Emotional support needed to kill mean rooster

[pennyJo1960]

Why take a known trouble to a shelter miss a good meal and send that elsewhere

 

[Viksceeks]

This is the classic. "everybody loves bacon, nobody wants to smell the pigs"
Every chicken meat chicken you raise yourself, is one that has a good short life, compared to the reality of the alternative. The same goes for eggers, instead of having half their beak cut off, set down in a box for two years until they are rotated out and become Vienna sausages and dog food.

Give him a good last day, give him a quick death, teach hands-on your children where meat comes from, one of the reason farm kids are such solid people. You'll be doing more for the welfare of animals than a hundred PETA hipsters holding signs or complaining about it on their iphones.

Just my opinion, not judging anyone for their's.

That's exactly why I would rather raise my food. I'm all about trying to do what's ethical, cost effective and trying to teach my children to not be 'indoor kids'
I knew someone scarred from a bad butchering experience involving a Turkey and a knife that ended up breaking during initial kill.
I've euthanized many many animals but never killed at my own hands.

 

[Viksceeks]

It's not easy to kill your first chicken, a mean rooster helps...some.
I had one sequestered all winter while I got my equipment ready and my nerve up.
This blog helped the most, where to slit neck and get vent out without piercing intestines.
Wrote this thread as a catharsis of my first slaughter.
You can do it @Viksceeks !

I've read that blog a few weeks ago, it's what actually got me thinking of raising meat birds

 

[springvalley123]

I think it's great that you want to teach your kids about raising meat, where food comes from, etc. However, in case you don't want to involve them hands-on for the rooster, you might do something similar to what I created: a little "noose" out of paracord (from walmart etc). I catch the bird, work the big loop around their neck, then put the small loop over a nail that I had already put into a log. I hold the bird's legs, then use a sharp cleaver to chop off the head. It's quick, and secure if you need to do it yourself. I was worried that I wouldn't get the two nails exactly right and the bird would not hold still with its head between the nails, so I developed this idea. The silver thing shown is a jump ring, but it works just as well with a knot. without the metal ring, both ends would look like the small end in this picture, and would just be a bit longer piece of cord to allow for the second knot. the important thing is that it's a slip knot that you operate with one hand while holding the bird with the other hand. Best of luck, I'm sure you have the ability to do this, it's the next step in your growth as a chicken person and responsible food person!

 

[Quackter]

That's exactly why I would rather raise my food. I'm all about trying to do what's ethical, cost effective and trying to teach my children to not be 'indoor kids'
I knew someone scarred from a bad butchering experience involving a Turkey and a knife that ended up breaking during initial kill.
I've euthanized many many animals but never killed at my own hands.

I respect you for it. I have empathy for you on the bad kill. We had a hand raised hog that turned out to be "double skulled", I still remember it. At the same time, I remember that every time since, we just use a sledge hammer. No lining up just perfect with a .22 .
Take away from the turkey what went wrong. A good shave sharp full tang knife if you slice, a good sharp hatchet or machete if you're chopping.
If you are physically strong and it's a young chicken, you can break their necks just as peaceful as anything. Tuck it under your left arm, keep it calm, one quick motion grab it's head and fling it out like a whip into two full spins, they barely flop. I knew a 75 year old lady the did it this way, she was as tough as anybody I ever seen, and just as kind too.
Whatever method you choose. Keep calm, don't be nervous, keep your eyes open, don't mess up just for fear of messing up. (For you and the bird, you don't want to loose a finger either.) You'll do fine.

*I want to note this in case anyone is gonna butcher a hog. The immediate bleeding out is just as important. Just message me, if you need details. I've been far too grim here.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I think it's great that you want to teach your kids about raising meat, where food comes from, etc. However, in case you don't want to involve them hands-on for the rooster, you might do something similar to what I created: a little "noose" out of paracord (from walmart etc). I catch the bird, work the big loop around their neck, then put the small loop over a nail that I had already put into a log. I hold the bird's legs, then use a sharp cleaver to chop off the head. It's quick, and secure if you need to do it yourself. I was worried that I wouldn't get the two nails exactly right and the bird would not hold still with its head between the nails, so I developed this idea. The silver thing shown is a jump ring, but it works just as well with a knot. without the metal ring, both ends would look like the small end in this picture, and would just be a bit longer piece of cord to allow for the second knot. the important thing is that it's a slip knot that you operate with one hand while holding the bird with the other hand. Best of luck, I'm sure you have the ability to do this, it's the next step in your growth as a chicken person and responsible food person!View attachment 1908190

That is a very good method Please take the time make yourself an article about how you do it pictures and all of how it works just put one in the set up do not need to off it just then good methods are precious

 

[pennyJo1960]

actually @Quackter not grim when said in the direction you took

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well I am going to throw out my alternative method here, which I use because I am not only old but also a bit decrepit so none of the methods described here work for me. I've described it before, but here goes. I load up my extra cockerels or roos into a dog crate and haul them to a local Mennonite lady who processes them for me at $1 a head. I pick them up in the afternoon dressed and ready (she says) to go in the freezer, but I rest them in the fridge a couple of days first instead. I definitely don't have to look them them in the eye and I'm in no danger of losing a finger. I don't have the strength or stamina at this point to gut and pluck so this method works for me. If you're unable to do the deed yourself, I feel there is no shame in hiring it out to someone skilled, qualified and experienced to do it properly. (As my body heals and strengthens, I do plan to ask Mrs. W if she'll teach me how, as some day I would like to be able to do it myself, though.)

 

[Quackter]

Well I am going to throw out my alternative method here, which I use because I am not only old but also a bit decrepit so none of the methods described here work for me. I've described it before, but here goes. I load up my extra cockerels or roos into a dog crate and haul them to a local Mennonite lady who processes them for me at $1 a head. I pick them up in the afternoon dressed and ready (she says) to go in the freezer, but I rest them in the fridge a couple of days first instead. I definitely don't have to look them them in the eye and I'm in no danger of losing a finger. I don't have the strength or stamina at this point to gut and pluck so this method works for me. If you're unable to do the deed yourself, I feel there is no shame in hiring it out to someone skilled, qualified and experienced to do it properly. (As my body heals and strengthens, I do plan to ask Mrs. W if she'll teach me how, as some day I would like to be able to do it myself, though.)

Cheater....... I don't blame ya.

 

[springvalley123]

Well I am going to throw out my alternative method here, which I use because I am not only old but also a bit decrepit so none of the methods described here work for me. I've described it before, but here goes. I load up my extra cockerels or roos into a dog crate and haul them to a local Mennonite lady who processes them for me at $1 a head. I pick them up in the afternoon dressed and ready (she says) to go in the freezer, but I rest them in the fridge a couple of days first instead. I definitely don't have to look them them in the eye and I'm in no danger of losing a finger. I don't have the strength or stamina at this point to gut and pluck so this method works for me. If you're unable to do the deed yourself, I feel there is no shame in hiring it out to someone skilled, qualified and experienced to do it properly. (As my body heals and strengthens, I do plan to ask Mrs. W if she'll teach me how, as some day I would like to be able to do it myself, though.)

That sounds like a wonderful option for any number of reasons. Time, suitable location to butcher, as well as physical abilities.