I am very concerned about where our food comes from, and have been wanting to raise chickens for some time now. However, I've always been apprehensive about the processing. This video by far has been the most informative. Thank you.
It actually is rigor mortis. The reason that they thrash around is because the heart is attempting to pump blood to the brain, which, due to a lack of oxygenated blood, starts sending erratic signals to the chickens body. The chicken has lost consciousness around 3 seconds after being cut, minimizing the pain.
The intention with which those chickens were dispatched, which is explicitly verbalized to the crowd, certainly promotes a life style that's connected with our soil and food. As the first few birds were purposefully handled and the audience took part in the experience, you could hear a pin drop. Though I have no personal dog(ma) in the race, and I know Joel leans toward Christianity, I respect this. If church was like this when I was younger, it would have made more sense and kept my attention.
The guy doing the cutting refers to the chickens going into Rigor Mortis within a couple of minutes but rigor in poultry doesn't set in for a couple of hours.
it can be nerve-racking to be in front of a large group while killing animals... on video, knowing you'll be posted to the world in short order. Joel does such a good job because he's an old-hat (but even he made a mistake).
Yes, I was snickering when he said that because it is not rigor, simply death throws. Humans go through something similar before they die called the death rattle.
Very informative, I wish the camera would’ve been closer to the bird to show you what he’s doing. It was so far back I saw more of the room than the bird.
If you are eating a very small amount of meat that is one thing. However most aren't doing that. As a vegan and a person with a science background "Medical Technologist(ASCP)" I have done my best to make sure I get all the macro and micro nutrients my body needs and most importantly doing the weight lifting and aerobic/cardio fitness I need to stay strong. You are right many Veg/Vegans don't know what their doing, however I'm always pouring through the literature to avoid the pitfalls.
WOW wish you were up closer so I could see better. I have a bad tempered rooster that pecks and flogs me been wanting to get rid of him but fear of butchering him stopped me. THANK YOU! He's on notice now
Also, I love the use of technology here, to elevate the audience's sensory perceptions and therefore the intimacy of their experience. Imho, this type of context is the most ethical and balanced use of modern technology. It brings people together and (re)connects them with each other, as well as the physical realities of the world they depend on and live in. I call this balanced approach "The Modern Agrarian". It maintains macro integrity, while not falling victim to antiquated ways. Well Done!
Disclaimer: I am NOT trying to start an argument at all, so do not take this as such. Actually, the most physically fit people are ones who eat a decent amount of meat. In order to stay healthy and strong, our bodies need the animal proteins that are found in meat. Our species is inherently omnivorous, and there is a reason for that. Many people who are vegetarians actually tend to have issues later on in life with brittle bones and a lack of energy.
they aren't squawking because it's painful...it's just they don't know what's happening and they're squawking just from being handled. Having said that, it IS very hard to watch a life taken...very, very hard. But I'm not a vegetarian and I do believe in the traditional American indian viewpoint; that of appreciating the animal for the food and only to take what you absolutely need. I think Joel Salatin does this in a very humane way...you can see how very quickly the cut happens and sure the bird feels woozy and passes out, but I've accidently cut my leg with a very sharp knife and needed lots of stitches and I was surprised that the cut caused zero pain. So I think it's true that the bird doesn't feel pain though it does feel like it doesn't know what's going on...that's a good thing I think. Having said all this, it still feels sad to see a life leave any creature! That's what makes us humane; that we do care about the life of every creature! This video gets me a bit teary eyed for sure, but yet I believe in the ideao that humans are omnivores and it's not a mandate to become a vegetarian in order to be humane as a person.
@@gordonbricker1670 Gordon I think both ways are fine, they want to cut the bird in a stainless steel cone and let it bleed out, where as you'd like to chop its head on the chopping stump, and let it flap around for a bit, both are just fine. Either way its going to die. I've let my dog take a chicken out from time-to-time and he also practices humane-killing techniques - shakes the shit right out of the bird and then plucks it and burries it for a later time. When you, a bird, a pig, or whatever it may be, gets a serious rush of adrenaline the pain is numb. Natures helping us the best it can. and thanks for sharing this video its nice to see how others do things from time to time, Gordon I hope you post a video sometime as well so I can take some pointers from other ways of killing chickens too!
You should also know that most wild game isn't shot in the head. A good marksman will usually hit a quadraped in the heart and one or both lungs, just behind the front shoulder. It may run, but usually doesn't get very far. If the shot is off, say, in the gut or haunches, the animal may have to be tracked a long distance or even get away altogether. There are crippled deer missing limbs because they got shot but got away.
In the old days(50s), our family used a hatchet and a tree stump. One chop and release of the chicken, the chicken would run and bleed out fairly quickly.
Sorry Spence... Doing our best! We're really ramping up our video production here at Mother Earth News so hopefully the quality will get better as we go.
Would you please give a more in-depth explanation of how to know that the bird is not conscious after the cut? From your brief explanation, it's implied that the chicken still squawking after the initial cut is from the autonomic system?
Yeah. That equipment would have been handy when I was kid. We raised hens for eggs and meat. My mother used a block of wood and an axe. Then we dunked them in a wash tub of boiling water and my 4 younger brothers plucked the feathers and I gutted them. We did any from 60 to 100 hens in one day. We did this for more than a few years.
This is the most humane way to kill the chicken. By cutting the artery which leads to the brain the chickens lose consciousness within a few seconds. Although they are unconscious the heart continues to beat for another 30 seconds or so, pumping all of the blood out of the muscle tissue (which is important to taste). After 1-2 minutes the birds are completely dead and ready for the scalder.
We have some learning to do but over all I think a first time went ok. Had a hard time getting the scalding just right and the chickens where small, a bit stringy and tough. I've changed my spring orders to hens only, maybe they will be a better quality meat.
Thank you so much for this video and the information! I eat kosher only on feast days, because otherwise it is for us to expensive. But than I miss the organic factor in the meat. In future I want to look if there could be a possibility for us to have chickens for eggs and meat, so that it will be cheaper on the long run. Thank you for this info! Blessings to you!
I'm reading the comments...I think it IS humane because though it takes some seconds for the bird to bleed out, she's not in pain and is probably just light headed woozy and falls asleep (loses consiousness) Im sure the bird is confused and doesn't get why this is happening but I don't think there's pain. But like I said, I feel sad for a life that is no longer...but I also am totally sure that humans were meant to be omnivores. I think the people who eat these birds aren't going to overconsume; I think these are the most conscientous and aware because they're the ones who believe in sustainability and organics and they don't believe in overfattening a bird and crowding it in a dark hen house and mistreating it. These chickens have an awesome life for as long as they are alive at least.
If it was humane you would trade places with the animal. Now that meat eating caused a global pandemic, what's your excuses carnists? It damn sure isn't humane that I have to wear a mask 100% of the time now.
Thats what I call plucking a chicken.. WOW! Once many years ago as a teenager a friend of mine asked me over for dinner.. when we went to sit down to eat I noticed what was for dinner! Chicken feet in a rice like gravy.. alas I went home and had taco's!
I was able to process 4 chicken but after cooking one of the chickens the meat was rubbery. Not sure what to do their were my egg layers and they are dual purpose chickens. Please i need some advise.
I made that mistake also - after processing, the chickens need to be put in ice water or a cooler of ice until rigor passes. Rigor mortis is why the meat is rubbery.
@@lettytinycreations we left them overnight because it was convenient for us to take them out of the tank for packaging. You don't need to leave them in the water; just refrigeration is fine, as long as they are covered so they don't dry out. 24 to 48 hours is recommended before cooking or freezing. We cooked two Sunday night, and they were lovely!
Thank you so much for replying back. I was about to give up in processing my chickens but my mind would not stop thinking 🤔 why the store chickens were softer and mines was just so hard and rubbery. How do you cover your chicken with plastic wrap or just a towel and if I decide to leave them in ice water if I process to many to put in refrigerator those you don’t have to wrap up because those won’t get dry because of the water correct. Nice hearing from you again. Thanks again
@@lettytinycreations We had a big chilling tank (we processed 71 chickens) where most of them stayed overnight. But we took a few out to put in the refrigerator to see if it made any difference (it didn't seem to). I just put them on plates and covered with plastic wrap, but a clean damp towel would work as well.
Hi there, I am wondering if you ever heard of permaculturist by the name of Bill Mollison as well as Geoff Lawton? They are running some kind of 12 week course online on permaculture. Its call PDC (permaculture design course). Perhaps you have done the course before? Its pretty pricey and I am a bit leary of the program. Geoff Lawton seems like a genuine guy, but I think a practical course would compliement an online course. I want to learn permaculture, but I am wondering if this online course is a way to start. What do you think about this? Should I take a chance on this course or do you know a better source for learning? Thanks for your input!
I know my question is may be slightly naive but i like to know these things and as much as i love my meat i am still genuinely concerned about the animals pain, which is why i mostly eat wild game (shot in the head over quick) is this method humane? does the chicken in much pain and is it still alive during the scalding? : ) thank you!
(To previous comment) For my chickens it only takes a few minutes for rigor mortis to happen, that's why you need to put the chicken in ice water afterwards so the meat doesn't get tough.
Wow. All the negative comments on here are rediculous. I bet the majority of people making them have never had to slaughter a animal for food before. Keep going to McDonald's and walmart for your GMO food. Nothin but sheep.
sixnine8740 I haven't slaughtered any yet, but I respect this process. My mom & stepdad worked at the local meatpacking plant (beef though, not chicken) & this is definitely preferable.
@@gordonbricker1670 That's a hard question, you're asking about the exact point of consciousness. When you chip off the head, the body still flaps around and the eyes blink, I've done it that way before, both methods have the same problem - its not easy to know what, or for-how long the bird feels anything. Centipedes crawl for minutes after being chopped in half, both halfs try to flee and sense for stimulus, so which half is conscious? I do agree with you when you chip the head off of that bird it shuts up quick.
@@marcschroter4264 Hi, as soon as the nerves are severed the blood flow to the brain stops, they don't feel anything anymore. Chopping off the head is the most humane way of killing a chicken.
When exactly is it ok to sever the nerves? You completely sever the neck of the chicken on a chopping block, the body still flaps is wings to "run from danger" ... Meanwhile the head still blinks and gasps for air.... You have no fucking clue what your talking about...
I do not mean to be rude, but that's 89 1/2 seconds too long . I myself do not still understand your explanation . According to research,.... does not answer what your heart and mind tell you.... Remove the head and be sure. We had our chickens for 10 years, and I absolutely would want to be darn sure, that their lives ended swiftly with absolutely no doubt. Maybe its a more messy approach, but lets hope that fast kill is more important than clean slow kill. :)... love my chickens :)
+Stan Rodgers There is still blood in the brain when the head is completely removed, so the animal is completely aware and it will take it several minutes to pass. That is the way I've seen it done, however this process on the video was much less traumatic on the chickens. They did not do any of the traumatic lashing about that I saw in chickens with their heads chopped off. This process was very quiet in comparison.
I tried some of that way and surprisingly most of them don't freak out while bleeding out, some did. Some of the turkeys stayed conscious for several minutes.
Not to sound like a pansy, but it is hard to pretend that this is a respectable death for the bird. I've worked with CO2 before and I can imagine some relatively simple processing equipment that would be needed to put the chickens to sleep and death much more comfortably with gas. CO2 is widely available nowadays and fairly cheap in gas canisters or dry ice form. An 18" clear PVC pipe could be laid flat for the birds to enter into the chamber, which would only need an inlet hose, outlet hose, pressure relief valve, optional pressure gauge, and end port hatches on hinges. It could even be done with a flexible plastic duct. The pipe chamber could have a few bug treats and grass in it to take it to the next level of comfort.
The way they do it is wrong. Large scale factories actually do it in a way that is very similar to your idea, and it's very effective. But you could accomplish the same thing with a knife if done properly. What they didn't do is let the bird rest in the cone. After around 5 to 10 minutes, the bird usually passes out, and you can make your cut then. They also didn't sever the spinal cord on a fully conscious bird, which could have saved that bird a few seconds from feeling pain. Humans take around 2 minutes to bleed out from a severed jugular, so no doubt the bird was concious for at least 15 seconds of it. I've butchered my own chickens for years, and this video greatly angered me.
@@flythew5939 Yeah so CO2 is probably the wrong gas because it causes painful suffocation as it turns out, but I've read about some large operations that might be the same as what you're talking about where they use gas. Maybe CO, N2, or argon is a better choice for large scales as long as its an anaesthetic blend for minimal suffering, but I've seen a heavy meat cleaver work well too. Quick and painless. Not much room for error if you have a cut-resistant glove holding the chicken in place.
As for the issue with them seeing another of their species die, the other chickens may be seeing another chicken die, but it is very doubtable that it can be equated to seeing their friend die, considering that during their lives, chickens will often kill each other and sometimes eat one another.
I would never kill my chickens like that. They felt that! We kill them instantly! with an ax. One chop and they are gone. No suffering or slow dying with an axe!!!
But, apparently with this method the heart keeps pumping longer to bleed out completely? If the blood pressure does drop rather instantly, I can see that they are not conscious. The reason I say this is that I had that happen when I went into anaphylactic shock one time. My blood pressure dropped and I was out like a light. Fortunate for me, I was in the hospital right next to the emergency room. When chopping the head, the chicken's body is still active for a bit. That, again, must be the autonomic system acting until the heart stops? If my plan to move to acreage comes to fruition, I intend to get chickens; this is why I'm introducing myself to methods of butchering them.
Consumers control markets. Buy the best food from the best sources available to you, whether locally or online. Much cheaper than doctor and hospital bills later from poor health.
Simple,,,just don't sit there dwelling on the life of the animal. You are a farmer, whether you have one chicken of 100, and farmers don't have the time or energy to dwell on the personal life of every animal, that they HAVE to process.
Kosher slaughter requires both arteries to be slit, not one. That would invalidate the slaughter. I get you were trying to compare them. You should talk to a kosher slaughterer, though. Also, the animal can't cry out, or the kill is not valid. If it does the slaughter wasn't done correctly.
I am not going to go into animal treatment or the ethical treatment of animals or any of that. I'm simply saying that we benefit greatly from eating meat, provided that we do not overeat or anything like that.
I do not understand your answer at all. My point was that in the video someone is saying that cutting one carotid and jugular is fine and humane. In my above comment I wrote that it is not as it takes 90 seconds to bleed out a chicken so it is not fast and humane. That someone is sayingthat he does not like to cut both carotids as it is "cleaner to cut just one"!!! ...Small farmers in Europe who love their chicken use head only electric stunner it costs few hundred pounds.
i like the way you kill your chicken cause of bleeding first before you cut its head off. you should tell everybody how to slaughter chicken. i ever see a man killed his goose by cuting its head off instantly with an axe. thats so cruel.
I think that the chickens should have there heads just cut clean off that way blood leave there body faster and the die quicker. But this was a great informative video.
How would you like it if your throat got slit? The chickens definitely feel that pain! It is true there has to be death for life, BUT there does not have to be pain, slitting the throat = pain. Why wont you just jab a blade into their brain and make it quick?
Chickens have a brain stem so if you were to stab them in the brain it would still be alive, slitting the throat quickly starves the brain of blood which makes sure both the bird dies quickly (with in a few secs) and so the bird goes unconscious almost instantly.
This is a cruel way to kill chickens,ive raised and killed a lot of chickens and eaten them. please do not do it this way. remove the head with one cut, you will get some twitching but they are dead instantly. leave them upside down, they will still bleed out perfect, and taste amazing. he said that the chicken dies instantly, but you can here the chicken squealing. THERE IS NO NEED FOR SUFFERING,AND THESE CHICKENS SUFFER.
Julian Evans Is halal killing painless? Is it more painful than conventional butchering? by Zoheb Ahmed www.quora.com/Is-halal-killing-painless-Is-it-more-painful-than-conventional-butchering/answer/Zoheb-Ahmed?share=883b364b&srid=CyhX
You're full of it. Pop off their head and they twitch a lot more than how it's done in this video. I was raised with chickens, too. Was "chased" by plenty of chickens with no heads when I was little. Ever heard the phrase "running around like a chicken with its head cut off"? It's a real thing.
Mr.Salatin. Before speaking publically on how long it takes to chicken to loose consciousness after the cut; please read some research. Out of most commonly farmed animals it takes the longest to bleed a chicken. Bleeding by cutting only one carotid is something that has been abolished by all international standards. Cutting both carotids is a basic standard by conventional slaughter, Halal and Kosher. According to research it takes about 90 seconds to loose responsivness to outside stimuli.
Joel Salatin is a libertarian rancher. Far from "liberal" in the modern leftist sense of the term. In fact, he wrote a book called "Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal."
Doesn't matter what the chickens think. What matters is if it's good for my health and I say absolutely not. Look into that crowd of meat eaters and you will see fat out of shape people....all future heart disease candidates. Now find some low fat vegans and you will see the difference, all lean and physically fit into their 80's.
You should try it with a few, small number first. I prefer the axe & killing block. But, I butcher & eat a small number at a time. If they don't bleed out the meat will not last as long. Also, some say there is a slight difference in taste. I don't see it, but I harvest & consume quickly. Also, I don't like the animal to "bleed out."
How come they are not completely cutting the head off. THEN you know they arent feeling anything. The heart will still pump out the blood.. Anyways.. I'm happy I became vegan because I don't find animal killing right/fair anymore..
LOL, "this is rigor mortis" This is not, rigor mortis occurs later, and "rigor" means "stiff", not "threshing around." "they're far from conscious" I doubt they are not, they were not killed, they only had their throat sliced seconds ago. As much as I don't have any problem with killing livestock for food, I think the process depicted here is still barbaric, we should move to other technologies such as partial vacuum, which as far as I know is the only one that puts animal into a coma without them noticing or without any stress.
Frankly, any handling of animals is stressful to the animal. Imagine if you suddenly seen a being far more advanced than you and several times larger. Then it picked you up. You would know something is not right simply because this being doesn't pick you up usually. There really is no humane way to kill. Only ways that are more humane than others. Of course, could always go vegan and avoid the need to kill animals. Of course then you get into the realm of possibility that plants can feel. When thought about, the only diet that harms none is a ripe fruit/berry only diet. Plants purposely grow these fruits and berries for animals to eat. Of course, not sure how viable such a diet would be to the health of a human. The way I see it, until much changes in the world, meat is on the menu to some degree. I worry more about how the animals are raised than how it is killed. Some chickens are raised in a manner where they never see the sun. Never get to peck around in a grassy area. Never get to even spread their wings. It is akin to a human living their entire lives in just enough room to stand up and turn around. Then someone comes and kills you. I try to avoid industrial meats. Buying from local farmers is more likely to contribute to the animal having a reasonably decent life. If you can visit the farm your meat is raised on, you can tell how humane it was raised. It bothers me that so many are so disconnected from where their food comes from.
***** "There is not a shred of scientific evidence that plants experience pain *like most animals do.*" There is some evidence that plants react to stimuli that would cause pain in animals. However, we as humans are not in any position to say "there is *no* chance at plants feeling pain". We just don't know. We presume they do not, but then again we are not all knowing beings either.
***** 1) True 2) Irrelevant. We are not advanced enough to say that to feel pain you MUST have a central nervous system. Claiming such as a fact shows this well. 3) True, however also irrelevant. Just because there is no known incentive doesn't mean that plants lack said ability. There is also some evidence that shows plants will "call out" and "communicate" with various fairly specific insects when under attack by other fairly specific insects. They do this with chemicals that lure in insects that will feed on or otherwise destroy the attacking insect. The simple fact of the matter is we as humans are not advanced enough (yet) to be certain of most anything. In the past, humans were 100% certain of something, then find out it was false. This is a common theme of humanity. Shows we are still growing. When we decided we "know it all", we are becoming doomed. We can only speculate based on our current modes and methods of observation.
wake up its the 21century. no need to thank the birds.if they had a choice I bet they would give you the middle toe! just enjoy a lovely roast bird. come over to the true god mr. harry potter! thank you for finally putting a real man in the white house
We are processing our first batch of 46 birds in a couple of weeks and I"m going to show this video to all my help the night before. Thanks!
I am very concerned about where our food comes from, and have been wanting to raise chickens for some time now. However, I've always been apprehensive about the processing. This video by far has been the most informative. Thank you.
It actually is rigor mortis. The reason that they thrash around is because the heart is attempting to pump blood to the brain, which, due to a lack of oxygenated blood, starts sending erratic signals to the chickens body. The chicken has lost consciousness around 3 seconds after being cut, minimizing the pain.
The intention with which those chickens were dispatched, which is explicitly verbalized to the crowd, certainly promotes a life style that's connected with our soil and food. As the first few birds were purposefully handled and the audience took part in the experience, you could hear a pin drop. Though I have no personal dog(ma) in the race, and I know Joel leans toward Christianity, I respect this. If church was like this when I was younger, it would have made more sense and kept my attention.
Thank you for doing this the correct way! Bleeding out is important for ensuring most blood is out which is for our health purposes.
It also makes for much less messy butchering!
The guy doing the cutting refers to the chickens going into Rigor Mortis within a couple of minutes but rigor in poultry doesn't set in for a couple of hours.
it can be nerve-racking to be in front of a large group while killing animals... on video, knowing you'll be posted to the world in short order. Joel does such a good job because he's an old-hat (but even he made a mistake).
Jon Gibson
Yes I just wanted to make sure anyone who watched it knew.
And yes Joel is great.
Yes, I was snickering when he said that because it is not rigor, simply death throws. Humans go through something similar before they die called the death rattle.
Processing 37 tomorrow... THANKS Joel and MEN for this great video!
Yay, Salatin is coming to this year's Fair in Topeka!
Very informative, I wish the camera would’ve been closer to the bird to show you what he’s doing. It was so far back I saw more of the room than the bird.
If you are eating a very small amount of meat that is one thing. However most aren't doing that. As a vegan and a person with a science background "Medical Technologist(ASCP)" I have done my best to make sure I get all the macro and micro nutrients my body needs and most importantly doing the weight lifting and aerobic/cardio fitness I need to stay strong. You are right many Veg/Vegans don't know what their doing, however I'm always pouring through the literature to avoid the pitfalls.
WOW wish you were up closer so I could see better. I have a bad tempered rooster that pecks and flogs me been wanting to get rid of him but fear of butchering him stopped me. THANK YOU! He's on notice now
Get him drunk first.
best video i've seen to process chichens
Also, I love the use of technology here, to elevate the audience's sensory perceptions and therefore the intimacy of their experience. Imho, this type of context is the most ethical and balanced use of modern technology. It brings people together and (re)connects them with each other, as well as the physical realities of the world they depend on and live in. I call this balanced approach "The Modern Agrarian". It maintains macro integrity, while not falling victim to antiquated ways. Well Done!
Joel Salatin is a worldwide role model, made in the USA for real.
very cool ! the plucking machine was neat
Disclaimer: I am NOT trying to start an argument at all, so do not take this as such.
Actually, the most physically fit people are ones who eat a decent amount of meat. In order to stay healthy and strong, our bodies need the animal proteins that are found in meat. Our species is inherently omnivorous, and there is a reason for that. Many people who are vegetarians actually tend to have issues later on in life with brittle bones and a lack of energy.
awesome video but poor camera angle
they aren't squawking because it's painful...it's just they don't know what's happening and they're squawking just from being handled. Having said that, it IS very hard to watch a life taken...very, very hard. But I'm not a vegetarian and I do believe in the traditional American indian viewpoint; that of appreciating the animal for the food and only to take what you absolutely need. I think Joel Salatin does this in a very humane way...you can see how very quickly the cut happens and sure the bird feels woozy and passes out, but I've accidently cut my leg with a very sharp knife and needed lots of stitches and I was surprised that the cut caused zero pain. So I think it's true that the bird doesn't feel pain though it does feel like it doesn't know what's going on...that's a good thing I think. Having said all this, it still feels sad to see a life leave any creature! That's what makes us humane; that we do care about the life of every creature! This video gets me a bit teary eyed for sure, but yet I believe in the ideao that humans are omnivores and it's not a mandate to become a vegetarian in order to be humane as a person.
This isn't humane, it's animal cruelty, It's humane to chip off the head the pioneer way. We don't listen to these guys anymore.
@@gordonbricker1670 Gordon I think both ways are fine, they want to cut the bird in a stainless steel cone and let it bleed out, where as you'd like to chop its head on the chopping stump, and let it flap around for a bit, both are just fine. Either way its going to die. I've let my dog take a chicken out from time-to-time and he also practices humane-killing techniques - shakes the shit right out of the bird and then plucks it and burries it for a later time. When you, a bird, a pig, or whatever it may be, gets a serious rush of adrenaline the pain is numb. Natures helping us the best it can. and thanks for sharing this video its nice to see how others do things from time to time, Gordon I hope you post a video sometime as well so I can take some pointers from other ways of killing chickens too!
@@marcschroter4264 Hi again, you let your dog take out a chicken! I have no words for this... please stop being a savage and chop off their heads.
Great presentation but the camera was to far to really learn what was done to the bird
:-(
You should also know that most wild game isn't shot in the head. A good marksman will usually hit a quadraped in the heart and one or both lungs, just behind the front shoulder. It may run, but usually doesn't get very far. If the shot is off, say, in the gut or haunches, the animal may have to be tracked a long distance or even get away altogether. There are crippled deer missing limbs because they got shot but got away.
In the old days(50s), our family used a hatchet and a tree stump. One chop and release of the chicken, the chicken would run and bleed out fairly quickly.
Priceless. Thank you!
Sorry Spence... Doing our best! We're really ramping up our video production here at Mother Earth News so hopefully the quality will get better as we go.
I built a chicken plucker like the one that you use and it worked great
how , it seems so easy to build but they cost a lot to buy brand-new.
Would you please give a more in-depth explanation of how to know that the bird is not conscious after the cut? From your brief explanation, it's implied that the chicken still squawking after the initial cut is from the autonomic system?
Yeah. That equipment would have been handy when I was kid. We raised hens for eggs and meat. My mother used a block of wood and an axe. Then we dunked them in a wash tub of boiling water and my 4 younger brothers plucked the feathers and I gutted them.
We did any from 60 to 100 hens in one day. We did this for more than a few years.
Is there a source for processing the birds? I just got my first layers and I already know I don’t want to process them in 3 or so years
This is the most humane way to kill the chicken. By cutting the artery which leads to the brain the chickens lose consciousness within a few seconds. Although they are unconscious the heart continues to beat for another 30 seconds or so, pumping all of the blood out of the muscle tissue (which is important to taste). After 1-2 minutes the birds are completely dead and ready for the scalder.
@@McNubbin101 agreed 100%. oxygen starvation.
We have some learning to do but over all I think a first time went ok. Had a hard time getting the scalding just right and the chickens where small, a bit stringy and tough. I've changed my spring orders to hens only, maybe they will be a better quality meat.
I went to the fair this year
What brand knife does he use?
Mike, any pictures or videos you can share with us about the experience? What was the most challenging part for you and your team?
THANK-YOU LORD ALMIGHTY FOR PROVIDING YOUR CREATIONS TO FEED OUR FAMILIES!
AMEN
Ameen ya Rab
Thank you so much for this video and the information! I eat kosher only on feast days, because otherwise it is for us to expensive. But than I miss the organic factor in the meat. In future I want to look if there could be a possibility for us to have chickens for eggs and meat, so that it will be cheaper on the long run. Thank you for this info!
Blessings to you!
I'm reading the comments...I think it IS humane because though it takes some seconds for the bird to bleed out, she's not in pain and is probably just light headed woozy and falls asleep (loses consiousness) Im sure the bird is confused and doesn't get why this is happening but I don't think there's pain. But like I said, I feel sad for a life that is no longer...but I also am totally sure that humans were meant to be omnivores. I think the people who eat these birds aren't going to overconsume; I think these are the most conscientous and aware because they're the ones who believe in sustainability and organics and they don't believe in overfattening a bird and crowding it in a dark hen house and mistreating it. These chickens have an awesome life for as long as they are alive at least.
If it was humane you would trade places with the animal. Now that meat eating caused a global pandemic, what's your excuses carnists? It damn sure isn't humane that I have to wear a mask 100% of the time now.
Thats what I call plucking a chicken.. WOW! Once many years ago as a teenager a friend of mine asked me over for dinner.. when we went to sit down to eat I noticed what was for dinner! Chicken feet in a rice like gravy.. alas I went home and had taco's!
Thank you!
That is NOT "rigor mortis". That is just muscle spasms from the brain dying.
Ya rigor mortis is hours after the bird dies and its carcase becomes stiff and hard to move its joints unlike when it was alive, to my knowledge
Love when farmers talk medical terminology.
I was able to process 4 chicken but after cooking one of the chickens the meat was rubbery. Not sure what to do their were my egg layers and they are dual purpose chickens. Please i need some advise.
I made that mistake also - after processing, the chickens need to be put in ice water or a cooler of ice until rigor passes. Rigor mortis is why the meat is rubbery.
@@librarycat53 Hello, thank you for responding back to me how long do I leave the chickens after processing them in ice water?
@@lettytinycreations we left them overnight because it was convenient for us to take them out of the tank for packaging. You don't need to leave them in the water; just refrigeration is fine, as long as they are covered so they don't dry out. 24 to 48 hours is recommended before cooking or freezing. We cooked two Sunday night, and they were lovely!
Thank you so much for replying back. I was about to give up in processing my chickens but my mind would not stop thinking 🤔 why the store chickens were softer and mines was just so hard and rubbery. How do you cover your chicken with plastic wrap or just a towel and if I decide to leave them in ice water if I process to many to put in refrigerator those you don’t have to wrap up because those won’t get dry because of the water correct. Nice hearing from you again. Thanks again
@@lettytinycreations We had a big chilling tank (we processed 71 chickens) where most of them stayed overnight. But we took a few out to put in the refrigerator to see if it made any difference (it didn't seem to). I just put them on plates and covered with plastic wrap, but a clean damp towel would work as well.
where do get this chicken plucker or how to make one best i've seen?
This particular plucker is from Featherman. Featherman dot net
thanks for the comment!
Let us know how it goes!
thank you....for the helpful and humane video.
Anyone know where a person can find that kind of plucker?
Hi there, I am wondering if you ever heard of permaculturist by the name of Bill Mollison as well as Geoff Lawton? They are running some kind of 12 week course online on permaculture. Its call PDC (permaculture design course). Perhaps you have done the course before? Its pretty pricey and I am a bit leary of the program. Geoff Lawton seems like a genuine guy, but I think a practical course would compliement an online course. I want to learn permaculture, but I am wondering if this online course is a way to start. What do you think about this? Should I take a chance on this course or do you know a better source for learning? Thanks for your input!
I know my question is may be slightly naive but i like to know these things and as much as i love my meat i am still genuinely concerned about the animals pain, which is why i mostly eat wild game (shot in the head over quick) is this method humane? does the chicken in much pain and is it still alive during the scalding? : ) thank you!
does anyone know where to buy the water hose nozzle he is using? See @ 14:58 into the video
(To previous comment) For my chickens it only takes a few minutes for rigor mortis to happen, that's why you need to put the chicken in ice water afterwards so the meat doesn't get tough.
Also to bring the temperature down to stop bacteria
My only curiousity is why he's doing it without gloves?
+Denton Williams because his hands are clean...
Wow. All the negative comments on here are rediculous. I bet the majority of people making them have never had to slaughter a animal for food before. Keep going to McDonald's and walmart for your GMO food. Nothin but sheep.
sixnine8740 I haven't slaughtered any yet, but I respect this process. My mom & stepdad worked at the local meatpacking plant (beef though, not chicken) & this is definitely preferable.
This is animal cruelty, it's humane to chip off the head! Can't you hear the poor chicken screaming?
@@gordonbricker1670 That's a hard question, you're asking about the exact point of consciousness. When you chip off the head, the body still flaps around and the eyes blink, I've done it that way before, both methods have the same problem - its not easy to know what, or for-how long the bird feels anything. Centipedes crawl for minutes after being chopped in half, both halfs try to flee and sense for stimulus, so which half is conscious? I do agree with you when you chip the head off of that bird it shuts up quick.
@@marcschroter4264 Hi, as soon as the nerves are severed the blood flow to the brain stops, they don't feel anything anymore. Chopping off the head is the most humane way of killing a chicken.
When exactly is it ok to sever the nerves? You completely sever the neck of the chicken on a chopping block, the body still flaps is wings to "run from danger" ... Meanwhile the head still blinks and gasps for air.... You have no fucking clue what your talking about...
I do not mean to be rude, but that's 89 1/2 seconds too long . I myself do not still understand your explanation . According to research,.... does not answer what your heart and mind tell you.... Remove the head and be sure. We had our chickens for 10 years, and I absolutely would want to be darn sure, that their lives ended swiftly with absolutely no doubt. Maybe its a more messy approach, but lets hope that fast kill is more important than clean slow kill. :)... love my chickens :)
What about a comparison of removing their heads while they are inverted. You discussed electrocution and gassing but not removal of their heads.
+Stan Rodgers There is still blood in the brain when the head is completely removed, so the animal is completely aware and it will take it several minutes to pass. That is the way I've seen it done, however this process on the video was much less traumatic on the chickens. They did not do any of the traumatic lashing about that I saw in chickens with their heads chopped off. This process was very quiet in comparison.
I tried some of that way and surprisingly most of them don't freak out while bleeding out, some did. Some of the turkeys stayed conscious for several minutes.
Not to sound like a pansy, but it is hard to pretend that this is a respectable death for the bird. I've worked with CO2 before and I can imagine some relatively simple processing equipment that would be needed to put the chickens to sleep and death much more comfortably with gas.
CO2 is widely available nowadays and fairly cheap in gas canisters or dry ice form. An 18" clear PVC pipe could be laid flat for the birds to enter into the chamber, which would only need an inlet hose, outlet hose, pressure relief valve, optional pressure gauge, and end port hatches on hinges. It could even be done with a flexible plastic duct. The pipe chamber could have a few bug treats and grass in it to take it to the next level of comfort.
The way they do it is wrong. Large scale factories actually do it in a way that is very similar to your idea, and it's very effective. But you could accomplish the same thing with a knife if done properly. What they didn't do is let the bird rest in the cone. After around 5 to 10 minutes, the bird usually passes out, and you can make your cut then. They also didn't sever the spinal cord on a fully conscious bird, which could have saved that bird a few seconds from feeling pain. Humans take around 2 minutes to bleed out from a severed jugular, so no doubt the bird was concious for at least 15 seconds of it. I've butchered my own chickens for years, and this video greatly angered me.
@@flythew5939 Yeah so CO2 is probably the wrong gas because it causes painful suffocation as it turns out, but I've read about some large operations that might be the same as what you're talking about where they use gas. Maybe CO, N2, or argon is a better choice for large scales as long as its an anaesthetic blend for minimal suffering, but I've seen a heavy meat cleaver work well too. Quick and painless. Not much room for error if you have a cut-resistant glove holding the chicken in place.
As for the issue with them seeing another of their species die, the other chickens may be seeing another chicken die, but it is very doubtable that it can be equated to seeing their friend die, considering that during their lives, chickens will often kill each other and sometimes eat one another.
My friend uses an electric stunner before bleeding them
I would never kill my chickens like that. They felt that! We kill them instantly! with an ax. One chop and they are gone. No suffering or slow dying with an axe!!!
But do you collect the blood?
But, apparently with this method the heart keeps pumping longer to bleed out completely? If the blood pressure does drop rather instantly, I can see that they are not conscious. The reason I say this is that I had that happen when I went into anaphylactic shock one time. My blood pressure dropped and I was out like a light. Fortunate for me, I was in the hospital right next to the emergency room. When chopping the head, the chicken's body is still active for a bit. That, again, must be the autonomic system acting until the heart stops?
If my plan to move to acreage comes to fruition, I intend to get chickens; this is why I'm introducing myself to methods of butchering them.
@@veefriend4201 I think the heart continues to pump after its head has been severed completely as well, im not sure though.
Its totally unconscious this way, & gets more of the blood out
@@vangieaskren8660 bullshit
8:22 Beginning of cleaning the birds.
I think you need a bigger motor on that thing
Wow thanks for the close view 🙄
Just FYI this is not a kosher or halal kill.
Consumers control markets. Buy the best food from the best sources available to you, whether locally or online. Much cheaper than doctor and hospital bills later from poor health.
Simple,,,just don't sit there dwelling on the life of the animal. You are a farmer, whether you have one chicken of 100, and farmers don't have the time or energy to dwell on the personal life of every animal, that they HAVE to process.
Give thanks to the birds, lmao
we always used a hatchet or machete to take the head off.
Hes the best
And why are we making such a big deal over preparing our food?..
@PrincessZorlon foreal
@PrincessZorlon i agree with u girl
Here's a sustainable farm that raises grassfed,GMO-free bison in NE California.
igg.me/at/waterforbison
Kosher slaughter requires both arteries to be slit, not one. That would invalidate the slaughter. I get you were trying to compare them. You should talk to a kosher slaughterer, though. Also, the animal can't cry out, or the kill is not valid. If it does the slaughter wasn't done correctly.
I am not going to go into animal treatment or the ethical treatment of animals or any of that. I'm simply saying that we benefit greatly from eating meat, provided that we do not overeat or anything like that.
Hm, not a fan of the hot water barrel..
I do not understand your answer at all. My point was that in the video someone is saying that cutting one carotid and jugular is fine and humane. In my above comment I wrote that it is not as it takes 90 seconds to bleed out a chicken so it is not fast and humane. That someone is sayingthat he does not like to cut both carotids as it is "cleaner to cut just one"!!! ...Small farmers in Europe who love their chicken use head only electric stunner it costs few hundred pounds.
That is not rigor mortus...
i like the way you kill your chicken cause of bleeding first before you cut its head off. you should tell everybody how to slaughter chicken. i ever see a man killed his goose by cuting its head off instantly with an axe. thats so cruel.
I think that the chickens should have there heads just cut clean off that way blood leave there body faster and the die quicker. But this was a great informative video.
How would you like it if your throat got slit? The chickens definitely feel that pain! It is true there has to be death for life, BUT there does not have to be pain, slitting the throat = pain. Why wont you just jab a blade into their brain and make it quick?
How does your Spinach feel when you rip it off its roots?
I don't know why don't you ask it smart ass
I'm not attacking you, or your way of life. I'm only pointing out that something must die for you to eat...
+Melokie LaLa You have to bleed it or you get blood clots in your food.
Chickens have a brain stem so if you were to stab them in the brain it would still be alive, slitting the throat quickly starves the brain of blood which makes sure both the bird dies quickly (with in a few secs) and so the bird goes unconscious almost instantly.
This is a cruel way to kill chickens,ive raised and killed a lot of chickens and eaten them. please do not do it this way. remove the head with one cut, you will get some twitching but they are dead instantly. leave them upside down, they will still bleed out perfect, and taste amazing. he said that the chicken dies instantly, but you can here the chicken squealing. THERE IS NO NEED FOR SUFFERING,AND THESE CHICKENS SUFFER.
Julian Evans Is halal killing painless? Is it more painful than conventional butchering? by Zoheb Ahmed www.quora.com/Is-halal-killing-painless-Is-it-more-painful-than-conventional-butchering/answer/Zoheb-Ahmed?share=883b364b&srid=CyhX
You're full of it. Pop off their head and they twitch a lot more than how it's done in this video. I was raised with chickens, too. Was "chased" by plenty of chickens with no heads when I was little.
Ever heard the phrase "running around like a chicken with its head cut off"? It's a real thing.
Thanking Allah for seeing this.
Bet the people below me buy Tyson chicken ...so uninformed
Mr.Salatin. Before speaking publically on how long it takes to chicken to loose consciousness after the cut; please read some research. Out of most commonly farmed animals it takes the longest to bleed a chicken. Bleeding by cutting only one carotid is something that has been abolished by all international standards. Cutting both carotids is a basic standard by conventional slaughter, Halal and Kosher. According to research it takes about 90 seconds to loose responsivness to outside stimuli.
Like the chicken processing aspect, hate the liberal condescending tone in both their voices.
Joel Salatin is a libertarian rancher. Far from "liberal" in the modern leftist sense of the term. In fact, he wrote a book called "Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal."
This process called Halal and this how muslims do it plus other details
Not knocking this but this is far from Kosher.
Kosher killing is the most barbaric form of slaughter. Just YT it.
Read the Talmud
Poor chickens
yes this method of killing is claimed to be humane but don't kill anyone pls :(
Doesn't matter what the chickens think. What matters is if it's good for my health and I say absolutely not. Look into that crowd of meat eaters and you will see fat out of shape people....all future heart disease candidates. Now find some low fat vegans and you will see the difference, all lean and physically fit into their 80's.
Generalized idiotic comment
l know you kill them with a knife but is killing them with a axe just as good.
+john coelho Not really. The heart stops beating quicker so it doesn't pump the blood out as well.
You should try it with a few, small number first. I prefer the axe & killing block. But, I butcher & eat a small number at a time. If they don't bleed out the meat will not last as long. Also, some say there is a slight difference in taste. I don't see it, but I harvest & consume quickly. Also, I don't like the animal to "bleed out."
How come they are not completely cutting the head off. THEN you know they arent feeling anything. The heart will still pump out the blood.. Anyways.. I'm happy I became vegan because I don't find animal killing right/fair anymore..
I hate that crap
Thank you Joel Salatin, your cognitive dissonance turned me into a vegan 7 years ago. Kiling animals is not humane, veganism is the future.
LOL, "this is rigor mortis" This is not, rigor mortis occurs later, and "rigor" means "stiff", not "threshing around."
"they're far from conscious" I doubt they are not, they were not killed, they only had their throat sliced seconds ago.
As much as I don't have any problem with killing livestock for food, I think the process depicted here is still barbaric, we should move to other technologies such as partial vacuum, which as far as I know is the only one that puts animal into a coma without them noticing or without any stress.
Frankly, any handling of animals is stressful to the animal. Imagine if you suddenly seen a being far more advanced than you and several times larger. Then it picked you up. You would know something is not right simply because this being doesn't pick you up usually. There really is no humane way to kill. Only ways that are more humane than others. Of course, could always go vegan and avoid the need to kill animals. Of course then you get into the realm of possibility that plants can feel. When thought about, the only diet that harms none is a ripe fruit/berry only diet. Plants purposely grow these fruits and berries for animals to eat. Of course, not sure how viable such a diet would be to the health of a human. The way I see it, until much changes in the world, meat is on the menu to some degree. I worry more about how the animals are raised than how it is killed. Some chickens are raised in a manner where they never see the sun. Never get to peck around in a grassy area. Never get to even spread their wings. It is akin to a human living their entire lives in just enough room to stand up and turn around. Then someone comes and kills you. I try to avoid industrial meats. Buying from local farmers is more likely to contribute to the animal having a reasonably decent life. If you can visit the farm your meat is raised on, you can tell how humane it was raised. It bothers me that so many are so disconnected from where their food comes from.
***** "There is not a shred of scientific evidence that plants experience pain *like most animals do.*"
There is some evidence that plants react to stimuli that would cause pain in animals. However, we as humans are not in any position to say "there is *no* chance at plants feeling pain". We just don't know. We presume they do not, but then again we are not all knowing beings either.
***** 1) True
2) Irrelevant. We are not advanced enough to say that to feel pain you MUST have a central nervous system. Claiming such as a fact shows this well.
3) True, however also irrelevant. Just because there is no known incentive doesn't mean that plants lack said ability. There is also some evidence that shows plants will "call out" and "communicate" with various fairly specific insects when under attack by other fairly specific insects. They do this with chemicals that lure in insects that will feed on or otherwise destroy the attacking insect.
The simple fact of the matter is we as humans are not advanced enough (yet) to be certain of most anything. In the past, humans were 100% certain of something, then find out it was false. This is a common theme of humanity. Shows we are still growing. When we decided we "know it all", we are becoming doomed. We can only speculate based on our current modes and methods of observation.
"The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuuming systems"
wake up its the 21century. no need to thank the birds.if they had a choice I bet they would give you the middle toe! just enjoy a lovely roast bird. come over to the true god mr. harry potter! thank you for finally putting a real man in the white house
I just became vegataerian. Poor birds were crying. Call it whatever you want. But that was awful
You've been sheltered your entire life with that statement.
Epic fail
It squawks for minutes after you said it would immediately pass out. You are a goofball.
That rotary scalder obviously sucks dude!