CAS or CAK

[SteeleFaithFarm]

Does any one know how to build a "contained atmospheric stunning" or "contained atmospheric killing" box or how they work. I am looking to become certified though a humane animal organization and they require all VHS be stunned prior to processing. Is anyone familiar with this process? There I'd very little information I can find on this.

Brad

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Hello, I will post a more detailed response on this later, but here's the skinny for now.

I work at a job where I sometimes euthanise rats and mice using a co2 chamber. The chambers aren't fancy, and can easily be made at home. The design is the same if you go with an inert gas like helium, but co2 has some special considerations. 1. It is not my first chice for birds. 2. The exchange rate is key. It must be at 20% per minute or lower, or you will start to see panicked behavior, escape behavior, distress, and pain. 10 percent is what I find to be best. I can not stress the importance of proper exchange rate in CO2 gas enough. Easily the biggest mistake made!! Equipment can be purchased to ensure a proper exchange rate, but if animals are freaking out...it is too high.

Any plastic tote will work as a chamber. The lid should be air tight, especially if using an inert gas (anything more than 2% oxygen will not be reliably fatal with inert gasses). I strongly suggest a clear container, and will not use a container I can't see into. I monitor any animal I'm gassing for the entire duration, to ensure they are not showing distress. A tube such as vinyl tubing can be run from a gas tank or cartridge through the lid or side of the plastic tub. Use silicone sealant or something else to make the area the tube enters the tub air tight. Photos and instructions can be found if you do an Internet search for 'rat home euthanasia'.

As a lover of animals and a geek, I do look at scientific, peer-reviewed papers often in regards o euthanasia methods to keep abreast of new information. Unfortunately, there are a lot of conflicting studies and findings, so it seems there is a way to go before finding out what method does exactly what. I have found gas to be a reliable and humane method out of the possibilities that people have access to at home. Co2 is my choice for rodents, and is what is recommended for lab rats and mice. Inert gases such as nitrogen or argon are not recommended for rodents or other burrowing animals, and may be distressing for them. In contrast, inert gases are favored for chicken (and human) euthanasia as we lack the ability to detect that oxygen is being replaced by an inert gas, nitrogen in particular as we are used to breathing 78% nitrogen gas in the air. People who have been exposed to high levels of helium or nitrogen at less than lethal levels report that they simply passed out than awoke later with no pain before or after.

Either Co2 or inert gasses may be considered for any home surgeries too. For instance, a mix of N2 and oxygen, or a loose fitting N2 mask may be used to the point the chickens remains unconscious, but where a lethal lack of oxygen is not present. Impacted crops that must be opened up, caponizing, or any other potentially stressful operation may see improved rates or recovery using this method rather than operating on a fully alert bird.

Not sure if any of that helps you, or is applicable to this group's requirements.

 

[SteeleFaithFarm]

Thank you. This is great information.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

No problem, and good luck to you.