redmaples

You know if I didn't raise and process my own meat birds I wouldn't have been able to do it.

The other day I to remove one of my roosters from the run. Since I mixed the birds last week he has picked on different birds very serverly. He is a 5 month old partidge Rock and the hens are an easter egger who was a little bigger could hold her own and a Silver spangled hamburg which are smaller (but fast) and he just picked on them something awe-ful. So I separated him gave him 3 day to cool off put him back he was OK for while went back the hamburg had no feathers left on the back of her head and a few blood spots and he was chasing her around the coop and run. that was it for me. Too bad he was turning out to be a beautiful bird. I guess sometimes you get an agressive one that is just too rough on the hens.
I still have the Rhode Island red, he is very gentle with the hens and has a great disposition with people as well. There seems to be much less tension with the whole flock since he (his name was Jim) was taken away.

Its never an easy thing to do.

__________________
May your chickens always lay perfect eggs, Brad
24 layers 8 different breeds
2 roosters..... for now
Maple Syrup, Honey, a big garden always expanding
www.willowcreeksugarhouse.com

Energyvet

That's my biggest concern about getting chickens. I've euthanized animals, but I've never killed a chicken an eaten it. That's a big worry for me.

oakwood

You did the right thing for the sake of your flock .
No, it is never easy .
I do all the culling here , my husband will not kill any animal .
So i have to kill any sick , nasty natured , etc birds .
Sometimes you just cannot wait for a vet .

tigereyesblue76

If you don't mind me asking, how did you do it.? I am only asking as one of my fave girls Penny had all her insides hanging out of her bum and we thought the best thing for her was to put her down, I could not do it but my partner did, but not having done it before he was not sure on the most humane way.. Much appreciated if anyone could let me know.

7chicks

So sorry Redmaples. Not an easy decision to have to make. =(

redmaples

I will send you a private message its really no secret but from my experience its the fasted and most humane way even though there is really nothing humane about killing!!! You can also look up videos on you tube as well, they have them on there. Also one of my newest heros is Joel Salatin...The farmer from food inc. He actually shows them processing chickens in the movie basically thats how I do mine as well. just a much different set-up. But I don't sell mine they are just for my family. I actually decided to start raising chickens for meat shortly after watching that movie.

__________________
May your chickens always lay perfect eggs, Brad
24 layers 8 different breeds
2 roosters..... for now
Maple Syrup, Honey, a big garden always expanding
www.willowcreeksugarhouse.com

Sundancers

My Grandma would wring their neck, I on the other hand never had the nack for that so I use a axe/hatchet.

Quick and easy ...

__________________
Andi

Homesteading ... it's a way of life.

"I am the momma-bear your daddy warned you about" ...

cogburn

Agreed Sundancers, sharp hatchet and a stump, 2 nails about 2" apart bent in slightly, many don't care for the "show" afterwards, flopping and all, so if company is around I keep a modified traffic safety cone, the orange ones, nearby and it's a lot less "graffic".. To the squeamish city folks.

tigereyesblue76

Thanks guys... I do remember way back in high school in horticulture class, my teacher picked me out to witness a culling of a chicken, head cut off with an axe, I was mortified and still to this day I remember it clearly and I often wonder why he picked me out of all the class to watch.... But thanks again guys!!

tigereyesblue76

Thank you redmaples for your message, much appreciated..