Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I haven't posted in here in soooooo long, but thought I might now! I am attending the Dispatch and Dress course which is being run through Cotswold Chickens on Sunday & wondered if any of the unfamiliar faces might have a familiar forum name to them I have no idea if this link will work, but heyho.... http://www.cotswoldchickens.com/despatch--dress-course-24-p.asp Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I did the course last year whole hearterly recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 That's comforting, thanks........I know I need to do it, as I can't rely on my friend to "do the deed" forever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Well done Sha, I hope that it goes well for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 good for you, I really want (well 'want' not quite the right word) to learn how to do this but cant find anyone local. I think it's a very important thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 Well Ben's not exactly local to me, 2 hours up the A34 ........he was the closest who had a course running sooner than September though......I could have trundled down to Devon, though can't remember what their dates were I felt I had to strike while the iron was hot so to speak & get the course booked while I was still fired up about it...I have several hatches which may have boys in their number, and of course the occasional sick chook who needs a kindly helping hand to the big free range field Thanks Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 That's a responsible attitude Sha; while I realise that not every one would like to do it, i think that it's a responsible move to learn how to despatch a bird if needs be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Well done for doing this course, don't think I could bring myself to do it, so hats off to you!!! I'll never raise birds for the table, and whilst it would be nice to hatch some chicks there's NO WAY I can do it unless I can deal humanely with the boys and since I don't think I ever will be able to, there's no hatching for me It would be good to know how to dispatch properly and confidently though, in case of emergency. Good luck for the course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 I need to know, so will get over the emotional side , think learning with "unknowns birds" will be so much easier. A week or so ago I had to dispatch a day old baby quail & a day or two earlier was shown, by my friend who's dispatched all my other sick chooks, how to dispatch a little girl who had suffered a prolapse & wasn't responding to the various home remedies I was advised.............I was a wreck after the babe (sorry to my dearest friends who got the sobby messages ), but it just strengthened my resolve to learn how to do it properly & more confidently, as did watching Oak being dispatched. Having kept chooks for however long I have now (3 years?) I felt it was time to take the next step....having hatched & matched, dispatch is the final frontier to cross ....this is just the way I feel about it, I make no judgement about others feelings, we're all different after all Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Don't worry about being upset when it's your own birds Sha; I don't have problems with despatching meat birds or someone else's bird, but will still cry buckets when it's one of my own. It shows that you care and don't take a life lightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I think you are fantastic, I REALLY admire you, I'm too much of a wimp to take that step, but would "love" (again wrong word, but can't think of another) to know how to do it PROPERLY with the confidence to know I've done it right, there's bound to come a time when it would be a useful skill to have. Hats off to you for doing the course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I did the course with sjp a couple of years ago too Was a really good course and even thought I'd dispatched before (not broomstick method), it was good to see how to do it properly. I was rubbish at the boning so although it was good I won't be in a rush to try it again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Well done Sha. It is a very useful trick to have up your sleeve ... for want of a better expression. I always have a feeling of relief and of a job well done when I have put a suffering hen out of its misery. It isn't a particularly pleasant thing to have to do, but there are times when it is vital. Chicken keeping friends locally have been known to ring me to ask me to help them out too. You will find the course in a bizarre way,rather enjoyable. The old graveyard humour kicks in and everyone supports one another .... and no doubt there will be cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Yes, I remember Egluntyne and I snorting with gallows humour when we were on a course together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Was talking to the hubby of my dogs swimming "teacher" (was done as hydrotherapy, now just done for fun ) last week......he's a hulking great chap, looks the type you wouldn't pick a fight with if you know what I mean, appearances suggest that dispatching would be no problem for him..........no, he calls a friend in & runs indoors til the deed is done.......he was surprised I was doing the course at the weekend, I suspect I may get a phonecall or two now as I'm closer than his other dispatcher Cake? I do hope so E..should I get baking, just to be sure Ye gods I could be donning waders or swimming up to Ben's this weekend if the rain doesn't stop soon Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 No rain here yet Sha, but I understand it's forecast for Sunday My friend Jude is also an unlikely squeamish person... she's got horses, dogs, cats and a few hundred chickens, but she still hides if one of the chooks needs despatching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 12, 2011 Author Share Posted June 12, 2011 Well I'm back home & I have a ready to cook, jointed chicken and a plucked & ready to dress chicken tucked away in the fridge ready for my attentions tomorrow...............I have to say Ben is a star, he was professional & friendly and I can't recommend him highly enough This is a life skill which I felt I needed, and am now confident I can carry out in the future with the minimal fuss & distress to the critter in my hands, whether it be a healthy meat bird or a poorly pet......she says hopefully Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 12, 2011 Author Share Posted June 12, 2011 oh yes Claire........the forecasters actually got it right........it did rain today.........did it actually stop at all? I was sodden & frozen ALL day & only warmed up when I eventually got home & shoved another fleece on top of my other clothes ..............I even had an old blanket wrapped round my shoulders in the car in an attempt to warm up.....very old ladyish I looked too .......I'd have had the heating turned up if I hadn't had 4 chooks in the back of the car, who I was afraid of cooking Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 I'm glad you enjoyed the course Sha, it really is a useful skill to learn if you keep any poultry. It was nice to see you - and you could have just practised on ours as we have quite a few which are ready now ...and NO....it didn't stop raining all day around here.......but the garden needed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Glad that it went well for you and that you now feel confident - that is the main thing. I always just either joint the birds after skinning them, or pluck and roast; I have boned and rolled a meat bird once and that was enough for me - total waste of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Glad that it went well for you and that you now feel confident - that is the main thing. I always just either joint the birds after skinning them, or pluck and roast; I have boned and rolled a meat bird once and that was enough for me - total waste of time! I was shown how to bone and roll a turkey years ago by a parish priest (his dad was a butcher) He said unless the chicken is as big as a small turkey i.e. a very large super roaster then chickens aren't worth the hassle. I did try one but left the legs with the bone in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 Am about to embark on my plucked bird....I know it was only yesterday, but can I remember the right order , it's alright I'm not that daft really .......at least I'm warm today which is a big step up, coo such a cold to the bone day I had yesterday.....next time I head in your direction everyone I shall pack even more layers than I did this weekend, because it blatantly wasn't enough Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Am about to embark on my plucked bird....I know it was only yesterday, but can I remember the right order , it's alright I'm not that daft really .......at least I'm warm today which is a big step up, coo such a cold to the bone day I had yesterday.....next time I head in your direction everyone I shall pack even more layers than I did this weekend, because it blatantly wasn't enough Sha x start at the base of the neck cutting the skin along the neck towards the head on both sides so you can remove the wind pipe etc with the head then gut. I find the notes we got invaluble p.s I'm about to do a cockeral I dispathed and pluck yesturday to I'm just going to have a go at jointing him through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 The notes are going to be emailed to us, so I haven't actually got my crib notes yet....I feel that laminating them might be a good idea when they arrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
