BB gun to euthanize chicken ?

[Birdinhand]

if it were me I'd go a different rout, a BB gun may not do the trick the first time around and that could get stressful for you and your pet. this is what I'd do:
-the least gory way I know of is to gently hang the bird upside down till it is disoriented, basically half asleep (from the blood rushing to it's head).
-take a thick rubber band, like the type they use to hold a bunch of broccoli together with at the super market. put the rubber band around it's neck like a color. When you are ready, tighten the rubber band enough to cut off the circulation to it's head and hold it tight between your thumb and forefinger. Hold it tight for several minutes, well beyond the point of any reflexive jerking. be prepared for the bird defecating, this is a common response.

I did this with my roosters a few years ago, from our first batch of incubator eggs as my children insisted that they get to "say goodbye" to the chicks they had spent time raising. it was very low drama, no blood and very little struggle.

 

[biophiliac]

Hello, I have a sick chicken that I need to euthanize. I just cannot bring myself to cut off her head or slit her throat. My neighbor offered me a BB gun, It is a small handgun pistol type thing. It only shoots BBs, not pellets. With this be sufficient at basically point blank range to quickly kill the chicken? Wood pellets be better? I’m not looking for something long range, very close will be fine. Any suggestions? Also, I know the chickens flap and move even after they’re dead. How long does this go on for?

Here is an article
https://mikethechickenvet.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/euthanasia-for-backyard-birds/

from a thread on euthanasia ...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/euthanasia-information.1195265/ that @casportpony started.

I think cervical dislocation is a method to consider.
Sorry you are having to confront this problem.

 

[biophiliac]

ps ... talking about this just reminded me of a mate ..john ... stepping down from his porch one day ... he almost trod on a snake .. gave him such a fright he ran in doors and grabbed his 9mm ... came running out and opened fire ... he spent the entire magazine and didn't hit it once ...haha! His gardner turned up with a spade and took its head of with out breaking a sweat .... now there's a proper tool to add to the list smuvers created ... a shovel or spade!

John needs some 'snake rounds' ! Like mini shotgun shells that fit in a hand gun creating a spray of teeny tiny pellets.

 

[member 373180]

never seen those been used before ...does it envelope the chickens entire neck? or do you need a few squeezes to finish the job?

I use a metal pvc pipe cutter after breaking the neck (in your case you could skip the neck breaking). It just takes one quick cut with relatively little power. Put the blade side towards the back so you cut the spinal cord first. I prefer this to a cleaver or axe as I have terrible aim.

I agree that cutting would be a preferable option. If you're already uncomfortable the last thing you want is to try to ready and line up a second shot on a panicked, injured bird. Not a good experience for either of you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think cervical dislocation is a method to consider.

@Leigti I'm very sorry you are having to go through this
Try the BB gun if that's what you want to do, it looks like @Wickedchicken6 has given you some good directions about how to do this correctly.
You may find that you prefer another method later on down the road. @biophiliac has provided some information for future reading that discusses different methods, that you may want to investigate. She mentioned considering cervical dislocation. This is the method I use, it is a bit more hands on, but I have found it to be quick and effective.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Cervical dislocation, no blood.

G

 

[Lazy Farmer]

A BB has more than enough velocity to go through a chicken skull if used at Point Blank. to ensure a no Miss scenario, secure chicken in a Cone or wrap it in a towel to keep your subject perfectly still.
A BB round is capable of entering even a human skull if the skull was shot point-blank. I have dispatched rats where the bb has gone through their heads and went across the barn and dented corrugated steel sheet walls.
Point blank means place the muzzle on the back of the head (touching) not an inch or two away and you will not miss.
Sorry you have to be in this type of situation. But there comes a time when raising any kind of livestock when this type of scenario must take place.

 

[pitbullmomma]

Can you just go to the nearest vet and have them put it out of its misery? It's just a simple injection, humane, quick. Any small animal vet will do this, no chicken experience necessary (I know cuz I was a vet and we will put down any creature that is suffering). I would go this route if you can't bring yourself to do it in a humane way, would not recommend a BB gun!!

 

[Leigti]

Thank you for all the replies. One thing I forgot to mention, is that I have very poor vision, I’m legally blind. So long-distance is not really applicable. And I really don’t want to deal with all the blood of cutting the head off. But I do know that I could do point-blank range. But I want to make sure that the gun is strong enough. And I don’t know if BBs would do it. Maybe pellets would be better even at point-blank range compared to babies. And I would always have more than one shot ready, to me that’s just common sense when you have a gun.

 

[Abriana]

I am siding with pitbullmomma, taking it to the vet would be best. A quick shot and then it is over and there is no pain for the bird or concern that you might have to get a second shot in. I’m sorry you have to go through this!