[ANHBUC]

Wouldn't  geesemake a terrible mess in the hen house.  

Have a look on YouTube, i'm sure ive seen stuff there about culling and dressing poultry.

I always think turkeys are much easier to cull then some of the big cockerels, ours went very quietly with no struggle or noise. Try culling a big Cornish Game cockerel first, turkeys are a piece of cake after that.

ANHBUC, we use a wall mounted dispatcher too.

I will be asking you for advice before I do the deed then.   

[Debbieta]

Can I ask who dispatches cockerals manually (by hand), or who uses a wall mounted dispatcher.  I am thinking of potentially buying a dispatcher but am as yet undecided, as we are hopefully going to breed some of our own this year and may be needing to consume our organic produce!

[Craigx]

hello,

when iv dispatched a poorly chick or injured chick/hen, i use a small long black torch handle and break the neck by pulling at an angle, i like to think the hen is dead instanstly, but it generaly 2-3 seconds,



I have read alot about the wall dispatchers and if your measurements are off then it can go badly wrong, from badly dislocated unbroken necks, to complete beheading,


Craig

[pepsi100]

I dont see myself 'dispatching' many cockerals, so is there any point in getting one of these 'wall mounted' things

What else do you use if you dont have one ?

Just bang it over the head ? (assuming you can catch the thing in the first place)

I would have thought the best time to 'do the deed' is when they have settled down for the night, go in collect the bird, keep it calm, relaxed then out it goes

[Craigx]

hi,

pepsi i wouldnt recommend hitting them over the head as this can cause injury, which can get you into trouble...

Craig

[GrannieAnnie]

As we used to sell our meat chickens and turkeys, we have to do the 'deed' properly, so Brian has an electric stunner, and I have a wall mounted dispatcher that I use when we have poorly birds.

I would recommend the wall mounted one if you are going to do this on a regular basis.  Sorry Can't comment on the wringing of necks, except that it is actually illegal now to dispatch this way, but if it is just for you, then I think it's okay.

After all the 'powers that be' don't have X-Ray vision!

[pepsi100]

hi,

pepsi i wouldnt recommend hitting them over the head as this can cause injury, which can get you into trouble...

Craig

That was a rhetorical question, I never said I would, I asked what do you do if you don't have a wall mounted dispatcher ?

[Craigx]

As we used to sell our meat chickens and turkeys, we have to do the 'deed' properly, so Brian has an electric stunner, and I have a wall mounted dispatcher that I use when we have poorly birds.

I would recommend the wall mounted one if you are going to do this on a regular basis.  Sorry Can't comment on the wringing of necks, except that it is actually illegal now to dispatch this way, but if it is just for you, then I think it's okay.

After all the 'powers that be' don't have X-Ray vision!

Hey..

Illegal where? atm its not illegal in the UK?

Craig

[GrannieAnnie]

Yes it is unless you are only doing it for your own use.

I was told this by a DEFRA vet.

If I'm wrong, then so was he! 

[pepsi100]

As we used to sell our meat chickens and turkeys, we have to do the 'deed' properly, so Brian has an electric stunner, and I have a wall mounted dispatcher that I use when we have poorly birds.

I would recommend the wall mounted one if you are going to do this on a regular basis.  Sorry Can't comment on the wringing of necks, except that it is actually illegal now to dispatch this way, but if it is just for you, then I think it's okay.

After all the 'powers that be' don't have X-Ray vision!

Hey..

Illegal where? atm its not illegal in the UK?

Craig

She is right, you can only kill them for yourself, not on a commercial scale, you cant just cut their throat and let them bleed out either (as some cultures do)

[Squibbs]

I use the neck dislocation by hand method - once you know how to do it then it's quick, humane (arguably more than the wall mounted thingys though probably less than electric stunning) and reliable.

I skin the cockerels, (I only pluck the meat chickens I will be roasting) remove the innards  - usually with my 6 year old daughter in attendance - she is keen to get involved at this point. We then fry the heart and liver which are very popular and I tend then to boil them on a low heat and strip the carcass which I then use in various recipes.

By the way what is wrong with giblets - Even in waitrose none of the ducks, chickens or geese came with giblets - I like giblets!

[GrannieAnnie]

As we used to sell our meat chickens and turkeys, we have to do the 'deed' properly, so Brian has an electric stunner, and I have a wall mounted dispatcher that I use when we have poorly birds.

I would recommend the wall mounted one if you are going to do this on a regular basis.  Sorry Can't comment on the wringing of necks, except that it is actually illegal now to dispatch this way, but if it is just for you, then I think it's okay.

After all the 'powers that be' don't have X-Ray vision!

Hey..

Illegal where? atm its not illegal in the UK?

Craig

She is right, you can only kill them for yourself, not on a commercial scale, you cant just cut their throat and let them bleed out either (as some cultures do)

Thanks Pepsi!

Squibbs, once you get the hang of a wall mounted dispatcher, culling is very quick.  neck dislocation or dispatchers, whatever are not humane if it isn't done right.

I won't use OH's stunner as I do worry about not getting that one right!

[pepsi100]

ooo, you will be very lucky to find giblets in any birds any more, the same as a kidney on a pork chop, offal isnt popular any more

I always asked for any extra giblets when I boiught a fresh bird from a REAL butchers shop, they were always glad to get rid of them

The younger generation dont know how to cook offal, cheap cuts any more

You might find them in a butchers shop, but even they are few and far between now

...

When I kill a cockerel, I want to know its had a good happy life, that is why I would take it at night, after they have settled down, keep the bird quiet, no fuss, no noise, and then 'do the deed'

But that is just me, I am not bothered how others do it, as long as its quick (I dont know how painful it would be, I have never had it done to me) but I know a tazer hurts and frazzles your brain for a good 5 minutes, dont know what it would do to a bird


.

[Craigx]

Hello,

I thought you meant it was illegal to do it at home, lol i know its illegal in commercial premises or if you intend to sell them

I dont think you can even sell them to your family can you?

Craig

[joyfull]

I use a wall mounted dispatcher - but have also used an axe and the broom method. The wall mounted dispatcher works the best for me. I have no intention of breeding again so will not have to use it for cockerels but will use it for any bird that is suffering and not responding to any medication.