[Q]

I have some more cockerels that are due for dispatching and at the moment I use the broomstick method which works but is not very pleasant.

I use a piece of 2x2 on its edge on top of a pallet so that the 'sharp' bit of the 2x2 fits into the groove of the gap in the pallet (if you get what I mean)

I was thinking of fixing the 2x2 as a lever on the pallet to make it easier to balance. or something to hold the birds head firmly in place or whatever - just to make the process easier and to guide the 'broomstick' properly.

What I want to know is more detail of the mechanics of what I am trying to achieve for the least distressing death for the bird.

Is it best to pull the neck back?  separate the neck bones?  twist?  stretch?  I just need a bit more detail.

As a second option, would a cone with a sharp rap on the back of the head/neck work?  I dont like the bleeding out method of using a cone.

Just looking to make it more certain I cant make a mistake.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

[Victorian Farmer]

Use gas or pellet gun.

[chrismahon]

We use a full power air pistol. Shot to the head downwards, just behind they eyes. But worth noting that once our cockerels got past 24 weeks their skull was too thick to be killed outright. The first shot just knocked them out, the second in the same spot killed them. So then you would need an air rifle.

[suziequeue]

There is already absolutely masses of expertise, comment and opinion on this forum about this matter Q.


Just do a search in the chicken section using the word "despatch" and I am sure that you will get plenty of hits.


Personally I use a small canon aimed directly at the third feather behind the left ear 

[Q]

There is already absolutely masses of expertise, comment and opinion on this forum about this matter Q.

Thanks, I have spent ages going through that. Maybe didnt make myself clear - its not the method of despatch that I am looking for.  I already feel the broomstick method is best for me.

What I was looking for was this bit I said

'more detail of the mechanics of what I am trying to achieve for the least distressing death for the bird'.

I want to know the detail of what I am trying to acheive with the broomstick.  If you see what I mean.

I may not have asked the question very well.

[Stereo]

You are trying to separate the head from the body in effect. You want to achieve a good gap between the 2 so that the spinal cord and other associated stuff has been totally detached from the base of the brain. The reason this is better than decapitation is that it cause huge damage to the base of the brain which renders the bird instantly unconscious. Once you have done the pull, you should be able to fell nothing in the neck connecting it to the head, there should be a clear gap under the skull.

If you pull too hard you may get a lot of blood but it's better to do this than not pull hard enough.

[lord flynn]

you are looking to stretch (and therefore irreparably damage) the brain stem/spinal cord. As you do this you separate the neck bones. Getting the broom handle as close up to the skull as possible seems to be the most efficient way IMLE. I am not sure that a twisting action would be easy given the length of neck on a hen and I do not think that hitting a bird in the skull would be a better way of doing it.

[Q]

Thanks - thats really helpful.

I will take a picture of what I am trying to do once its together.

The problem is when you are trying to do it on your own you need three hands - its awkward to step on both end of the 'broomstick' while putting the birds head in place and trying not to get  whipped by flapping wings.

I didnt want the risk of a flapping bird flicking blood all over the place either.

Lastly, i want  a controlled process that means i dont pull the birds head right off - there is a tendency to 'make sure' the deed is done by pulling harder than necessary.

[Mammyshaz]

We use the pistol method. We also wrap the hen snuggly in a towel with just it's head and neck out so it cannot flap but we can do the deed quietly and with precision. So you could do this with the broom handle method if that helps as the third hand 

[lord flynn]

I find that if you let them hang upside down for a few seconds before and let them settle then they don't flap?


So I pick them up with them upright while grasping the legs, hand on back-then flip them onto back and then let them hang upside down (slowly) and they generally calm. 


The last few I've made sure the handle is right up against skull and haven't pulled the head off-which I always used to, although I always have a dustbin bag handy. Its not nice or pleasant but I've come to the conclusion that there's no nice way of killing anything so kudos for finding a better way for you and your birds.

[Q]

Yes I do both those things, I wrap a pillow case around the bird to hold the wings and initially grab it by the feet and gently turn it up side down. No fuss.
I was even told that the bird will even stick its head up in the right place for the 'broomstick' to look around - this is also true and helpful.
Usually though, the head is presented to one side rather than fully face down.  This was one of the details I needed to know because i was thinking of cutting a shape into the base(pallet)  to help it to be face down if that helped the procedure.

Also been also been told NOT to restrict the wings because this is a vital part of getting blood moving in its final seconds.

Also, when the head is trapped I want to pull the neck from near the body not from the feet - but thats where the number of hands i have run out.

I got a bit spooked with the last one I did because it flapped for much longer than the others and I eventually pulled the head right off in my effort to be absolutely sure.

I hatch my own so I will always have cockerele but my worse case scenario is causing unnecessary suffering.

[MAK]

I do not like the broomstick method as the involuntary movements confuse me - are they really dead when they twitch and flap their wings. Now I just lat them on a block and with one action chop their heads. Off. To my mind something without a head has no connected brain to feed pain so I believe this is a definite and very quick method. 

[Q]

Thanks Mak - I always have the chopper nearby just in case it goes wrong.  Had to use it once when the broom slipped over the head when I pulled too soon - thats the kind of thing that bothers me - my mistakes.

Just wanted to avoid blood being sprayed about if the bird is thrashing about.  Also dont want the open wound when hanging the bird if I can help it.

[MAK]

Yes don'y wear a white T shirt like I did the other da when we wanted to give a chicken to friends who had dropped in on us unplanned.
I usually have their legs in a slip knot and the string hung over a bean in the hanger. after chopping I can pull them up - tie of the string and walk away.

[Declan]

I cut the top of an workmans old road cone. I place the chicken head down until it sticks out the bottom, lay it on a wooden block and let the hatchet rip!! The cone stops the bird from flapping and (not that it would happen me) lets me walk away for a bit until the blood is all done- lets the stomach settle!!!

Feels a little less personal- guarantees to get the job done- no mistakes- no fallping- ticks all the boxes for me.