickens and was stressing over how to kill them. There was no way I could cut their throats, so this is what I came up with. I used a large traffic cone to put the bird in, then my husband made a noose out of a nylon bootlace (he wouldn't kill them for me) and we tied one end to a 32 ounce filled gatorade bottle. We slipped the noose over the chicken's head and the weight of the bottle held it down and straight. I used some heavy duty resharpenable hedge cutters and lopped their heads off. Quick and easy and no hands on!

It's all about finding the way each of us can actually do the job and still sleep at night. Congrats to you too. I have also seen a pic where someone used an old planting pot (3 gal size) w/ a hole in the center as a killling cone.

 

[SIMZ]

Very, very helpful! Thank you for sharing this! I couldn't agree with you more, Kassaundra.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have now used both the high velocity .17 pellet and the lower velocity .22 pellet. The .17 worked better.