Well the big day finally came. Time to put all the research and preparation to the test. Could I kill, scald, pluck, eviscerate, bag and tag the chickens that have been running around my yard for the last 8 weeks. OK for the first 3 weeks they were in my house, but you get the idea.
The lives and deaths of the chickens now in my freezer (and that will be on my dinner table) were much kinder, gentler, natural and humane than the lives and deaths of the chickens who wind up on the grocery store shelves.
Watch the video clip on my previous post to see them running across my yard like chickens are meant to do. These chickens were not crammed in a windowless building and shoved into creates to be tossed onto shackles and have machines do the dirty deed.
Not for the faint of heart or the sentimental. But when one of the hens starting having trouble keeping up with the others because one of her legs wasn't quite supporting her weight I new it couldn't wait another week. These were after all Cornish Rock chickens and they are genetically designed not to live past 7 or 8 weeks. Not like the relicants from the Blade Runner movie, but they physically can't support themselves as they get older and heavier. And heavy they got.
So on Saturday morning after setting all the equipment up the night before and putting it off for a couple hours (looking for excuses) I finally did it. I slit the throat of the first chicken. Now that sounds cruel and a bit gruesome and while I wasn't being cruel, it was a bit gruesome. I held it head and feet while it hung upside down in the killing cone and it's legs kicked those last anatomic kicks. The believe is that the chicken is unconsous after a few seconds and the kicking is simply a muscle reflex of the already dead chicken. At least that's what I hope. I think it's important to not sugar coat the taking of an animals life. It's not something to do lightly but necessary to put food on our tables. But it did get easier, I hope it never gets too easy, that's why I feel it's important not to skip any of details. But I do feel a bit proud of myself for taking responsibility for the food I eat and the life that had to die because of it. My hope is to never again purchase a grocery store (factory raised) chicken again, I feel a bit better about this past weekend.
The lives and deaths of the chickens now in my freezer (and that will be on my dinner table) were much kinder, gentler, natural and humane than the lives and deaths of the chickens who wind up on the grocery store shelves.
Watch the video clip on my previous post to see them running across my yard like chickens are meant to do. These chickens were not crammed in a windowless building and shoved into creates to be tossed onto shackles and have machines do the dirty deed.
But I did raise them to eat and have to admit the one I roasted for Sunday's dinner was tender, juicy and delicious. I admit it.... I love chicken... both running around my yard and on my plate.
