[DenisCooper]

Morning all

I'm after some advice and help

From last year's hatching I've got way to many Cockerells and need to slaughter done, give some away.

I've never slaughtered a live bird so I am hopping that some close to the Staffordshire area might be able to help show me, I'm happy to pay for the time.

Also if anyone wants any please let me know.

Thanks

[landroverroy]

I get mine shot.
Easier in my village to find someone with a gun than someone who can slaughter them properly.

[macgro7]

You get you chickens shot? Really?
Oh I thought only larger animals would get that kind of death.
I slaughter my own chickens and ducks using "killing cone" as well as rabbits.

[DenisCooper]

I'll have a look at a killing cone

[Bionic]

I went on a poultry dispatch course last year and we use the broomstick method. Look it up on YouTube. It work well and wasn't too difficult to do

[pharnorth]

Broomstick method.

[Clarebelle]

I would use the broomstick method for ducks but find chickens heads come off too easily :/ or maybe I just have the strength of a bear 

[Jukes Mum]

My OH shoots ours. I don't get involved, but he finds it 'less personal', less stressful, no flapping etc.

[DenisCooper]

You get you chickens shot? Really?
Oh I thought only larger animals would get that kind of death.
I slaughter my own chickens and ducks using "killing cone" as well as rabbits.

Where did you get the. One from and do you slit the throat?

[Eve]

We use the. roomstick method after doing a course years ago.

[Dans]

I had another smallholder show me how to do the broomstick method, skin and gut, best to do before you hatch but what's done is done.

Hopefully someone near you will be able to help or could try going on a course. Do you have a local smallholder group? You could join that and see if anyone could help?

Dans

[Womble]

Where did you get the (co)ne from and do you slit the throat?

I found mine lying in a ditch at the side of the road. It's a nice orange colour  . I didn't get on with it in the end though - basically I just found broomstick method is far more consistent.

I would use the broomstick method for ducks but find chickens heads come off too easily

You only need to apply pressure until you feel the neck give, Clarebelle!  That said, it's far better to go too far than not far enough!

[DenisCooper]

I had another smallholder show me how to do the broomstick method, skin and gut, best to do before you hatch but what's done is done.

Hopefully someone near you will be able to help or could try going on a course. Do you have a local smallholder group? You could join that and see if anyone could help?

Dans

not sure...ill contact some of the chicken breeders over this way and see if they offer any courses covering dispatching...

not sure if there are any groups over this way.

[DenisCooper]

I forgot to say but the birds are around 5.5 - 6 months old - would they be better used for long slow cooking?

[Dans]

Looks like there was an active group there a few years back but doesn't seem to be active now.

Maybe add Staffordshire to the title of the post to attract the interest of people near you.

There's also a new Country Smallholders group on facebook, you could post on there to see if there is anyone local enough to show you how it's done.

As to the age it depends. Our first cockerels were 6 months old, we didn't hang them and they roasted up really nice. The next two batches were the same age, again not hung but really tough, they did slow roast ok though. If you're worried about toughness you could try hanging them after slaughter, if not then slow roast/cook to be sure.

Dans