Culling chicks

[snifter]

Never a pleasent topic but one I need some advice on.

I have some Pekin chicks, about 7 weeks now and too many boys to try to find homes for.

Does anyone use the hand held dispatcher with results? I don't want to be too heavy handed and take their heads off doing it myself and if a clean kill is the result of using a pair of these on a young Pekin then I'll give them a go.

Last year I had loads of room and was able to leave it a while and the ones I wasn't able to home were culled when fully grown. And found their way into the pot. But I don't have freezer room for excess birds this year so can't leave them to full grown.

Is there anyone out there able to talk me through culling them so small or living nearby able to show me a quick clean way to dispatch them? Failing anyone being able to talk me through it here, I shall try our local gamekeeper and see if he will give me a demo with a pair. I am sure he won't mind.

I am pretty sure so long as I am confident using them and apply enough pressure and quickly enough they will do the trick. I know many people are not keen on them but is this perhaps because they are not being used properly and therefore not getting clean dispatch results.

 

[Tim]

The hand held dispatchers work by crushing the neck rather than stretching and bodies such as the Humain Slaughter Association is strongly against crushing the neck rather than dislocating and for this reason don't recommend them. They can be very inconsistent in use.

I have always used the neck dislocation method which isn't perfect but minimises the time it takes for a bird to become unconcious and is consistent if done correctly this is much easier on smaller birds.

It's hard to put into words and best to have demonstrated - but basically it involves placing the beak in the palm of your right hand, thumb behind the comb and grasping the birds head tightly, holding the legs in your left hand and pulling down with your right hand. As you do this, your right hand is bending the neck back through 90 degrees and the action of pulling the neck down dislocates it. Do this with the underside of the bird on your thigh.

Another method some people use is to form a V with your first two fingers and place them tight behing the birds neck. Place your thumb under the beak and tip the head back slightly. Once you've got a good grip, again over your thigh give a swift pull stretching the neck and at the same time pushing your knuckles into the vertibrae, pulling the neck backwards.

Feel for a gap in the vertebrae to ensure the bird is dead.

There is alot of flapping immediately afterwards - this really freaked me out first time but this is the nerves and the bird isn't actually concious.

For little chicks, place throat against an edge (sharp but not like a knife!) and press the back of the neck until neck is dislocated.

Best to have a demonstration first if you can get one. Never to be attempted if your not sure what you're doing.

Tim

 

[snifter]

Thanks Tim Excellent explanation. I'll walk it through in my head a few times and should be ok.

I've culled grown birds before so guess the same process applies if doing it myself. Just they are still pretty small and I am wary of getting it wrong or being too heavy handed. For some reason, adult birds seem so much easier or is that just my imagination?

I'll call the local gamekeeper and ask if he can pop round to be on the safe side. I think once I am shown with the chicks/growers I'll feel a lot more confident culling the small ones.

Alas we are moving also (hubby has a job that requires 5 hours commute each day) and so I'll be looking to rehome most of my stock. I'm gutted to say the least as have a lovely breeding trio (mottled/splash/black) and a couple of blue pullets I hoped to use next year. I also have to sell my (custom) made hen house and run :? I get to keep only two chooks, my first black Pekin hen and a Poland one I adore. I refuse to part with them but shall then downgrade to a hutch and run and customise it a bit for them. As we are going to be living in a town, albeit hopefully backing on to fields, 3 cock birds or more won't be appreciated I am sure Not even one :? :roll: I find peoples car stereos and dogs barking more noisy and would rather hear a cock crowing every morning than a lorry driving past.