"Broomhandle method" need advice on how to do it

[Jess N Jeff]

I know how hard this can be. You have been given some great advice already, so I just want to give you a hug in support!!!

 

[Chipper]

Quote:
Very well said,my thoughts are also with you.

 

[prairiepearls]

I am consistently in awe of how supportive this BYC community is! As RM44 noted, even those with differing viewpoints seem to be tolerant of each others' practices -- really goes a long way in restoring my faith in human nature and that we CAN "all just get along"! I *do* think I could "dispatch" a bird if I had to. My biggest concern would be to do it fast and hard enough to instantaneously kill it. If I "missed" with the knife or hatchet, or failed to pull/snap hard enough and had to do it again and caused the animal to suffer, that would be very distressing. One question -- if you snap the head back to "do the deed," can you then cut the head off and drain the body so you could eat it?

 

[catdaddy66]

As a first timer I am sure that eventually I will have to face just the situation that you face. I am wondering about what it will take to do what needs doing, but hope that these necessities are few and far between! Good luck to you.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

I have bookmarked this post. I know there will come a time when I need this information. I have saved several threads for the "when" but this one is a keeper.

Thanks to all who kept it nice.

 

[Brickman House]

Bless you for having the courage and conscience to do the right thing. Your animals are very lucky to have a steward who takes thoughtful responsibility for them, even when it isn't easy to do so. If all animals had the same, it'd be a whole different world.

Concidentally (or maybe not), today I was listening to an interview on NPR with (the ridculously intellingent and impressive) Dr. Temple Grandin, in which she was talking about the livestock handling systems she's created to minimize stress on cattle as they're going to slaughter. She reminded the listeners that that animals don't have the anticipation of death that humans do, and that they really only know fear and stress, or calm and security, in the slaughtering process.

I agree with the poster who suggested that the easiest and cleanest way are the pruning loppers or even a hatchet, but if you're not comfortable with that, the broom handle will work as well. Any method that doesn't stress the bird, and is quick and clean will be humane.

Best wishes to you, as you do this very right, but very difficult thing.

 

[SunshineSteedFarm]

You did what was best for him. You were very courageous and responsible in this hard situation

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

 

[TrystInn]

I'm so glad you were able to do what had to be done with a minimum of upset.

This was personal for me: We've been nursing a wounded cockerel (penicillin injections, can you imagine?) and knew if this didn't work we'd have to put him down and the broom method is exactly what we would have done. In fact, we're thinking about using it for processing from now on.

I am now the reluctant owner of a fresh bottle of 100cc's of penicillin and 22 gauge syringes in our First Aid kit. The things we do for our chickens, I tell you.

 

[Mahonri]

It's always tough to cull.

I had to put down a silver spangled polish hen not long ago. It wasn't fun.