Dispatching chickens properly

kizza · « **on:** May 20, 2008, 15:26 »

I have read muntys' post on how to dispatch a chicken, but i am afraid that if i pull down on the neck the head of the bird will come off in my hand

Can you please reassure me this will not happen as i would totally freak if it did.

bedifferent · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2008, 18:44 »

I am soon to come across this worry when my meat birds mature in a few months and whilst i am resolved to do it i am concerned about this. As far as i can gather it is quite likely, in our need to do the job properly, that a head might come off - after all - if you have never done it before how do you know how hard to pull?? One consolation is that although it may be messy the bird will most certainly be dead. One other option i am considering is a hand held dispatcher, which may get rid of this worry all together. I was thinking that it might be worth getting a brace of pheasent - in feather and having a practice - might give a gauge of the force required.

mdueal · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2008, 20:36 »

We were thinking about getting hand held dispatcher too - just so we know the job is done properly and the bird hasnt been hurt.

richyrich7 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2008, 20:55 »

Having done the deed on hens and pigeons, to be honest I think you'd have to pull extremely hard to detach a hens head from its shoulders, you feel the neck go inside and if you follow Muntys post you should have no problems

pigeons on the other hand I've had a couple of them do it :roll:

pushrod · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2008, 22:39 »

have you thought about the traffic cone method - hand held dispatchers are very expensive for what they are

muntjac · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2008, 17:17 »

the pressure needed is easy to gauge as you feel the neck split then just add a little more and the spinal column is seperated and u can feel this happen in ur fingers :)there is no force needed that will make the head break off .... thats over exerting yourself

woodburner · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2008, 20:40 »

I wasn't sure I'd be strong enough to do the deed so I tried breaking the neck of a supermarket chicken! It wasn't as hard as I expected, not sure how much difference the bird being already well and truly dead made though

I have yet to kill any of my birds but I am a lot more confident that I will be able to now.

babe · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2008, 20:46 »

i wont share how i dispatch bunnies that havent quite died from gunshot injuries...... :?

Porffor · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2008, 20:59 »

hmm.. could have done with being stronger over a guinea pig recently. Cost me £33 to get him dispatched.

peggyprice · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2008, 22:33 »

Quote from: "woodburner"

I wasn't sure I'd be strong enough to do the deed so I tried breaking the neck of a supermarket chicken! It wasn't as hard as I expected, not sure how much difference the bird being already well and truly dead made though
I have yet to kill any of my birds but I am a lot more confident that I will be able to now.

How did you manage to find a supermarket chicken with a neck???

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Dispatching chickens properly

Porffor