[Declan]

I was at my granny's house this afternoon when the topic of my new hens come up. She has been keeping ducks and hens for 70+ years.  I mentioned that I have one that has crooked feet and that I didn't know the best way to despatch it if I decided that- referring to this forum and the polls within.

Whilst everybody was debating the issue my gran (83) said  quote-"when I became too old to pull the roosters neck- I drowned them in a bucket of water"!!!!!!

Any thoughts or comments. I am nearly dreading the replies as I have never seen or heard of this before other than when they drown accidentally.

[harry]

would take a little while to die i think, might even revive again while plucking ... i would do most methods but i wouldnt consider drowning. theres plenty of alternatives.

[Jackie]

Its also against the law in the Uk too.

[doganjo]

Yes, but when was Granny doing this and where? and is she still doing it?  Definitely not a good idea.

[shetlandpaul]

if you can't kill them humainly then either sell them or get someone in. you would be breaking criminal law by doing it.

[Jackie]

As Annie has said, when was Granny doing this?
 I assumed she was still doing it but it may have been years ago now, although I dont condone it at all its too late now to do anything about it, or even offer help.

[Declan]

Its been a good few years now since she's had hens- shes not really mobile enough now to look after them- her son who lives beside her leaves her down some of his eggs every morning to make bread. I just knew it wasn't right but I thought I would share the experience.

[harry]

It was ok then as a lot of things were, quiet accepatable, noone should judge yesterdays morals by todays, granny did ok, others  probably killed pigs with a knife thats how they got by. There are plenty of people about today that think people like us are monsters for rearing animals then killing them to eat. Times change. Think about it in case it changes in future, poultry are the only things left owners can kill themselves.

[sandy]

I can understand that, people from that eara also drowned unwanted pups and kittens and God Knows what else??? Yes times chane, we now have a better understanding of "things"

[Declan]

Harry- you are spot on. Hens/fish and rabbits are probably the only things we are allowed to deal with ourselves and given the issues with disposal of poultry litter (especially over here in NI) and the samonella scares theres probably a load of european laws coming just round the corner.

Oh- whats wrong with the simple life eh??   

[MiriMaran]

Personaly I would rather have my head chopped off than be drowned!  Drowning used to be used alot - I have a horrible memory of my uncle telling me he drowned a litter of puppies when his Golden Retriever was 'caught' by a Collie.

[HappyHippy]

My great granny used to follow the pregnant farm cats when they were giving birth and drown the kittens before they had time to draw breath 
I don't agree or ccondone it in any way, but as Harry said noone should judge yesterdays morals by todays, these things happened, but we are all far better educated nowadays.

[northfifeduckling]

Not a method I would choose, it must be a horrible death to drown. 

[doganjo]

Not a method I would choose, it must be a horrible death to drown. 

Actually any reports that I've read say that it isn't,  but in any case I doubt chickens or tiny newborns would have enough sentience to have such feelings.  So I shouldn't worry about the horrible things our forebears did - they aren't or shouldn't be done nowadays (although having said that I'm sure there will be some unfeeling idiots who would do it)

[marigold]

yep - i agree. Its better not to try and judge our grandparents. We do what we think is the right thing in today's context and our grandchildren may all be vegan and think it barbaric that any of us eat animal products at all. I remember my mum drowning excess kittens. I kind of understood it as a child, in as much as the 3 kittens that the cat was allowed to keep all fed well and were given to good homes. In the late 60's there were loads of kittens about and looking after a litter and getting good homes for them wasn't very easy.
Good on Gran for being resourceful. Can't see me doing any chicken killing of any description in 30 years time. I'll be buying my grand kids vegan cookery books!!!!!!