Comments on: How Long Do Chickens Live And How To Kill Them Humanely

By: jane

jane — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:22:30 +0000

here is an other humane dispatch method…first place the chicken in a card board box……put some dry ice in a plate put a long tube up to it….make the chicken box air tight with duct tape. the chicken will die withen 7 seconds it works every time!!….it is like euithenaisa but it will not contaminate the meat!!

By: Surbiton Flowers

Surbiton Flowers — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:27:10 +0000

if you dont know what you’re doing call in someone to do it for you, or get them to show you how before you try it.
chicken and hens can live for a good few years, but they lay less eggs as they get older

By: Mrs.Dirty Boots

Mrs.Dirty Boots — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:53:48 +0000

Hi Arlene. There are loads of different methods but the one I found the easiest was to cut the head off and let the blood drain out while the bird is perched upsidedown, over a bucket, on your lap. Alternatively despatch them in the evening, leave to hang overnight and then cut the head and neck off where all the blood will have collected. If you do hang the birds they’ll need a warm bath to help the feathers loosen again when you come to pluck them. Pluck as quickly as possible (legs and wings first as they get cold and more difficult to do, quickly).

As for gutting – it is pretty easy to do without tainting the meat as once you’ve made the cuts everything comes out in one rather smelly handful. If you aren’t going to serve the bird whole anyway you can slit it completely open and sort of joint and quarter it, around the innerds which means you don’t have to put your hands anywhere too grim!

The only real concern about spoiling the meat we had heard of was an oil gland in the ‘parsons’ nose which is supposed to be cut out or it will taint the meat. But, here birds are sold with that gland still present so I don’t think even that can be that much of a problem.

Once birds are more than three months old they’re not likely to be that great roasted. But any bird will do as a boiler no matter how much she’s getting on. Simmer for one to three hours depending on toughness and you should end up with succulent flesh to use in pies etc. Or add some rice/potatoes and fresh carrots & leeks, to the boiling water for the last twenty minutes, shred all the meat and enjoy a chicken supper with a lemon butter sauce. Send them off in style!

By: arlene

arlene — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:28:55 +0000

I was wondering, what is the best way to clean a chicken after you break its neck. Is there an easy way to remove the feathers and guts without ruining the meat? I have laying hens right now, but eventually they will slow down or stop. Is there an age when the meat is not any good to eat? Thanks!

By: Could we kill the chickens? « Blagger

Could we kill the chickens? « Blagger — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:54:00 +0000

[...] pondering for the last week or so, kicked off in a pub conversation after David Dirty Boots posted an entry on his blog about the eventual and inevitable wearing out of your laying stock: All chickens are born with a [...]

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:45:29 +0000

Feralchick, sorry I have just been looking. Like you all I can find are UK sites. Very odd indeed.I assumed it would be a common thing worldwide. Maybe order from the UK?

By: feralchick

feralchick — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:22:48 +0000

All the links that I find for “humane dispatcher” point to UK sites. Is it called something else in the US?

Video of one version here: http://www.birddispatcher.co.uk/video.htm (disturbing, but not *too* bad)

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:37:32 +0000

JoHart, sounds fine to me. It is important to know how to do it for anyone that keeps birds. Even if it is not for meat.You need to know what to do if they are ill anyway. Thanks for the great comment.

Springtime, go for it! They are very easy to keep. A Humane Dispatcher can either be wall mounted or like a pair of pliers. The contraption is simply squeezed and breaks the Chickens neck. It is quick and painless and better for anyone who wants a slightly more “hands off” approach.

By: Springtime

Springtime — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:18:35 +0000

Keeping chickens is something that I'm really keen to start doing as soon as we have the space. But the thought of what happens at the end has been a concern of mine. I've found your post really helpful and honest about this problem - thank you. I'm really intrigued by the Humane Dispatcher, I assume this is a gadget of some sort, rather than the code name for a willing friend?! Springtime’s last blog post..Springtime in snow

By: JoHart

JoHart — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:06:57 +0000

apologies - my blog host has put some sort of sales pitch in as my last blog - will try to sort this now JoHart’s last blog post..Batch Supporters - Save up to 80%!