Culling a hen

[zDoc]

Can you cull a full grown hen with either and if so, is this a humane way?

 

[CMV]

Yes. It's used fairly often. The debate of whether it is humane or not has been an ongoing one for as long as I've been here. I don't see why it wouldn't be humane, but it isn't as quick as you'd guess it would be. Cervical dislocation is still the primary choice for culling.

Sorry for your decision. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[zDoc]

One of my girls was beat up horrably by the others and seems to be suffering. I have her in a kennel in the basement of my house now, but she's not eating. And there's no way she could ever go back with the other girls even if I could bring her back to health.

I was thinking of putting her in a small rubber made container and spray some either on a paper towel and putting it inside a small butter container with holes in it. Then placing it inside the rubber made container. Do you think that would work? I feel really bad for her.

 

[CMV]

It takes quite a lot of ether fumes to do the job. It also takes quite a while to work. It should work, but how long it will take is unpredictable. I would still recommend cervical dislocation over ether. Ether is easier for us, but cervical dislocation is quicker for the bird. (This is the crux of the debate over whether ether is humane or not.) A quick snap of the neck or decapitation by hatchet, and it's over. She will never know what's coming, so it's over before she'll know what has happened. Perhaps you could knock her out with the ether then quickly snap her neck? Then you have anesthetized her so she won't feel anything.

I am sorry for you and your bird. Tough call.