Selfsufficientish.com

Hi,

I hope to keep chickens for meat in the future but I want to make sure I'm up to the job of killing them.

Does anyone know of any courses or better still can I visit anyone and have a go? I live in Kent and can travel.

Ben

I think this is one of those jobs that you are best off being thrown in at the deep end.

A few years ago, we had 3 turkeys following us around the garden & the plan was for hubby to dispatch them, and me to help pluck & then clean them.
One of them was to be our christmas dinner. So, on the 23rd, I watched quite bemused from the kitchen whilst hubby spent 3 hours raking leaves..... and was joined by the turkeys, so they all had a good afternoon... but he was back at work on the 24th & we STILL had 3 turkeys wandering the garden!

So I put my brave head & my gloves on, found several 'How-To' websites, rigged up the traffic cone & although it took me the best part of 4 hours, I did it - woohoo!!

Enter hubby at 9pm that evening - he took one look at the impressive turkey all ready for the oven & asked 'that looks like a nice bird - where did you get it'? Ooohhh... I could have punched him!

I now do all of our birds here - he's never done one yet at all, the great white hunter (pah!) - not bad for a london townie!!

i favour the broomstick method for killing chickens. if you google for it there are some utube vids that should you how. it really is quick, and can be done by one person.

sorry i'm no where near you or would be happy to show you that and prepping. its fairly easy once you have the hang of it

River Cottage Meat Book shows the process of dispacting a bird and dressing it up for the table as per say.

Smallholder suppliers (check the mags off shelf at newspapershop,dont waste your money buying them) will stock handheld dispatchers,basically off set pliers,that are simple and as humane as your going to get.I'd only use the broom for Turkeys and Geese,but everyones got their own way.
To pluck the bird: It's easier if you do it immediatley start with the smallest breast feathers ,an ordinary pair of pliers will usually help with the odd recalcitrant wing feather.
To dress: Cut the head and neck as close to the body as poss,use shears or pruners,make sure you remove gizzard etc.Dive in the other end pull out what you find,keep everything red,sling every thing else.All this is best done in a big sink with the cold tap running,your hands will be cold,but you're still better off than the chicken.
Cut off the feet(if poss sell them to someone Chinese ) tie the remaining legs together.
Pour yourself a beer.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've watched videos of a few different methods on-line. Would just feel more comfortable having someone to instruct for the first go.

might be worth approaching your local small holders association? mine do a course for chickens.. you bring your own and take it home oven ready sort of thing.

You're quite right, there's no substitute for having someone show you. And make you a cup of tea until your hands stop shaking, the first time. It's actually not all that hard!

I went on a course, here in Wiltshire, a couple of years ago. I'd certainly recommend it. Try asking at the place you get the feed from, they'll probably know someone who can help.

Zoe