May 11, 2012
A “humane” hand tool for butchering birds, 1932
I’m pretty sure the meaning of “humane” β to the general public, at least β has changed quite a bit since this tool was patented and marketed in the 30′s…
(via Reddit, Tool Answers 101)
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DISCLAIMER – somewhat gross commentary depending on your stomach for this type of thing…
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It might be disturbing, but I would think that crushing the skull is more humane than cutting off the head. I mean if the head is cut off then the brain is probably still alive for a bit longer. If the skull is crushed I would think that would be about the most pain-free death possible. That is, if the definition of “humane” is “that which causes the least amount of suffering in the animal.”
I agree with you. To me, using a killing cone and a brain stick or cutting the throat would be much more stressful and inhumane(not to mention messy)….and those are two methods most small flock processors advocate today.
Those were my thoughts exactly. I mean depending on the size of the bird you can’t just shoot it like you could a larger animal and the alternatives were tricky. At least this was an (almost) sure way to make sure it was once and done and the animal didn’t suffer a botched amputation.
Apparently 1:30 is too early for me. I meant beheading not amputation
Well, to be fair, a beheading is just a specific type of amputation
Severing the head kills the brain by “starving” it of blood. Crushing the brain immediately stops the ability to perceive and report pain. They’re both actually pretty humane in comparison to alternative forms, but crushing might actually be better. There wouldn’t be a high level of pre-death stress from handling by the farmer/ butcher either as that would be a daily occurrence for livestock.
If you think this is un-ethical – check out the way modern, corporate “farmers” raise and process livestock – brain crushers would be a welcome practice by comparison.
This method (crushing) supposedly also causes the skin to ‘release’ the feathers making plucking easier.
Yeah, I don’t think it’s the definition of “humane” that’s changed in the last 80 years as much as it is the general public’s distance from actually using these tools ourselves…
exACTly.
Word!
But then you miss all the fun of “wringing their necks.”
Certainly the definition of “safe” has changed. Unless they mean safe for the person using it.
This ruins the brain! The chicken brain is delicious… Wring the neck.