[Gareth J]

With no wish to upset anyone, I am rearing turkeys for Christmas and as far as I can see its the same process for dispatching a turkey as a chicken. can anyone confirm?

[joyfull]

Have a word with Grannie Annie, her and Brian raise turkeys for Christmas 

[Gareth J]

Thanks Joyfull

[SMD66]

It's very hard to 'pull' a turkey's neck as they are so much bigger.  They need a blow to the back of the head to render them sensless then the  throat cut to bleed them out so they die.  We let our butcher do ours as he has a lot of experience.

[Gareth J]

Thanks smd66.

[Railside Rooster]

Anyone know if you can use one of the wall-mounted dispatchers as I have one for chickens?

Thanks

Lucy

[GrannieAnnie]

Yes the wall mounted dispatchers are for turkeys as well, but like SMD66 said, turkeys necks are 'tougher'.  I have PM'd Gareth, but also just thought, Brian used to do the broomstick method too. Get someone to help you are they are strong.  hold the turkey down on the ground, put a broomstick or similar across the neck.  Stand on broomstick, hold the turkey by the body preferably to stop the wings flapping and pull swiftly upwards til neck breaks.

I think I got that right, but can't check as Brian is in bed!

And a good hard blow to the neck will certainly render it unconscious.  I remember once, 3 turkeys were having a fight, and when they are big the only way to separate them is being physical.  So Brian pulled them apart and hit one of them on the neck as he was coming back for more, and he hit the floor hard.  Brian thought he was dead, but after a little bit, the turkey stood up, shook his head and wandered off!

[Railside Rooster]

Great, helpful advice , thanks Grannie Annie - and good luck Gareth!

Lucy

[redmolly]

Take a look at DEFRA site if you are despatching of a few....especially to sell. Rules changed a few years ago on how you may or may not kill them!! blooming nightmare!! Plus we all had to wear white to pluck em!!!
I know someone in Newport who used to do it....PM me if you want me to get their details!!

[GrannieAnnie]

I was assuming Gareth was rearing turkeys for his own consumption.  Selling them is another matter.  They have to be slaughtered etc by a person licensed to do it

When the environmental health peeps came round here, nothing was said about wearing white to pluck them.  Mind you, whatever you wear, get a little breeze in the plucking shed and you end up white after you've plucked them!!!!   

[Gareth J]

They are for my own consumption. I have 6 hens (for eggs) and although I have never dispatched a hen or turkey before, I am aware of how to do it in case it becomes nessessary. This is the first time I have reared turkeys and I am in comfortable with why I have them. I do appreciate all of your comments.

[redmolly]

Rather you than me!!! 

[death of rats]

Personally couldnt do it myself if I had reared the beasties.
No criticism intended in this by the way but I am of the thought that if it has a name it isnt food.

[Gareth J]

the hens have names, thought up by my 8 yr old. I have deliberatly not given the turkeys names for that very reason death of rats

[GrannieAnnie]

Brian has culled poultry on and off for most of his life so it doesn't bother him at all.  I don't actually like the killing, but I will do it when necessary to relieve pain etc in our birds.

Sometimes people say to me oh how can you eat them after rearing them?  But like many people on here who rear their own meat.  At least I know where my dinner has come from.  I know it has had as good a life as I can give it. fresh air, plenty of good food etc, it has been talked to, sung to, and when it's time comes, it is killed with as little stress as possible, and humanely done.

Even the free range and organic birds that you can buy in the shops are treated all the same at the slaughterhouses!

I'll get off me soapbox now!