The Poultry Keeper

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

Today OH and I have despatched our first cockerels. Not the most pleasant day but I am pleased to say the despatch was instant and clean, using a wall despatcher. We did 6 today including plucking and cleaning and have 3 more to do when they are a bit bigger. I didn't think I would be able to cope but found it not as bad as I thought it would be - except for the smell! They are now in the freezer - not sure how long it will be before I can eat any of them. Knowing that I bred and reared them, fed them decent food and gave them a good life seemed to make it a bit easier.

debcat · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject:

well done

debbieduck · Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 51 Location: South Yorkshire

Bloody well done! I guess it really is a fact of a breeders life; and eating them will have made the whole job worth it - would be worse if they went to complete waste. Good for you.

NannyP · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject:

Well done you two......quite a few in one day.

I can't do it...and I know what you mean about the smell. Someone dispatched a coq for me a few months ago, and I plucked and removed the meat the next day. The smell stayed with me for quite a while.

I am sure in a few weeks time you'll enjoy your first bird Very Happy

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

Well done, I dont have a problem with doing it at all, as long as its for the right reason. Dont like killing things just for the hell of it, but if your raising them for meat thats fine Smile

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2623 Location: South Cumbria

Well done, never nice but easier once the first has been done, I too kept our first ones in the freezer for a while Wink

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

We had 'coq a la maison' with garden garlic and rosemary for tea tonight - I dispatched it on Monday along with another using the broomstick method - except I used a pinch bar. Also on the menu - local tatties and cabbage - not many food miles tehre!

Teasal · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject:

Well done. At least you know the birds had a good life, what they ate, and thats got to be good. if you hadn't done it, someone else would, and if you had fed and raised them, you deserve the end benefit.

I do not mind the plucking etc its just the killing bit I cannot do ....and coming from a farming family, I learnt from an early age that lambs and calves were fattened, so did not get attached to them.

shire horse girl · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 519 Location: lincoln

Well done as others have said you have the knowledge that they had a good life .

EGirl · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1277 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Well done Chris. I'll have to do it soon, not looking forward to it but definately think it's a skill/experience that everyone should have.

Bit concerned about the smell part though, is it the drawing that creates the stink, or just the smell of the flesh??

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

The smell part is really just a strong smell of chook that lingers. I have been asked if I hung them and did I used hot water when plucking, the answer to both is no. They were only 16 weeks old (and all crowing!) and the local chicken/turkey farm said they wouldn't need hanging and they were still warm so pplucking was easier than I thought. I too have no problem plucking and cleaning, it's just the deed it'self I wasn't happy doing. As we did it in the lambing shelter in the top paddock we kept the girls in their run till it was all over but, even though we cleared up, they managed to find and eat any feather left - YUK! I also took each cockerel in on it's own and waited till the twitching stopped before getting another, I hoped this would eliminate stress - and i got to give them a last cuddle, soft i know but I don't care. The next 3 are only 12 weeks old and have just started trying to crow but I want tto wait at least another 4 weeks. I did think I may have a few bad dreams last night but didn't - although walking past the empty growers coop this morning did bring a lump to my throat.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

Well done you! Its not a nice job, and its nice to hear someone who has the courage to do their own birds. I think it's a sign of your compassion to give them a last hug, I'm sure it soothes them, and somehow helps you too.

CP · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

Well done Chris. Wink

Never an easy thing to do.

I find the smell of the gutting is the worst thing. Really find it nauseating.

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 970 Location: Cambridgeshire

Well done Chris

Spana's OH (John) dispatched 3 cockerels yesterday night and i plucked one of them. Smile

That was my first go at plucking and i did OK with it Very Happy

I think

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2041 Location: norfolk

The smell used to make me ill too, but after the plucking and drawing the first 20 or so I haven't noticed it.