[harry]

i give it one pull fully adjusted to the min gap then i open the jaw a bit and slid the neck 1/2 an inch then give it another pull, you will feel a sort of crunch, if you place the neck in the jaws away from the head then its easy to pull the bird a bit closer to the head for the 2nd break. if its a goose you need someone to hold the goose and you need 2 hands on the lever.  fix it to a really strong building piece of timber or use screws with a bolt head and fix it to a tree solidly.

[Rosemary]

Read the stuff published by the Humane Slaughter Association.

[Helencus]

Ok will do.. Sounds ominous ..

[Helencus]

Ok so the HSA do not recommend neck dislocation. The last thing I want to do is cause suffering so how do you stun electrically then without shelling out lots of money? I only want to dispatch a few a week/month. What do other folks do instead just use the axe?

[pottsie]

Hi all, seems to be lots of replys but nothing conclusive, i'm in the same boat, i have a chicken each week or two to dispatch. Tried initially necking and hanging, i then plucked it hung it over night and ate it the next day but it was really strong. My next try i necked i, bled it and plucked it, hung it for two nights and then had it in a curry and it was fine but i feel it would still have been stromg in a roast? Can anyone recomend a way from live to eating that works for them that i can use. Don't mind spending a bit of money just want the bird to go through as little suffering as possible and have a tasty diner at the end.

Rob .

[Helencus]

That's exactly what im looking for as well Rob.

[shetlandpaul]

Ok so the HSA do not recommend neck dislocation. The last thing I want to do is cause suffering so how do you stun electrically then without shelling out lots of money? I only want to dispatch a few a week/month. What do other folks do instead just use the axe?

really don't try diy electric stunning. if your thinking of doing that then you need training as well. there is a captive bolt system at about £150-80 can't remember now. but your ment to have training on that too. even with either of these methods you have to bleed them or break there necks. shooting with an air rifle works well if you get the pellet in the right place. the axe works fine but its a lot easier if there are two of you. expect to get messy thou.

[dixie]

We only do a couple occasionly, but my Dad does it with his hands its instant, they do not suffer, if we were doing a bigger quantity then I would get a wall mounted humane dispatcher, my friend has one, again quick and no stresss! We bleed straightaway for a couple of mins then pluck, hang over night then draw and get oven ready! I only find they taste strong if hung for a few days. And if killed and eaten the same day they can be tough, overnight hang works for us! Hope this helps.

[Wizard]

Pottsie Godfrey has a usefull tool that would suit you people that only want to do an odd bird.Its a funnel with 2 chains 180 degrees apart hang it on a beam.Catch your bird drop it head first into the funnel so that its head comes out the narrow end it cannot struggle as it is held tight by the tapering sides he then stretches  the birds neck and bleeds it.He does about 50 turkeys at Xmas with it.Its so simple and so easy and they don't struggle once they are in

[Eagledance]

Pottsie Godfrey has a usefull tool that would suit you people that only want to do an odd bird.Its a funnel with 2 chains 180 degrees apart hang it on a beam.Catch your bird drop it head first into the funnel so that its head comes out the narrow end it cannot struggle as it is held tight by the tapering sides he then stretches  the birds neck and bleeds it.He does about 50 turkeys at Xmas with it.Its so simple and so easy and they don't struggle once they are in

Does he not stun them?

ED

[Rosemary]

That's illegal. You cannot kill an animal in that way except for religious reasons (the approach of Christmas doesn't count). Of course they don't struggle - they're in a bl**dy cone. I'm appalled that anyone should this that is an acceptable method of slaughter. It is entirely inhumane and must cause significant distress. Such producers should be out of business quick sharp.

[langdon]

i agree, admit i did it twice before just started out then had two sick chucks so done it.
i told myself that was the first and last time i would ever do that again

[langdon]

im thinking of getting the same appliance for ours, we are loking to fatten up
some chucks for the table too.
i wouldnt go down the road of using the axe.
i did when we started out, we had two sick chucks then so instead of taking a risk in the
other chucks getting ill, i took the axe to them.
i promised myself that it would be the first and last time i would do it.
there is better ways
langdon  

[harry]

Humane Slaughter Association, havnt read it and dont want to, i know what is quick and works as ive done most methods, just because its an association doesnt mean didly squat, the wall dispatcher is all over in one second, maybe hand dislocation is a bit hit and miss, anyway the wall dispatcher doesnt dislocaite it crushes the neck. the bird is completly calm as you hold the bird so the neck rests on the lower jaw, it just rests there, and in a flash the jaw is shut and its dead. before long we will all have to take a trailer load to the abortwa, (that doesnt look spelt correct) if you dont want to buy a dispatcher buy an air pistol. If doing this in winter the faint hearted could try this, pluck the bird first then open the oven door, the bird will be so cold it would jump in, then just shut the door.

[Helencus]

Humm I see I've stirred up a debate here. Seems to me its a question of personal choice as much as anything here. The last 4 sick hens I had were taken to the vet and euthanised there because I had no idea how to deal with them humanely. I am keen to have birds for meat but of paramount importance is that they don't suffer it needs to be quick and minimum distress.. I'm sure that's what all of us would advocate. As it goes the vet is not an advocate of neck dislocation by hand but did say if you follow the instructions carefully these dispatchers are ok. I guess like I say it's also about experience and personal choice. Thanks all for your views.