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I know impacted crop was listed as not requiring euthanasia. But in my hen’s case, the impact ion was caused by a blockage somewhere further along preventing her crop from being able to empty completely in a timely manner. I spent a lot of money at the vet only to be devastated without a clear answer as to why she was having this issue. So sometimes an impacted crop is a death sentence if it’s from another issue

fuscia said:

I know impacted crop was listed as not requiring euthanasia. But in my hen’s case, the impact ion was caused by a blockage somewhere further along preventing her crop from being able to empty completely in a timely manner. I spent a lot of money at the vet only to be devastated without a clear answer as to why she was having this issue. So sometimes an impacted crop is a death sentence if it’s from another issue

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Here's a recent post of mine








Well, I just put her down. She had several problems. Sour crop, she was also packed with grass in the crop and down through her intestines. It was unbelievable. She also was packed with egg products I guess. Looked like a huge long lash egg in her whole system. Also, ascites. So sad. I can't believe she could even live like that. I guess I am going to have to rake the yard when I mow, which is a big issue because I have a huge yard. The chicken yard is 70'x70' so will have to rake that when I mow and then not let them out in the main big yard for a few days until the grass settles down where they couldn't eat the long grass. I hope my others aren't that bad. Nothing could get through that mass of grass (food, water). Another learning experience.

I feel your pain :/ I was considering a autopsy, and didn’t want to do it myself. Something was blocking her digestive track which was slowing down the crop emptying. My vet said that grass should pass through. I know when I mow my other chickens don’t have issues. Zina always has a slight digestive issue if I think about it. Even as a chick. She was also a hybrid which I read are prone to certain health issues, and generally only live 2-4 years. She was 3.5 years old. She may have had grass stuck further down and could pass it like she did on a previous occasion. But she was so thin the vet didn’t think she could handle surgery. I still wonder if there was something I didn’t do right or could have done better. She was lovely.

Chopping or snapping is all good if you know how, but the "Sciencey" method is completely incorrect. For one thing, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are completely different. Carbon monoxide is NOT generated by vinegar and baking soda. That's carbon dioxide. Also, even if you do attempt this method the chicken won't suffocate for at least a hour, which takes away the point of euthanization. You might just as well smother the chicken in a plastic trash bag.

silverlaced44 said:

Could you put the bird in a freezer? I would just go to sleep right?

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No. They would freeze to death. That is not humane.

Yrat said:

Vinegar and baking soda produce carbon dioxide, not carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide will not make the chicken fall asleep. The production of CO2 simply displaces the air in the container, including the oxygen. The bird will essentially suffocate/asphyxiate.

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When I was a health inspector, we euthanized rats and birds and collected the chilled parasites for study. We used dry ice blocks placed in a deep uninsulated container lined with a plastic bag, along with the animals small trap/cage. They seemed to pass easily. The gas displacement of oxygen , along with colder temps keep the parasites less mobile and off of you ! You might also use helium gas to euthanize the rooster in a plastic bag. They suffocate but don't know it! We then put them in a super cold freezer. At home, I used a homemade killing cone until it rusted up to bad for my chickens and a sharp filleting knife.

Lady of McCamley said:

I find the best way to perform the CO2 method is with dry ice because it produces a large cloud which immediately brings unconsciousness. Use a 5 gallon bucket (orange Home Depot kind works well). Purchase about 1/4 lb of dry ice from your local grocer for a few dollars. (Be very careful in handling dry ice. Use gloves as it can cause freezer burn.) Place the dry ice in the bottom of the bucket. Pour about a cup of warm water. Place a styrofoam or cardboard insert over the ice (to protect the bird from touching the ice). Let cloud build by placing lid on bucket but slightly ajar to allow gas to escape (otherwise you risk blowing off the lid). After a minute, lower bird into the heavy thick cloud of CO2 and put lid on again with a little vent allowed. It is the same technique used in CO2 fire extinguishing systems in computer rooms and factories. (Workers are warned to get out immediately as unconsciousness occurs within seconds, suffocation within minutes). This amount of CO2 immediately renders the bird unconscious. Body fluttering ends within 30 to 40 seconds. Bird is fully dead within a minute. It is the fastest, kindest way I have found.

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This is the method we used at the health dept to put down rats and birds, to collect parasites from them. They passed fairly fast and peacefully, and the parasites stayed on them until we got them frozen in the Kelvinator. We used a coleman cooler to set the traps down in with the dry ice blocks.

orpington13 said:

For a real Carbon Monoxide method, put the chicken in a big enough bag, and then take it to your car. Put the bag on the exhaust, so that the gas goes into the bag, and then turn on the car. It puts the chicken to rest within a minute or two.

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That's what I'm going to do. My dad had to do this to a couple of my childhood pets that were dying. He was a sweet guy!
Well, instead of that I drove 45 miles away and paid a veterinarian $50 to do it. I was afraid she wouldn't die peacefully and get cold before she died seeing how there's snow on the ground and she was in my house at 70°.

Correct. They die of oxygen deprivation , within minutes(we usually gave them 15 to 20 minutes), from co2 displacing oxygen, from the dry ice method, after they are rendered unconscious quickly. It was the way we handled specimens for the County health dept. when I was an employee. It is without dramatics and trauma when done well. I wonder if helium will work on chickens for this? It will render a human, to slip into unconsciousness rapidly in an enclosed environment and death will follow within a few minutes, painlessly and they say with no sense of suffocation, from people saved from that death. Indeed, that is what makes those gases so dangerous! Remember that co2 needs to displace the oxygen by filling the vessel first. We sometimes, used a large old ice chest to put our smaller cages inside, that contained the animals , or a drum with a lid works, also. It takes more dry ice and longer to fill the larger the chamber. Another thing to consider, is if the bird has fleas or mites they often go straight to you if your not careful! (Your pets are likely OK)Anytime you kill an animal, the pest that infest them, seek a new host. The gases may stun or knock out the pest without killing them, often, and they begin to come off the dead animal when they come out of the gas. Dispose of them quickly, immediately putting them in a plastic bag after coming out of the gas. I usually cut the chicken's head off , but understand some people may have a problem doing that with their pet.

Birdsonghill said:

Correct. They die of oxygen deprivation , within minutes(we usually gave them 15 to 20 minutes), from co2 displacing oxygen, from the dry ice method, after they are rendered unconscious quickly. It was the way we handled specimens for the County health dept. when I was an employee. It is without dramatics and trauma when done well. I wonder if helium will work on chickens for this? It will render a human, to slip into unconsciousness rapidly in an enclosed environment and death will follow within a few minutes, painlessly and they say with no sense of suffocation, from people saved from that death. Indeed, that is what makes those gases so dangerous! Remember that co2 needs to displace the oxygen by filling the vessel first. We sometimes, used a large old ice chest to put our smaller cages inside, that contained the animals , or a drum with a lid works, also. It takes more dry ice and longer to fill the larger the chamber. Another thing to consider, is if the bird has fleas or mites they often go straight to you if your not careful! (Your pets are likely OK)Anytime you kill an animal, the pest that infest them, seek a new host. The gases may stun or knock out the pest without killing them, often, and they begin to come off the dead animal when they come out of the gas. Dispose of them quickly, immediately putting them in a plastic bag after coming out of the gas. I usually cut the chicken's head off , but understand some people may have a problem doing that with their pet.

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I forgot to mention they used the Carbon Monoxide method to destroy cats and dogs back then, in "euthanasia chambers" . I did not work in that city/county dept. but observed the horror of it as practiced. They filled the room with as many as they easily could and hooked up a truck exhaust to a pipe that led in to the chamber (a small metal bldg.). The dogs would immediately, start crying and barking frantically when the gas started pouring in, whining and snarling and ,it was horrible! They did not suffer long ( a few minutes of horror), but it was traumatic, cruel and horrible to witness! I hope I did not offend anybody with the true but graphic description. I suffer from that vision whenever reminded by something of it.

Birdsonghill said:

I forgot to mention they used the Carbon Monoxide method to destroy cats and dogs back then, in "euthanasia chambers" . I did not work in that city/county dept. but observed the horror of it as practiced. They filled the room with as many as they easily could and hooked up a truck exhaust to a pipe that led in to the chamber (a small metal bldg.). The dogs would immediately, start crying and barking frantically when the gas started pouring in, whining and snarling and ,it was horrible! They did not suffer long ( a few minutes of horror), but it was traumatic, cruel and horrible to witness! I hope I did not offend anybody with the true but graphic description. I suffer from that vision whenever reminded by something of it.

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Like you, I have found CO2 when done properly (huge cloud built first, then animal lowered into cloud) to be peaceful and speedy. A gasp, a muscular flutter, silence within about 30 seconds. Left a couple of minutes for certainty.

The overdose method which was supposed to slowly make them tired and painlessly pass away was defiantly not as flawless as it sounded. When you gave your hen the mixture, she spat it out of her mouth and continued to hack and have trouble breathing afterward. I would use a different method which puts the hen (or rooster) out of their suffering without pain.

Also, when I scrolled through the comments, I noticed someone questioning whether freezing their chicken to death would work. I actually laughed in spite of this. Animals do not always experience suffering as much as humans do, but putting them in your freezer? That is probably one of the worst ways to euthanize an animal (no offense).

Garjzla said:

I do not agree with suffocation, because suffocation is not peaceful and when humans suffocate they struggle in an attempt to breath, and I'm guessing an animal would do the same because that's instinct. But the rest I agree with and this is a useful article.
I would probably just go to the vet, because I wouldn't be able to bring myself to kill a beloved chicken. I can kill a mean rooster or something, but a chicken that I'm attached to would be very hard to kill.

Also, I've heard about freezing chickens, which I don't recommend! Because that is a painful and very slow way to die, and may pass as animal abuse. Better safe than extremely sorry!

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Sounds like the Dwight Shrewt method

Helium gas is painless and stress free. I use a sharp pointed knife inserted through the mouth and into the brain, then cut the head off. I eat chickens. If you don't, you should consider the helium in a large plastic bag method.

Thoughts? https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/poultry-euthanasia-single-bird-carbon-dioxide-system/

"The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition does not specifically address the best practices for CO2 euthanasia of swine and poultry. Based upon scientific evidence and professional judgment, the following procedures for euthanasia of poultry and swine with CO2 are appropriate. It is standard practice in all cases to assure that adequate quantities of CO2 are available and that all equipment is functioning properly prior to beginning euthanasia procedures with any animals.
A. Euthanasia of poultry using CO2: prefill the chamber prior to introducing the birds, and then continue to supplement CO2 until death is confirmed. Although the actual percentage of CO2 in the chamber will not reach theoretical values of 100%, immersion in high concentrations of CO2 for poultry is preferred as it induces rapid loss of consciousness followed by death. This method does not require the precise metering of CO2 into the chamber."
https://research.illinois.edu/files/upload/co2-euthanasia-of-swine-and-poultry.pdf

There follows an excellent, research-based discussion on when unconsciousness occurs, and how convulsions do not indicate distress - useful reading.

CuriousChicken said:

Well I know which one I'm using when the old man finally calls it, 500mg of ground up acetaminophen (Tylenol) with 200mg, of Valerian root.

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We tried this. 2 hours later. Nothing!! I’m looking for a quicker remed.

CuriousChicken said:

Well I know which one I'm using when the old man finally calls it, 500mg of ground up acetaminophen (Tylenol) with 200mg, of Valerian root.

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First dose and 2 hours later our hen wasn’t even relaxed. Mix the dose extra strong.

The medication method may take a while due to Tylenol overdose . The valerian may relax them but Tylenol is not benign. I would absolutely not recommend this. If this dose is wrong your bird has to go thru liver damage, organ failure and then death.

Oxygen deprivation from breathing helium gas causes no alarm to the victim. It breathes just like oxygen and the target just goes to sleep peacefully from lack of oxygen, without being aware or feeling suffocation. I have used this method as well as the carbon monoxide method on rats. With chickens , I have usually just cut the heads off or stick them in the brain through the roof of the mouth and then cut off the heads. A large clear plastic bag over a small kennel works well for containing the gas and the specimen to be put to sleep.