[SmallTimeSmallholder]

Hi all,
Have any of you killed your own chickens? We hatched eggs out last summer and had two cockerels from that, and it's time now for them to make the short journey to the table. Funnily enough, all the people that offered help when the time came have fun away and hid! 
I'm not faint of heart and don't mind doing the deed but really want to do it properly, without causing any suffering, as I'm sure you can appreciate. I've never done it before, or even seen it done. I have read up on it and seems to me that standing on the broom handle option seems to be the way forward....
If anyone has any advice, I would be grateful to hear it.
Many thanks

[Sandy]

Not me but hubby and son in law did the deed when it was dark, took them out one at a time and they knew nothing..I think he broke their necks then bled them....they made no fuss but they do flap after they are dead so be warned!!! I was suprised not to be bothered at all!!! and I am soft too as I never kill spiders etc.....mind you I do feed slugs and snails to the chickens but thats different!

[Dan]

Have a read here for starters:

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

We use an airgun pellet to the head, then cut the neck arteries and bleed.

Whereabouts are you? If you can it really helps to get someone to show you first time, especially if you're using a manual technique.

HTH,

Dan

[Beeducked]

Standing on the broom method is effective but with a big bird it can actually be a two person job to get you and the bird into position. Small birds are actually easier done by hand in my limited experience. The trick for either method is to pull a lot harder than you think you need to and to not stop when you first feel something go.
For our larger ducks which are really very strong we decapitate them with a single blow from a sharp heavy knife or machete. It is not recommended by the humane slaughter society as in theory they can be aware before losing consciousness and in pain. We stun ours first and even without this it is quick death and given the instant severing of the spine I cannot see that they will be in much pain for the second or so before they lose consciousness.

[chrismahon]

Hi STS. We sought loads of advice on this as we anticipated terminally sick birds initially and later 20 cockerels to go. Vet suggested best to despatch at home to save the stress and pain of the injection. We heard about broom handles and how the head comes off first few times. Have air weapons but didn't want blood all over the place, so axe or cleaver were ruled out out as well. We finally settled for a wall mounted despatching unit. Not cheap and has to be adjusted very carefully to avoid unnecessary pain. It crushes the neck vertebrae and severs the spinal column in one go. But because it has radiused jaws doesn't break the skin. Then after the two minutes of stuggling the bird is hung for half an hour to let the blood drain into the neck. Need to tie up the wings otherwise it collects in them. This unit would not be heavy duty enough for very large birds as it is Aluminium. The limit is a large fowl cockerel at 5 Kg maximum I would say.

[daddymatty82]

i would not reccamend the wall mounted dispatcher as there more inhumane than they are humane if you want quick clean kill use broom stick  and have  a road cone at hand with end cut off for head/neck through .it save on bruised meat.  wings will flap about but  stuff them into cone as soon as you killed it and then leave upside down to let blood collect in the neck.  other option is hold on as tight as poss after you killed it then have the baling twine at the ready tied up onto a joist or something and tie the legs up after its stopped flapping and let to hang for 30 mins the pluck and your away.

[SmallTimeSmallholder]

Thanks everyone, for your advice. (We're in East Sussex)
We have an air gun, so think we'll do that. The use of a cone also sounds like a good idea. Thank you all very much 

[daddymatty82]

if you use the cone you could put chook into the cone before then have just head hang out to put pellet into head that way there be minimal movement and more hands to use rather than struggle holding  etc

[SmallTimeSmallholder]

Great idea  feel sorted now and much more confident that I'll get it right! Thanks 

[Dan]

if you use the cone you could put chook into the cone before then have just head hang out to put pellet into head that way there be minimal movement and more hands to use rather than struggle holding  etc

That's exactly what we do. The bird will stay quite still and calm upside down in the cone, then it's a matter of a close, accurate shot through the head and a swift, deliberate cut with a very sharp knife.

[daddymatty82]

have a back up plan also if 1st way fails to kill have a secondary kill method ready id do a broom handle and then an axe or shoot then axe just in case. as there was a world famous chook that was headless for a few years  before he choked on a piece of corn

[hughesy]

We use the broomhandle type method with great success. Once the neck dislocates just hold on to the feet leaving the neck under the stick and flapping stops after about 20 seconds. A loop of twine round the feet, hang it up and on to the next one. Can't see how using an airgun can be considered safe or humane really. How do you know you've shot it in the brain? Missing by only a small amount could result in a lot of suffering for the bird. And where does the slug go if it doesn't stop in the bird's head? Decapitation would be more reliable but also messy. I once pulled a chicken's head clean off by mistake and the splatter area was quite impressive.

[PetiteGalette]

We're with Chrismahon on this one......although ours is not wall-mounted but mounted on a large floor paving slab. I don't like killing anything - so it has to be done quickly, quietly, out of sight of it's 'family', without pain and with whatever dignity I can give........... We have our own home-made cone that we have used for years............. It can be hund up after the deed and for the bleeding.
For larger birds - we also despatch many, many turkeys and geese at Christmas - it is the iron bar (forget the paltry wooden broomstick) - with me standing on the bar and my 6ft+ oH doing the pulling. I hate it! but it is the quick, most efficient and painless way that I can do at the moment. I am currently looking into stun guns from the USA at the moment (although I do have an air rifle for rat-shooting!)
It comes down to whatever you fell is the most suitable for you, your birds, and your environment but will only be found with experience,

[Sylvia]

You can ask DEFRA for a free booklet on dipatching poultry and the best and kindest methods. I do a fair ammount of poultry and bought an electric stunner, not cheap but you only have to buy it once. Easy to use and stress free for both bird and dispatcher.
Anyone in my area, I will come and "do" your birds for the cost of diesel.(except at Christmas when I'm rushed off my feet!!)

[Dizzycow]

If only you weren't in Cornwall, Sylvia, you'd be my BFF!