What have you used instead of a killing cone?

[craftymama86]

My DH and I have been trying to think of something we already have to hang the chickens in for "that time" but have had no success, yet.

What do you hang your chickens in?

 

[pringle]

Simple hatchet will do the job well, there is a video on youtube of a guy using a gas method succesfully.I have heard of people using a broom stick to plant pruners for butchering there chickens.

 

[Elphaba2140]

Good Question! I started out last year with a flock of Bantam roos to disperse. I use a gallon Vinegar bottle. I cut the pour spout rim down just enough so their heads can go into it. I have one for small guys and one with a slightly bigger opening. I split the handle from the bottle at the top and use this to hook over the edge of a 5 gallon paint bucket. As I have progressed to larger boys, they are very snug in it but still fit. I just did some 4 month old Cochins! The only problem I have is that they were too heavy and fell into the bucket frequently. Now I tie up their feet to help hold the bottle up while they drain. I also put a small amount of shavings in the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket to contain the blood.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

My DIL's dad uses gallon milk jugs with the bottoms cut out and I know several people that use the orange road cones. I'm going to buy a killing cone for the 45 CX we currently have. Our first batch....SIL held them upside down until they were done.

Don't ask, very sore subject with chickeemama!!!

 

[booker81]

I use the gambrel hook pulley system we have in our garage for deer processing, but I take the hooks off and instead tie a rope to it with a loop at the end. I make a bigger loop through it slip knot fashion, and use that to tie their feet and hang them. They don't really fuss or do anything when hanging.

I like to lower them into a bucket so that I keep the blood contained after I slit the vein in the neck, and it keeps their wings contained as well so they don't flap and break them.

I have the rope set up so I can stand on it when they are "up" higher, and then just let it go to a knot that stops at the pulley, so they are hanging at the right height to make sure their heads are clear of the bottom of the bucket, but they are still contained.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I was thinking of using a plastic feed bag with one corner cut out so the head can stick through. But I haven't gotten up the nerve to do it yet.

 

[donrae]

Ohhh............I like the bucket dip idea!

When we first butchered, we just hung them from a clothsline. We now have improvised a killing cone from heavy cardboard and one from heavy duty plastic pond liner. We lay the cone on a bench, pull the head through and cut, then tip the back up to let the blood drain out. When it's done we take the bird out of the cone and hang them from a tree with the slip knot around the feet, one on each foot for stability, to butcher. I've also thought of just using the feed sack, the killing cone is really just to keep them from thrashing around so much and breaking wings or bruising meat.

 

[Fool]

I just used a slip knot around the feet to hang my rooster upside down. As far as preventing the flapping. I simply lock the wings together at the joint.

To lock the wings you hold the wings at the base and open toward the middle of the back. Lay the first joint over the opposing wing joint, so they cross.
Then you fold the lower wingtip over the upper wing. This locks the wings together and the bird will not be able to flap its wings.

This can be reversed without any harm or damage to the bird.

 

[Saltysteele]

road cones, with the tip cut off enough to make the opening you desire. a double topped saw horse so you can line up 2-3 road cones (the cones go between the horizontal beams, with the squared ends of the cones resting on the horizontal beams)

for turkeys, we've used a larger road cone, and we've also used a rye seed bag with the corner cut off enough to let the head poke out. legs were zip-tied together. just hold the bag so the bird doesn't flop around everywhere.

or, you can cut the head off and throw in the weeds. if you hang them up, most of the time (if you've used a method that is going to be easy to undo the ties) they end up falling out from flopping around and go running around on the ground anyway.

 

[Salt and Light]

I use a metal S hook that is shaped to fit over a leg but too small for the foot to slip through. I have a nail bent at 90 degrees,into a tree branch. After hooking a leg through one end of the S hook, I simply place the other end over the nail. The bird hangs upside down by his foot.

The great advantage of having the nail on a limb is that despite flapping winds like crazy, they do not hit any structures. I've never had a broken wing doing it this way.