Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
entirely humane. When the head is cut off, the neck will flex
all over the place, splattering blood everywhere. I put a piece
of Plexiglass in front of the killing cone to avoid getting
blood on me. The bird should bleed out in 65 seconds or less,
but it doesn't hurt to leave it for a couple of minutes because
you don't want to scald a bird if it still has a breathing reflex
because it could inhale water while being scalded.
A proper knife makes slaughtering easier.
Hanging the bird upside down or using a killing cone is
important for two reasons. First, it helps remove the greatest
possible amount of blood from the bird's tissues, which
presents a more appetizing appearance. Second, it helps keep
the bird from struggling and hurting itself.
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Blood collected
from the bird can be added to the compost pile. If a killing
cone isn't used, a noose can be used to hang the bird upside
down by the feet.
A killing cone, mentioned previously, is a funnel-shaped
device with a large hole on the top into which the bird is
inserted headfirst. The hole in the bottom is large enough that
the bird's head and neck stick out, but nothing else. The entire
device is usually about a foot long. Killing cones can be
purchased via a number of poultry suppliers, just be sure to
