Most humane way to kill 8 year old hen

I researched this because I wanted to know. One of the jobs of vets is to investigate the suffering and stress associated with different methods of killing animals. There are whole papers (scientific) written on this. They can determine suffering, stress, and time to death by measuring stress hormones and physiological stress indicators as the animal is dying. I read a lot, several times when I faced this issue, and here is what I learned:

- "Cervical separation" is considered the most humane method. This involves putting the animal under your arm and pulling and twisting the head. It is obviously something you would need to observe and practice. If you botched the job you would feel horrible.

- Cutting off the head or shooting them could cause a very quick death, but chopping the head of would also require skill and nerve, and shooting them has the same issue plus you need a gun

- They can be asphyxiated with carbon dioxide. It gets in their eyes, causing stinging and suffering, but some people say that if you mix the CO2 with oxygen that is alleviated and it is not a bad death. I have really tried to figure this out because sometimes something bad happens on a Sunday! It's complicated, and I don't know that it woudl work well for an animal larger than a rodent.

- Vets can kill them with injected depressants. One gave one an anesthetic gas first. This is so not bad compared to the other methods above.

I am with the people who say give her a chance. There are lots of ways to fix problems of mites and lice. Maybe she is ailing because of those, and if you fix that she could have some more good time. I wouldn't kill an animal unless they were really suffering. People are all different, some folks are OK with "culling" an animal that is not healthy. Others are not able to do that without suffering themselves. I'm the second kind! If you are, too, clean her up, give her and the other birds a place to take dust baths, check out the posts and articles on treatment of external parasites.

Ok my head hen ist well. I wasn't prepared to cull her yet as she will be my first to cull. I went ahead and gave her 1 1/2 adult tablets of benadryl yesterday afternoon.

She is still with us and other than making her appear a bit drunk last night she is well alive.

Since I read lots of comments here asking for some kind of confirmation. . . Now you have at least one more.

Just spent some time watching culling on YouTube. I think I will be able to do what needs to be done.

Wow! This is an old thread. I was looking at it for a second thinking it was like all the old crew was back on BYC.

leenie, if you think you are prepared then you can do it. The first time is really tough, but it is a skill you are going to need many times in the future if you continue keeping poultry. Unfortunate, but necessary. And always remember you have a whole forum at your disposal to help you through it. Before and after. Any questions you have, or even if you just need to just vent and decompress after, start a new post, and you will get all the support you need.

Good luck.

CMV

Your words of encouragement mean alot to me. I appreciate the support, pre and post, concerning what I have to do. Just reading that made me feel like you wrapped your arms around me and understood.

Much thanks.

Quote:
I would agree on this. Bird will be out cold in seconds with no real perception of what is happening, as the ether is quick. (don't tell my children this works as I too am getting on on years)... But if it were me (and it is not and I am not judging) it would be a sharp knife or axe and a quick head removal. Good luck. Not a pleasant thing any way it goes down.

Quote:
Very observant CMV...I didn't even look at the date of the OP ...... Hope the deed has been settled... Time for a glass of Merlot I think... And to thumb thru my new Guerneys catalog!