Author Topic: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?  (Read 17334 times)

MAK

  • Joined Nov 2011
  • Middle ish of France
    • Cadeaux de La forge
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #30 on: November 29, 2012, 09:44:14 am »
I think I have got the technique right now as I have succesfully been doing one duck a day this last week or so. Quick and no problem. Plucking outside in the cold is no fun though ( will give it a miss today though as we have snow).
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hughesy

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Anglesey
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #31 on: November 29, 2012, 11:19:14 am »
We usually sit in the polytunnel to pluck. Quite pleasant on a cold winter day. Did two Jersey Giant cockerels yesterday, plucked one for roasting, just took the breasts, legs and wings off the other.

Demented Dee

  • Joined Nov 2012
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #32 on: November 29, 2012, 11:48:27 am »
It's not a pleasant job but I find the most effective way is to select the bird as they roost for the night then put it head first in a plastic "feed sack" and using a broom handle put that over the neck down on the ground and place your feet either side of the broom handle, stand up and pull steadily and you will feel the neck go, a bit of flapping around but its over quickly and without mess or distress to you. Hope this helps!

Eve

  • Joined Jul 2010
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #33 on: November 29, 2012, 12:38:52 pm »
We were taught the broomstick method by someone who gives courses for small scale poultry keepers in humanely dispatching birds. It was similar but not the same as above:

- needed: a large paving slab (or similar perfectly flat surface, so not on a lawn and definitely not on sand or gravel) and a broomstick cut in half
- hold the bird by its feet upside down, let it lean against your legs if it's calmer that way, its belly towards you
- lower the bird and put its head on the paving slab, with its chin on the slab and the bird looking forwards away from you. Make sure their head is upright and its neck straight and not sideways. You still have hold of it by its feet
- put the broomstick over its neck, with equal lengths of stick on each side of the bird's head
- put a foot on one side of the broomstick, your heel on the ground and the ball of your foot on the stick, and your foot as close to the bird's neck as possible
- slowly pull the bird (by its feet, which you are still holding) to make sure that its body and hence its neck are fully stretched (this is important, the head must not be pulled in towards its body, if necessary gently take its head and pull it forwards a bit)
- put your other foot on the other half of the stick with a decisive step (no need to stamp, but just don't go slowly), the scissor-like movement will break its neck. There's no pulling required for the actual moment of killing. There's always two of us and it's easier to hold your balance when stepping on the other half of the stick if you can hold on to someone's shoulder
- hold the bird under your arms as it will flap wildly for up to 90 seconds and this can dislocate a wing. Hang the bird with some twine from a tree or so, you will feel the blood pooling on the neck

For wet plucking, if the water is not boiling but at a certain temperature, it makes a big difference in how well the bird can be plucked. I can ask hubby tonight what exactly the required temperature is.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2012, 12:41:34 pm by Eve »

Polished Arrow

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • Forest of Dean
  • www.cinderhilllfarm.com
    • www.cinderhillfarm.com
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #34 on: November 29, 2012, 06:55:36 pm »
That's very helpful, thank you Eve.  Yes, please do let us know the temperature  :thumbsup:
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We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
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oldhinton

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #35 on: December 23, 2012, 01:12:09 am »
Hi, I know this may sound silly, but make sure you are holding the bird the right way round, to dislocate the neck you need to hold the feet and wing tips together with the back of the bird facing you, if by chance you have the breast facing you, it will never work. Hold the head between the index and middle finger,then trap the beak against your palm with the remaining fingers and push forward and down, the neck dislocates and should leave a space for the blood to drain, this results in a properly bled carcass.

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #36 on: December 23, 2012, 08:07:35 pm »
Had an extremely experienced gamekeeper who didn't have the strength to break a cockerel's neck. Don't mess about PA with all these old fangled indecisive uncertain methods. Electric stun and cut throat or an air rifle pellet behind the eyes. The old methods were acceptable when the suffering of the bird wasn't considered but nowadays we surely want to do the best for our livestock?

bigchicken

  • Joined Nov 2008
  • Fife Scotland
Re: Cockerel Slaughter Went Wrong....Suggestions?
« Reply #37 on: December 23, 2012, 10:42:25 pm »
Nothing at all to do with strength it's all about technique and if carried out properly ever bit as human as any other way   I have killed thousands  of birds using this old!  tried and tested method, 
 








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