family farm meat

carmen · 12-07-2012, 05:22 PM

For those who raise chickens and turkeys for your own meats I have a question. The other night we caught a show that had a couple who did this and they refused to use a chop block as it was too "mean" for the animal. When I grew up in PA my family always did this so I don't see the point. Now mind you I don't raise anything (yet) but I would always just use a chop block. These are raised for meat not family pets, am I wrong here?

Animal + Chop Block = Dinner

Grandpa · 12-07-2012, 06:15 PM

You are right. The chop block is instantaneous and also lets the blood out the fastest for fowl to be skinned such as chickens. If you want to leave the skin on such as for Turkeys and geese, I use a slightly different method. Because of the feathers, I use a sharp metal object, ( a sacking needle to be exact) and penetrate directly to the brain. Instant death and the skin relaxes releasing the feathers easier. Then the chop block for the blood letting. The key to good meat is getting the blood out as fast as possible. I see pictures of people posing with their big buck with no sign of blood letting, then I hear them complain because the meat was "gamey" or 'tough".

hummingbird · 12-07-2012, 10:17 PM

Yeah, it has to be quick to be humane. I would rather be quick to prevent suffering. Since we choose to eat meat, I would rather be as kind as possible. It's always been a really quick way to get the job done. I don't like to wring their necks because I always thought it would be cruel to do so.

wvbreamfisherman · 12-08-2012, 08:26 AM

Chop block is by far the fastest and most humane way to dispatch a bird. As Grandpa says, they bleed out quickly. The other thing to do is to draw the bird as soon as you can. get the body cavity empty so the meat can cool.

dinosaur · 12-08-2012, 08:34 AM

We put ours in a steel funnel upside down so the head sticks out the bottom. Grab the head and cut it off. The heart keeps pumping and the blood pours out but they don't jump around beating themselves up and bruising the meat.

BGreen · 12-08-2012, 09:09 AM

The steel funnel is a really clever idea. I typed in "cleaver" and realized how ironic that was, but it was just a typo. I used to know a surgeon by the name of Cleaver who was in with Dr. Payne. I always snickered when I went into the office and saw the signs on the door. Boy, I'm with it today.

tentrus · 12-08-2012, 07:43 PM

Interesting for sure. I never really thought about this. We used to help my uncle when we were kids. I don't think we ever really watched him cut the heads off the chickens though. I just remember them flopping around.

TakeAHike · 12-08-2012, 08:59 PM

I have never personally done it but I grew up with plenty of farmers who did. I would think that the chop block would be the most humane way to kill the birds if you are going to kill them.

**CozInCowtown** · 12-09-2012, 11:41 AM

Raising livestock for the table is a great life lesson for children, a lesson too many never recieve.

If a person is going to take the life of an animal for sustinance it should be done with dignity, respect and appreciation.
JMO,
DC

carmen · 12-10-2012, 04:02 PM

dinosaur that is a great idea and Coz I could not agree more. I am not sure if we will ever do this ourselves since we are enjoying semi-retirement here but the thought has crossed our minds a few times. My husband of course after seeing the show wants to go out and get a samurai sword. I told him no, not unless I can have one too.