The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: lokismum on April 04, 2013, 01:22:32 pm
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just looking at having some breeding hens as well as my layers
obviously I'm going to end up with cockerels
was thinking of sending them to the table :innocent:
would anyone like to share how you umm :innocent: dispatch yours
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We had this problem, necking was a bit harsh especially if not done right the first time, but we now shoot them with our air rifle in the back of the head, and hang them over a bucket to bleed. This is the best way for us as its humane, instant and the birds don't know what is happening and we don't get this wrong, especially if they are strong birds. We have the two of us to do this, one to shoot and the other to hold them down until they stop twitching. Now l bet you don't have an air rifle???
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not as yet but it could be my next investment :thinking:
I'm not sure if its worth the time and hassle to do it
could i sell some of them at the gate
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We now use the Gale Dumelow (Raising Chickens) method of shooting in the head. Wrap the bird in a towel and use an air pistol at the 8 ft lbs limit to shoot it above the eyes. Immediately hold the head in a kitchen towel to direct the blood into the tray you have the bird sitting in. Too many people tell us that neck dislocation or neck crushing or head cutting off results in the brain living for some considerable time afterwards. In the days of 'la guillotine' in France it was often reported that the head landed in the basket and the eyes blinked for some time afterwards -'where am I'? Mentalmilly has the right approach in our experience, but an air rifle could be a bit too powerful (so very messy) for chickens.
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I tried everything to rehome our cockerels. Even the Battery Hen rehoming place didn't want them.
We got an experienced farmer friend to take them off their perch at bedtime and wring their necks.
I couldn't have done it myself .
The close shooting idea sounds a better idea.
J xxxx
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Not done it myself but I've an ex-vet friend who is going to show me how to dispatch via the broomstick method. Apparently you hold them upside down so that they go into a sort of trance, then you can lay them down, put the pole/broomstick over their neck, hold it firmly down while pulling up on their feet in one brisk move. She's a petite lady but reckons she can dispatch any poultry this way (including geese). Personally I think I'm going to struggle with the whole concept of doing it myself - even with my current cockerel who is full of attitude and most definitely not breeding material being neither a pure colour nor a pure breed (altogether an accident, thanks to an 'expert' breeder).
H
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I went on a course to learn the broomstick on the back of the neck method. It is difficult to start with but it does get easier, although still tugs at the heartstrings.
The lady that does it is Defra registered for culling birds. Maybe too far away for most but still worth thinking about.
http://www.hookfarm.net/courses/kill-pluck-gut-and-bone.php (http://www.hookfarm.net/courses/kill-pluck-gut-and-bone.php)
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mmm I'm not sure i can do it myself to soft
that's why i asked to see if i could find a quick way to do it
because one way or another they will have to go
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I know what you mean lokismum. I felt the same but if anything happened where a chicken was really ill or attacked badly but still alive especially at the weekend when the vets are difficult to get hold of, I found it a bit of a comfort to know that they don't have to suffer any longer, that I could put an end to the pain. I love my birds and couldn't just sit there and watch them suffer, knowing that if I knew what I was doing I could stop the pain. That was my original reason but then tasted the difference between one that I prepared on the course and one I bought from the shops. It is so much nicer and fresher. I won't go into more detail, but that is basically the long and the short of it FOR ME.
It is such a personal thing. Some people can, others can't.
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I bought a humane dispatcher from Ascott some years ago - it's a bit like a pair of pliers with a notch in the blades. You simply hold the bird securely, get the pliers in position around the neck, then swiftly squeeze and tilt the neck towards the back. Very quick and no mess.
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... use an air pistol at the 8 ft lbs limit
Just like to point out (in the UK at least), the limit for an air pistol is 6 ft lbf, not 8. 12ft lbf for an air rifle if it's not listed on a FAC.
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humane dispatcher :hug:
that'll be it then I'm off to find one yay :excited:
couldn't live with my self if i messed up
i can live with having to do something for the good of the flock
causing pain and disstress i cant :gloomy:
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If you look on the Humane Slaughter web page it lists ways of slaughter. The dispatcher is not seen as humane as it can cause suffering.
The stunning method is the most humane reported method but there are pros and cons. ( and I think you need a license but don't quote on that ).
I've been reading information and watching clips of dispatch for almost a year, trying to decide the best method as we wish to hatch our own hens.
We have decided that a pistol is quick and certain, followed by neck bleeding. OH has joined a gun club and is getting confidence practicing on rats at present ( the cockerels will be done at point blank ).
It really is a personal thing. Try to base your decision on how confident you are in doing it quickly and confidently. Always have a plan two in case plan one doesn't go to plan ( glad I learned this one from reading other's experiences ).
I have no experience in dispatch but am at the same point as yourself so hope this is of some help :sunshine: :chook:
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We have an air rifle which we use to pop off the occasional squirrel but I am assuming that this would not be appropriate to despatch chickens with.
An air pistol is about £150.
Do other people have a special air pistol for despatching or will the rifle do???
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An air pistol is about £150.
We paid less than half that for ours ;) it is not powerful but good enough to take out the odd rat ;D
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Oh yes - I see - once I had sorted on price then here are the £60 ones. Thanks
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dispatching can be a horrible experience the 1st couple of times, I always shot mine, but even this can get you worried when you see them shake...the bird is actually dead, but the nerves can make them look like they are injured...
i always do a clean head shot.... but if you do use this method..make sure the air rifle is zeroed in and make sure you can hit a spot the size of a 5p piece from 10 yards..and use a domed shaped pellet head (not pointed) as all the energy will impact on the surface..instead of going right through with is known as over kill
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PCP at the legal limit is less than £80 (Crossman pre-charged air pistol using CO2 cartridges). Air rifle will go straight through and messy. We shoot at 1" range so pellet can be placed accurately. Missed today!!!! Used a round nose pellet instead of pointed and the pellet bounced off the skull. Bird was knocked out but not dead so had to use a second pellet behind the eyes -down the skull towards the beak.
Despatchers leave the head alive and the body dead -not good for the poor chickens head which then suffocates. The head knows what is happening but the body can't respond. Pretty horrific end really (just like 'madame la guillotine') and we've stopped using a despatcher. They are very convenient for the user, but not for the chicken. To be fair the user is completely unaware of the suffering caused -see the HSA (humane slaughter association) publications on the subject. The HSA doesn't like shooting either but as a complete cop-out offer no cost effective solution for the smallholder. Isn't that just typical!!!
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PCP at the legal limit is less than £80 (Crossman pre-charged air pistol using CO2 cartridges)
English translation please?? :D ;D
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PCP ( Pre-Charged Pistol) is one that uses compressed air to fire. Usually the compressed air is formed from the use of a co2 ( Carbon Diodide )capsule designed to fit your size of pistol.
Edited to say
It is the Crossman PCP we now have after the dog chewed parts of the last one ( last week )while it was stripped down for maintenance :innocent: ( sorry OH :-* but you will leave things below shoulder height ie:in Obi's reach ).
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Oh right - and that would be the 6ft lbs referred to earlier by chrismahon?
Now - on the website that I am looking at it doesn't say anything about the ft poundage on the specification.
How do I work that out from the spec?
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There is an equation
(Ft per second x ft per second x weight in grains of the pellet) divided by 450240 = ft per lb
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Oooh - I see a little spreadsheet coming on :excited: ;D
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ok ummm
dont want to caulse them pain
or mess up a shot
maybe ill try poltry slaughter house
its not their fault they hatch boys
antone used a slaughter house before????
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antone used a slaughter house before? ???
Good luck with that one! Seriously though, neck dislocation using the broomstick method or similar is the quickest, easiest and in my opinion the most humane method. If you're going to breed chickens you need to sort out what you're going to do with the males before it becomes a problem.
Don't want to start a fight here but shooting chickens with an airgun is just ridiculous.
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Don't want to start a fight here but shooting chickens with an airgun is just ridiculous.
Don't worry Hughesy - this topic always results in a long thread which has to be locked eventually. ;D ;D :innocent:
I've yet to see a definitive answer emerge about the best way to despatch chickens but it's good to have all the views and opinions aired so that novices like me can see the range of possibilities and their pros and cons.
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Don't want to start a fight here but shooting chickens with an airgun is just ridiculous.
Don't worry Hughesy - this topic always results in a long thread which has to be locked eventually. ;D ;D :innocent:
I know. I just can't resist stickin' me oar in.
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But it's really valuable to a newbie like me to be able to appreciate and consider all the different approaches and opinions.
These form a backdrop to my own experiences which help me to develop an informed position on the matter. :D
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" If you're going to breed chickens you need to sort out what you're going to do with the males before it becomes a problem"
don't have birds as yet hence sorting out what I'm going to do with the males before it become a problem :idea:
as i will also be a newbie to larger scale chicken keeping :excited:
trying to collect as much info and tips as poss
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I know it is ridiculed but I use my air rifle.
It might be over the top, but I know they are dead in an instant.
One pellet behind the ear aimed towards the beak has never let me down yet.
Until I have someone here to show me, in the flesh as it were how to do it otherwise, I'll stick with this method.
I have tried dislocating the neck of a freshly dead rooster and I can't do it :-\ I KNOW it must be my technique but that is no comfort to a live bird should I wish to practice that method :(
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So many issues what about becoming vegetarian solves all the issues and saves the birds suffering at amateurs hands
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Well - even a vegetarian might have to euthanase a hen that was suffering - or would a vegetarian just let her suffer until she dies naturally......... which might be a long drawn-out painful death......... mind you - they do that with humans don't they - so why not chickens? :D
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So many issues what about becoming vegetarian solves all the issues and saves the birds suffering at amateurs hands
Being vegetarian doesn't solve the problem of what to do with unwanted cockerels or ill birds needing ended. I hadn't eaten meat for 20 years for my own reasons but now keep hens and am hatching eggs so knowing how to dispatch has become a necessity.
Edited to say sorry cross posted with SQ