Chick suffering

[CashmereSussex]

DONT FORCE WATER OR ANY LIQUID IN! it can cause water on the lungs and they can die from it

 

[MTchick]

The euthanasia question has come up before, but I can sum up;

Chicks can quickly be killed by having their spinal cords dislocated from with firm upward pressure at the base of the skull. This is "cervical dislocation." Done right it is really quick, simple, and easy. Done wrong and you'll be upset with yourself for hurting the chick and failing to kill it cleanly- so there are alternatives if that worries you.

You can place the chick in a very lightweight cloth bag (pillowcase), tie it shut, and put it in the freezer. The chick will quickly fall asleep and die of hypothermia in the cold. Leave it in there a long time (an hour) so that you don't torture it by half "saving it" via pulling it out of the freezer while it is hypothermic but not truly dead.

You can asphixiate the chick in a closed container and some lighter fluid or similar very strong vapor. Soak a rag in the fluid, place the rag in the container and shut it tightly, wait five minutes, then place the chick in the container quickly and shut the lid. The chick will pass out pretty rapidly and cease breathing within a minute or two. Letting the vapors build up for the 5 minutes before you put the chick in is more humane because the chick dies more quickly.

Adult hens are best put down via cutting off their heads swiftly. Wrapping the body of the hen tightly or placing it in a "killing cone" will keep it from struggling and potentially making your job more unpleasant than it already is.

Adult hens can also be killed with cervical dislocation but they are far stronger and so different techniques and/or angles are needed. You should have someone else show you how to do this before you attempt it on an adult bird.

I've put down lots of birds for various reasons (although never a backyard chicken) and I've used all these methods at different times. They are all humane, rapid, and simple. You just need to figure out what you are able to do correctly and quickly so that you can feel like you did the best for your bird.

-MTchick

 

[MoonGoddess]

Mtchick,
I really appreciate the information. I know how sensitive a subject it is, but I really felt I needed to know.
~Jennifer

 

[MuranoFarms]

Quote:
Freezing to death is not humane, it's simply cruel. The best way to dispose of a very young chick is to simply snip the head off with a sharp pair of kitchen shears.

I'm sorry that you're going through this

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I also use kitchen shears for young chicks.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I agree with Murano. I can't see how suffocation and hypothermia is a preferable way to die.

Cervical dislocation or simply snipping the head off is instant.

teachumusic, i'm so sorry about your chicks.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
Freezing to death is not humane, it's simply cruel. The best way to dispose of a very young chick is to simply snip the head off with a sharp pair of kitchen shears.

I'm sorry that you're going through this

It is hard on us humans, but the most humane, quickest and kindest way to dispose of the chick is shears.




I am sorry you are going thru this heartbreak. Do you have any PolyViSol (without iron) vitamins? Infant formula found in the Rx department - if you have them, dribble a drop along the beak line of the sick chicks - give them three drops each for a couple days (when you dripple along the beak, the chick will/should swallow on its own). Also scramble or hard boil some eggs for a quick protien pick up for the chicks.