A Squeemish Subject: Euthanasia

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:

I didn't intentionally ace myself! It was purely accidental. I do not inject myself with drugs

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I checked out chick4chix post about her use of the dry ice method here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=312959

I have been doing some research on euthanasia because I have a hen who is an internal layer, and I know her quality of life will eventually deteriorate. My husband works in health care so he is better at using a hypodermic needle than an ax, but I don't know if we would be able to get ACE. Kari_Dawn, can that just be injected into the skin, or does it need to go into a vein? Also, in the dry ice method, was the heating pad just for the bird's comfort?

I have read some descriptions of "gassing" with starter fluid I believe and the chicken keeper found the thrashing disturbing. Does that ever happen with the dry ice method?

With both decapitation and cervical dislocation it seems that some experience is needed to make sure the chicken does not experience pain. Although the broomstick method may be easier.

 

[Elite Silkies]

scratch'n'peck :

I checked out chick4chix post about her use of the dry ice method here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=312959

I have been doing some research on euthanasia because I have a hen who is an internal layer, and I know her quality of life will eventually deteriorate. My husband works in health care so he is better at using a hypodermic needle than an ax, but I don't know if we would be able to get ACE. Kari_Dawn, can that just be injected into the skin, or does it need to go into a vein? Also, in the dry ice method, was the heating pad just for the bird's comfort?

I have read some descriptions of "gassing" with starter fluid I believe and the chicken keeper found the thrashing disturbing. Does that ever happen with the dry ice method?

With both decapitation and cervical dislocation it seems that some experience is needed to make sure the chicken does not experience pain. Although the broomstick method may be easier.

You can inject Ace intramuscular or intravenous. It just takes a bit longer given intramuscular, but that is on horse of course, it will take effect relatively fast on a chicken.​

 

[galanie]

Some of you might think I'm a jerk, but these threads are always entertaining to me. The lengths some will go to, in order to convince themselves they are not taking a life! Oh my!

Don't fool yourself. You are killing something. You are taking them from Chicken to Former Chicken status. How complicated can that be? As complicated as you make it. Of course I wouldn't make the process drawn out and painful, but you're making it more painful on yourselves and probably more so on the chicken as well by over thinking and over doing it. Dry ice? Shooting it full of starter fluid? Are you serious? Having witnessed human deaths, I can tell you, there is no easy, painfree, oblivious way for it to happen. The organism knows it's dying no matter how it happens. Nor is there true "dignity." Unless you want to take it to a vet or otherwise shoot it with just enough pain medicine for death to somehow happen. Even then, it's very debatable whether there is panic or not once the animal or person realizes they are about to die, since drugs that keep the brain from being able to make the body move will change the outward appearance of the event.

Just do it. Quick. Quit trying to make it so that you don't have to think you're taking a life. You are. Do it. Me, I do it via cutting the jugular and letting them bleed to death. It's really likely that simply cutting the whole head off is just as "peaceful." Oh yes, you see the body go into convulsions after, but that's nerves firing after death. Turn around and don't look if it will bother you.

No, I'm not an unfeeling monster. I cry often when one perishes if it wasn't meant for meat in the first place, or if it didn't live long enough to fulfill that destiny. But you have to take responsibility somehow.

 

[Beekissed]

Galanie, I view these type threads the same way....always wondered about the elaborate deaths proposed on them as well. Seems to me that it is complicating it a bit too much and makes it seem worse than it really is.

I agree....death is death. The whole key~for me~ is to make it quick from start to finish, both for the bird's sake and my own.

Dry ice, freezers, tupper ware and different chemicals breathed, injected or fed seem like drawn out ways to die when it could have been accomplished in mere seconds with simple tools: knife, hands, broom or axe.

Each to his own, I know, but still amazes me the lengths one will go to avoid just doing the deed.

 

[Blue]

I haven't had to do the deed myself yet, but the last rooster that we had to put down (due to illness) was killed by a shot to the head from a .22 rifle. That seems like a pretty quick and painless method to me.

 

[ladyride]

Yep all of the above ways work but why go to such long lengths to disassociate yourself from the act & make it harder on yourself in the long run. It is a fact of life that death is going to occur especially when you have any kind of animal that you provide care for. I will not say it is a pleasant procedure but a necessary one.
I have witnessed death more times than I care give me quick rather than drawn out anyday. Come to grips with what you have to do & do it. Console yourself after rather than before. A sharp axe or knife you done fast.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I can understand your perspective Galine and Bekissed, but those of us who haven't done it before are concerned the hack with ax wont be quick. Someone one this thread said the first time didn't go so well. But I suppose if I did it a few times I would be confident in my ability to do it quickly.

Yes, I can admit to over thinking it though. I wonder to myself which way I would rather die, by the hands of someone inexperienced with an ax? I think I would prefer to go with a .22 shot to the head or dry ice which is basically carbon dioxide. I found this about CO2:

"Of those methods for euthanasia approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 1, the only method that could be used safely at home involves the use of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is heavier than air and nearly odorless. In low concentrations (7.5%) it is an analgesic (pain reliever), and at medium concentrations (30%-40%) it can be used as an anesthetic, causing rapid loss of consciousness without struggling, distress, or excitation. 3 At high concentrations (>80%) CO2 causes quick death."

 

[Beekissed]

The only way to gain experience with a method is to actually TRY the method. Yes, mistakes can be made with anything you learn for the first time...ask any surgeon.

But trying it and improving your technique is the whole wonderful process of raising animals like this.

One reason I no longer use an axe is for that very reason...have missed a time or two, particularly killing ducks and turkeys with their thicker necks. I was taught with this method but haven't used it for a very long time. But I had to learn that I didn't like it and that it wasn't as effective as I would have liked.

Being scared to try is only natural....everyone is the first, fifth or the twenty-fifth time.

I guess I just can't get over the mental image of a wet, shivering chick slowly gasping while it freezes to death next to someone's fudge pops....

 

[inputoutput]

I understand where the "hardened veterans of culling" are coming from but everyone has their first forays into home vetting, harvesting for food, culling due to behavioral / health issues, ect. It is perfectly natural for us humans to sit and think about how we feel the most / least comfortable doing it and dealing with it. Don't forget you were all young once!

<- I love this video on dispatching chickens.

I think the broom method is neat if blood is too much for you. I actually am more squicked by neck breaking (I could never raise rabbits for meat because that weird hook you use to off them is just too much for me). A good sharp knife is my best advice.