Butchering using a knife to the brain

[Isaiah53]

I was hoping others would give some insight into the process of using a knife through the roof of the mouth through the brain to kill the chicken quickly. I understand it relieves the muscles as well as helps loosen feathers for plucking.

Have you used this method for butchering and if so can you give me the pros and cons of it? Also I've seen videos where cutting the throat before (which tends to cause the chicken to open its mouth making it easier to thrust the knife upwards) vs cutting the throat for bleeding out afterwards.... Which is the suggested or most beneficial way in your opinion? If the chicken is brain dead first does the heart still pump to allow the bird to bleed out?

Many thanks for your assistance and my apologies for asking what may be a gruesome question for others. I'm trying to find a quick and efficient way of dispatching my birds.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Ok some may scorn me for telling you this but if you have a helper with you once you put them in the come I use very well sharpened tree primers which takes care of it all in one fell swoop but you can't hesitate and you need a second pair of hands to pull the neck semi taught

 

[sylviethecochin]

I've tried it a few times, but I've found that a hatchet is easier for me and requires far less finesse.

 

[R2elk]

Ok some may scorn me for telling you this but if you have a helper with you once you put them in the come I use very well sharpened tree pruners which takes care of it all in one fell swoop but you can't hesitate and you need a second pair of hands to pull the neck semi taught

If properly done, the method the OP is interested in does cause the feathers to release making plucking the bird simple.

Your method causes the same results as chopping the head off which causes the exact opposite in regard to feather removal.

 

[Isaiah53]

If properly done, the method the OP is interested in does cause the feathers to release making plucking the bird simple.

Your method causes the same results as chopping the head off which causes the exact opposite in regard to feather removal.

That was my understanding, that immediate brain death is quicker, less painful and feathers come off easier.


I'd still be curious to know whether blood letting should be done before or after the brain is dead

 

[R2elk]

That was my understanding, that immediate brain death is quicker, less painful and feathers come off easier.


I'd still be curious to know whether blood letting should be done before or after the brain is dead

When I searched this subject a year or two ago, the recommendation was to pierce the brain and then cut the jugular from inside the mouth. There is a name for this procedure but I can't recall it at this time.

There are previous threads about it in this forum if you can figure out the proper terminology to use in searching for it.

 

[MissChick@dee]

That sounds awful stressful to the bird. Think about it you have to wrangle the bird pry it’s mouth open then cram the knife in. Just cut the head off work smarter not harder.

 

[Isaiah53]

That sounds awful stressful to the bird. Think about it you have to wrangle the bird pry it’s mouth open then cram the knife in. Just cut the head off work smarter not harder.

Videos show a quick throat cut, the bird opens its mouth and you quickly pierce the brain upwards and back. Much quicker than cutting the head off and easy picking feathers with possibly softer meat, IMO, but everyone has their preference. It's why I was asking those who've done this does the throat cut need to be made first. But thank you for your input

 

[R2elk]

That sounds awful stressful to the bird. Think about it you have to wrangle the bird pry it’s mouth open then cram the knife in. Just cut the head off work smarter not harder.

If done properly it is very fast and does not lead to the chicken with its head cut off syndrome.

 

[Isaiah53]

When I searched this subject a year or two ago, the recommendation was to pierce the brain and then cut the jugular from inside the mouth. There is a name for this procedure but I can't recall it at this time.

There are previous threads about it in this forum if you can figure out the proper terminology to use in searching for it.

Thank you this is what I was trying to figure. A quick thrust and it's over and then cutting inside through the mouth will drain the blood it's what I am trying to understand how this can be done. I'll keep researching!