Processing Quail

[threeonesixhomestead]

This is something I realise I will have to do in future as I embark on a journey to keep quail for both eggs and meat.

I just wish to know if anybody out there uses any other method of dispatching the bird besides scissors/shears/pulling the head off with their hands. I would really love to know if anybody uses, and has success with, an air rifle pistol for example. I have no issue dispatching a bird, but I cringe & squeam at the very idea of literally cutting off the head with scissors, because I know that there may come a time where one cut is not enough and I will never forgive myself for causing the bird unnecessary distress. I understand it is a swift death and once they're gone, they're gone but I could not live with the knowledge I was the reason for it's suffering, no matter how short a time it was subjected to it.

I will gladly go out and buy an air pistol if it means a fast, painless (guaranteed) death for the bird.

I'd really love to hear your thoughts!

 

[Eonflux]

I’d like to know also? What is the best/least painless way to kill a bird for processing? Cutting their head off while they’re alive kinda make me hesitate also.

 

[Pandaisy]

I simply grab them by their legs and hit their head on something heavy, like concrete. This way sends them to dreamland instantly and they won't feel their head coming off. I am using a sharp axe then. The whole process takes about two minutes. Everybody has to find their own way I guess. I feel most comfortable when the animal is unconscious. Still hate culling a bird...

 

[Nabiki]

Cutting off their head is the fastest, most humane way to dispatch them that I can think of. A year ago, I didn't think I could do it. I'd never killed anything larger than a bug. I still don't like doing it, but I can, and even wrote an article on how to do it.

It's very hard to mess up with shears. Even if the head doesn't come off right away, the neck is broken, and the bird is still dead.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-process-your-quail-including-gory-pictures.75834/

 

[2020Chickadee]

Cutting off their head is the fastest, most humane way to dispatch them that I can think of. A year ago, I didn't think I could do it. I'd never killed anything larger than a bug. I still don't like doing it, but I can, and even wrote an article on how to do it.

It's very hard to mess up with shears. Even if the head doesn't come off right away, the neck is broken, and the bird is still dead.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-process-your-quail-including-gory-pictures.75834/

Oh man! I was looking for this two days ago when I needed to do my first butcher (highly aggressive male). I read it when you first wrote it and it was great! I will say, one thing I was not ready for was the smell of blood. I'm a woman, and I've split open my head a few times, so I didn't think it would bother me but apparently there's a difference in smelling your blood vs anothers.
Bookmarked for future reference! Thank you for making such a great guide!

 

[Phneyda]

Pre-processing tip: If you have an s/o or family member you co-own the quail with please make sure they’re on board with actually processing the quail.