Author Topic: Dispatching,which method do you use. (Read 12137 times)

Mel · « **on:** June 27, 2012, 01:52:32 pm »

Hi all,
I have just had a bit of a todo with a neighbour of mine,she is in veterinary college,I have had to cull some birds which I bought last year,as previously shown,they were not good and have never been 100%

She believes the Only way to cull them without any pain is the chopping block $:-\$ and that dispatching by neck dislocation is inhumane

,shooting at point blank with an air rifle is also a no no as in her words,the chicken does not die immediately!

I have to be honest but I do use an air rifle,if I am wrong to do so then I would like to be advised of it.

I had some large chickens last year amongst some capons,tried the neck dislocation and honestly did not have the physical strength to do it properly,it was awful and I have never forgiven myself for it,this is why I use the air rifle as as far as I can see it is an immediate job done.

which methods do you all use

colliewoman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2012, 02:08:58 pm »

Now I have one, I would use the air rifle, If I didn't I break their necks. Personally I am not a fan of the chopping block as it makes the whole thing far more messy/gruesome and stressful (for me) than it needs to.
I don't believe that a point blank shot to the head with the A/R doesn't kill them instantly. But hey ho, I might be wrong.
If you google it, you can find a headless chicken walking around supposedly months after the chopping block. Urban myth perhaps, but freaked me out for life

Dan · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2012, 02:12:31 pm »

Have a read of the article on slaughtering poultry, which describes the categories and regulations for slaughter:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/poultry/slaughtering-poultry/

The airgun acts as the concussion part of the 'Concussion stunning followed by bleeding' method, which is what we use. If you use an airgun you must also sever the carotid arteries, within a few seconds of the concussion.

HTH.

FiB · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2012, 02:47:29 pm »

In truth, when we had to dispatch our cockrels last year, we did disslocation followed immediately by air rifle as I was convinced they were suffering unduely with just the neck dislocation (If just using air rifle, how do you get them to keep their heads still, or are you just a good shot and wait for them to be still in the pen?! - and dont suggest I hold head whilst OH shoots

). This year planning to shoot then slit throat, following this and other posts elsewhere.

Pasture Farm · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2012, 02:53:26 pm »

Chopping block Air rifle

What a mes I Dislocate neck creating a void

deepinthewoods · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2012, 03:01:04 pm »

dislocation too. the first few i followed with the axe, to reassure myself!

Big Light · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2012, 03:54:04 pm »

Quickly stand on a stick / broom handle and you don't need as much strength to dislocate (very quick)

ZacB · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2012, 04:39:39 pm »

I must admit I didn't think you were allowed to dispatch by air rifle. We have always dispatched via dislocation of neck. Not pleasant but 'somebody has to do it' and they always go to the pot so not wasted.

hughesy · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2012, 05:52:35 pm »

You forgot the "throw grenade into shed" method.

Sylvia · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2012, 07:31:16 pm »

I use an electric stunner followed by a very sharp knife. The stunner was a bit pricey but I couldn't trust my hands to do the job properly. My nephew and I did one batch with the cleaver but decided we would rather not eat chicken than do that again

Any TASers in S.Devon, I will happily do yours for the price of the fuel to get to you.

MAK · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:02:12 pm »

Does anyone skip the stunning or concusion bit and just go for a slit to the throat or cut the head off ?

YorkshireLass · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:06:27 pm »

Quote from: colliewoman on June 27, 2012, 02:08:58 pm

If you google it, you can find a headless chicken walking around supposedly months after the chopping block. Urban myth perhaps, but freaked me out for life

No myth!
http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/story.php

I did the stand-on-a-thick-stick method. Knives, axes, rifles - all too messy and uncontrolled. Keep it calm and quick.

Castle Farm · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2012, 09:10:37 pm »

I dislocate by hand and Iv'e never had any bird complain that it hurt.

Years ago when I was a mear youth I worked at an egg station on the killing line during the school holidays. There it was a whack across the back of the head, into a cone and a killing pliers was inserted into the mouth and it cut the jugular.
It was a messy job but somebody had to do it.

Dislocation by hand isn't about how strong you are it's a knack I guess. I have tried to teach others and some can do it other cannot.

Big ducks get the chop I'm afraid, as they are very difficult to hand cull.

chrismahon · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2012, 09:26:40 pm »

Next months Practical Poultry features an article on this subject and I look forward to reading it.

We use a wall mounted despatcher, but it is so important to set it correctly. I have never been sure that death is instant or whether they can still feel pain and just suffocate to death. I intend to continue using it but follow immediately with a pointed .22 pellet from a Crosman PCP into the head from now on.

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens (American) is an excellent book and suggests shooting in the head. Think it also suggests the 'traffic cone' method -the chicken sticks its head out at the top and it is either cut off with garden loppers or shot, then drops back into the cone which restricts the blood spray. Doesn't matter which way you do it, its never going to be a pleasant task.