Chook killer!!!

[HayleyB]

Don't forget the mule!

Jules

C'mon get the facts right, Wyatt Earp did not ride a mule , he didn't wear a poncho and I cannot imagine that he EVER chewed a cheroot you're getting him confuzzled with Clint Eastwood who never had a shoot out at the OK Corral............

[Nicos]

You need to be careful about who you get a reputation with for killing birds, in the August magazine there is an arcticle about turkeys and one part is about despatching them, with reference to EU regs, which I would assume would also be relevant to chickens as well.

"No person should engage in the slaughter of their turkey unless they have the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the tasks humanely and efficently and in accordance with European regulations. Remember, as the owner of the turkey, even though you are killing it for your own consumption, you are responsible for it's welfare throughout the slaughter process."

If you are doing this for a third party, then you are providing a service and you may find you are in need of a licence to slaughter.

Valid point!

[Snadger]

C'mon get the facts right, Wyatt Earp did not ride a mule , he didn't wear a poncho and I cannot imagine that he EVER chewed a cheroot you're getting him confuzzled with Clint Eastwood who never had a shoot out at the OK Corral............

Next time I go to cull a cockerel maybe I should say "Do you feel lucky........PUNK??.....well do ya??? (Maybe in bad taste..but sod it!)

Just as an aside, and this may sound daft, but I actually talked to the only two cockerels I have ever culled. After taking them gently from the run I tucked them under my arm and said " I hope you realise this is nothing personal and I'll make sure it's swift and painless. I've done right by you up til now just I'm afraid I can't keep you all" (or words to that effect) I then took them behind the door of my hut which is 30 metres from the run and despatched them out of view of the other birds.
I don't feel guilty at all as I know they wanted for nothing, were slaughtered humanely and will be appreciated even when used as a Sunday lunch.

[Snadger]

A happy end to the story.....for now anyway!

The guy in question collared me as soon as I arrived at the allotment so I said "C'mon then, lets get it over and done with" He said he would rather not watch.
I picked up the bird in question and told him I didn't think it was bad enough to cull and if he didn't want it I would take it. It is now in a broody coop, seperated from my flock. It appears to be eating and drinking ok, it is well feathered up, it has a red comb,it is a young bird judging by it's feet and when I came away it was sitting in the nesting box. (wouldn't be surprised if there was an egg in there tomorrow) It does sit down now and again, but so do mine.
If I can save it I will (It's actually quite sweet and responded well to tisses and tuddles) Ooops, there goes my street cred again

PS If I can save it ...........he aint getting it back!

[bluemoon]

At some point I know I'm going to have to cull unwanted cockerels. I'd be incredibly grateful if there was someone like Snadger around to show me how it was done, perhaps kill the first one with me watching and supervise whilst I did the second myself. It's one thing to pass on knowledge, but something else to take over responsibility. Culling is something that everyone who hatches their own stock is probably going to have to do, to hand the job over to someone else is like buying a dog when you've no intention of walking it. After all if someone on the lotties admired your runner beans, you might tell him how you'd grown them, might even give him a few seedlings, but you certainly wouldn't do the whole thing for him. If I was you Snadger, I'd agree, but have him present to see how it was done and make it clear that next time you'll just be there in a supervisory role.

EDIT. Crossed posts, Snadger. Pleased it's working out well.

[HayleyB]

Next time I go to cull a cockerel maybe I should say "Do you feel lucky........PUNK??.....well do ya??? (Maybe in bad taste..but sod it!)

.

Nah, sorry Snadge different film, he didn't have poncho or mule or cheroot in Dirty Harry

Sounds like the little hen has fallen on her feet you ole softy you

[MaureenHall]

Snadger's street cred is no more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you big old softie Good on yer mate, that's an honourable thing you've done

[bluemoon]

You need to be careful about who you get a reputation with for killing birds, in the August magazine there is an arcticle about turkeys and one part is about despatching them, with reference to EU regs, which I would assume would also be relevant to chickens as well.

"No person should engage in the slaughter of their turkey unless they have the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the tasks humanely and efficently and in accordance with European regulations. Remember, as the owner of the turkey, even though you are killing it for your own consumption, you are responsible for it's welfare throughout the slaughter process."

If you are doing this for a third party, then you are providing a service and you may find you are in need of a licence to slaughter.

True, it is a valid point, but can I point you all to a novel called 'Two Caravans' by Marina Lewycka for a graphic description of commercial chicken rearing and slaughter. I'm pretty certain that anything Snadger does will be done with respect for the bird, quickly and with minimal stress, unlike the fate suffered by most of our supermarket birds.

[RedThorn]

lol Snadger Wyatt Earp... Clint Eastwood.... nah sounds more like cuddly teaddy bear! Dang straight you keep the girl if she improves.....

Know what you mean about can but don't like it. Fingers crossed she's up and about soon!

[Bramble-Poultry]

well, in this case i think that the "punk" did "feel lucky" and is lucky now, being treated with such kindness as Snadge has to offer. Let us know how "lucky" gets on in the "chicken hospital" with you Snadge!

[Stacey Steve]

Bluemoon, I do not need to be pointed to anything about chickens, I was mearly concerned that Snadger had posted this on a public forum and that someone could cause him problems. I have no problem with anyone slaughtering animals to eat if it is done correctly.

I think I may have been misunderstood for someone trying to cause trouble rather than my true intention of trying to assist Snadger and anyone else in this situation.

There are too many people out there only to willing to "drop" someone in it because they feel "Holier than thou".

[Nicos]

It was right to point that out Steve...'own consumption ' are the key words
Maybe putting a bird down which is in distress is probably something else?????

I've 'dispatched' one or two wild birds which have been mauled by cats...I wonder at what point a vet should be involved with humanly destroying an animal/bird.

Farmers clearly have a different approach.

[bluemoon]

Bluemoon, I do not need to be pointed to anything about chickens, I was mearly concerned that Snadger had posted this on a public forum and that someone could cause him problems. I have no problem with anyone slaughtering animals to eat if it is done correctly.

I think I may have been misunderstood for someone trying to cause trouble rather than my true intention of trying to assist Snadger and anyone else in this situation.

There are too many people out there only to willing to "drop" someone in it because they feel "Holier than thou".

I was pointing it out merely because I've recently read the book and found it extremely distressing. I haven't eaten supermarket chicken for a couple of years, but only because I've found a delicious supply at the farmers' market. In my opinion everyone who buys a chicken from the supermarket should be forced to read that before they eat it, I guarantee consumption would drop off rapidly and chickens would cease to be kept in these disgusting ways. Chicken used to be a 'luxury' item when my mum was a girl, but back then farmers fattened a few cockerels over a period of months, not tens of thousands in 6 weeks. I didn't read your post as if you were trying to cause trouble, but simply trying to say that in my opinion Snadger killing a small number of cockerels in the way he does is far more humane than the food industry's attempts. But you're probably right, there are people about who would happily eat a supermarket chicken, but get all sqeamish and superior and distressed if they found out that someone nearby was culling their own. How many people have had neighbours complain about their garden hens when those neighbours themselves probably then happily eat battery eggs without a second thought? I still maintain that chickens raised in decent conditions then meeting a quick end with minimal stress is far better than the fate suffered by most chickens kept 'professionally', it's just a shame that we have to deal with the sort of people who don't really understand the situation, but who are quite prepared to meddle.

[RedThorn]

well Snadger.... how's the patient?

[Nicos]

well Snadger.... how's the patient?

Hmmm...I was wondering just that!!