Faithmead
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Delicate...not nice...subjectGulp - well at some point I have to do the deed. Despatch a meat chicken.   I've wrung the neck of a sick bird before, but not a strong healthy one  I've bought one of these Humane Despatchers (wall mounted) from Ascott - but there are no instructions. There is an adjustment screw "for different sizes of birds", but I don't know how big the gap should be for an ordinary bird. Can anyone help or advice please?
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Bebo
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When you've used it let us know how it works as I am just about to get my first batch of meat chicks and was thinking of getting one of those from Ascott.
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Jamanda
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Somewhere, is a set of photos of GENT dispatching chickens at the skills share weekend. BFA? I think it was you that posted them?
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sally_in_wales
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I dispatched my very first chicken that weekend with gent assisting and instructing, it was far far easier than I feared, and I cannot emphasise enough the vast differnece between reading about different methods and having someone show and talk you through it.
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ariana
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I don't know the gadget you are talking about so I can't offer any instruction. I've always done it by hand. Since you have already despatched a chicken by hand, why not wring this one's neck and then practise "killing it" with the human despatcher before you chop its head off. Enjoy your dinner.
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Faithmead
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| ariana wrote: | | I don't know the gadget you are talking about so I can't offer any instruction. I've always done it by hand. Since you have already despatched a chicken by hand, why not wring this one's neck and then practise "killing it" with the human despatcher before you chop its head off. Enjoy your dinner. |
I've only dispatched a very sick bird by hand before.....its the strong, healthy type that I don't want to risk messing up But the suggestion of despatching a 'dead' bird is a good one...just to see how it works!!
GENT - ARE YOU THERE ??
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RichardW
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Those wall mounted jobbies are over kill (lol) for a chicken. We use them for turkeys & ducks. However, you need to set it so that the gap is large enough to not cut the skin but small enough to break the neck. Its not as critical as you would think. As long as it has a gap of about 3-5mm ish you will be fine, we dont adjust ours between breeds. Its not supposed to take the head off. Personaly I would do it by hand just the same as you have already done. Not much difference between a sick bird & a healthy one. Gents broom stick method is a bit OTT for a chicken, better for geese, turkeys & ducks (some can do big ducks by hand too).
Richard
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Chez
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I am a broomstick fan - generally the head comes off when I do it but:
a) It's VERY quick.
b) I know it works.
and
c) If it's head comes off, you know it's dead.
I would say the same for the humane dispatcher - never used one, but I understand that they can be fiddly to set up and I would err on the side of nicking the skin rather than not breaking it's neck.
Remind us where you are? Perhaps there's someone local to you that could come round and give you moral support as you do it?
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Faithmead
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| Chez wrote: | I am a broomstick fan - generally the head comes off when I do it but:
a) It's VERY quick.
b) I know it works.
and
c) If it's head comes off, you know it's dead.
I would say the same for the humane dispatcher - never used one, but I understand that they can be fiddly to set up and I would err on the side of nicking the skin rather than not breaking it's neck.
Remind us where you are? Perhaps there's someone local to you that could come round and give you moral support as you do it? |
Not far..........just north of St. Clears, Carmarthenshire.  A 'trainer' would be dead good.....pardon the pun  
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Jamanda
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Gent is near Camarthen. Give him a PM.
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Chez
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Yes, good plan. He is Chicken Slaughterer Extraordinaire  .
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