Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[shakespearehens]

A big thank you to Lesley for her help at the weekend in my first expereince of preparing my own birds for the table. I visited her Farm on Saturday with my two home-hatched cockerels, that we sadly could not keep as we have a small garden in a residential area. I say sadly, but the two birds were gladly received at my table for Sunday lunch.

 

Lesley, having previously chick-sat for me during the summer, allowed me to dispatch the birds using their contraption, of which I don't know the name, but it is esentially a large cone on legs. The bird goes into the cone head first so that its head comes down through the narrow end and in between two metal parallel bars suspended underneath which pivot so that you can pull them, and the bird's head, down. One action does the job and the bird's eyes close immediately. There was no distress and the chickens had a calming cuddle first. There was also, much to my relief, no blood as this drains down into the head of the bird. Yes, there was the famed twitching after death but the birds where contained in the cone for this.

 

We then spent a sociable hour sitting and chatting whilst we plucked and then, photocopied instructions in hand, I set off home to go it alone for the gutting. I am glad to say that it is all rather easy and not at all gory as I had feared it might be.

 

So, thank you once again to Lesley - the smallholding really does seem like a bit of a dream-come-true.

 

I have put more details and will get round to putting some photos on my blog http://www.thehippychick.net

[The Dogmother]

I'm glad that you learned how to do it the humane way.

 

I see from your blog that your children were fine about it - my daughter has always been the same and has now watched countless despatches and wants to do 'the deed' herself next time. It helps them to understand the responsibilty they have towards their food.

 

Perhaps we'll meet up at one of the farmers' markets - we're usually there too.

[Charlottechicken]

Congratulations on having the courage to dispatch your own meat!

 

I've recently done this and it proved to be an interesting experience and not at all traumatic. I am such a city wimp who was happy to eat my Yorkshire grandparents home reared birds but wanted nothing to do with the slaughter of them when I was young, what a wasted opportunity that was

 

However, after reading on here about the broomstick method, and despite a kind Omleteer offering to come over and show me how to do it, I had a go with my mum, an experienced chicken dispatcher who thought she no longer had the strength to wring necks, and it was very successful. The first bird didn't even flap, just quivered a bit, and the subsequent two were also killed immediately but flapped a lot (I knew the last one was dead as I heard his neck snap when I pulled his legs, but he flapped for ages). I am happy in the knowledge that, although the meat tasted nothing like shop bought chicken, these birds were treated with utmost kindness, respect and consideration throughout their lives and I took full responsibility for them from hatch to dispatch.

 

If only the neighbours knew what we were doing in my back yard

 

I will be hatching again next year

[Lesley]

It was lovely to see you on Saturday Angela - and glad to hear that the gutting went well.

 

The weather could have been a bit nicer - we might have despatched more than the two of ours which we demonstrated on.........we still have 16 to go as the weather hasn't improved

 

Yes Clare - your Christmas lunch is still running around!

[shakespearehens]

Thanks for the replies. I am still wondering whether I would do this again next year. Perhaps I would if I could get set up with another second-hand eglu then it would be easier. This year we had a rabbit hutch opening on to a small run, but it wasn't very easy to keep clean. That is if my Pepperpot goes broody again in spring. One thing I would definately do differently is to source eggs from a definate breed which would be good for the table rather than my hybrid babies. Despite all the hard work looking after chicks, it now feels a little bit anti-climactic so perhaps I am destined for another try.