Culling Baby Chicks

[jenlt]

Hi Everyone -

This isn't really a question, just want to share my recent experience.

I don't know if you'd call me a veteran or not, I've been keeping chickens for 9 years, on my 3 addition to the original flock. One of the original is still alive & kicking.

I had to put down a baby chick, 5 weeks old. Where I am, it's next to impossible to find a chicken vet, the closest is more than 2 hours away & it's pretty pricey.

She wasn't as active as the others, but was a Buff Orphington, past experience with the breed is they are fairly docile, so I really didn't think much of it, until I started putting them in the coop, blocked off from the bigger chicks, on warm days to start acclimating them.

I noticed she was standing funny, one leg like a kickstand. Thought, maybe splay leg, but so late? Started trying all the different things to do with splay leg about a week ago. No matter the process, she would get it off, except for the hair tie with the straw, but that didn't seem to do anything. The other thing was, when I'd pull her legs together, I could hear a loud pop.

She still ate, drank, hopped, not walked around & seemed pretty happy.

I gave up on Monday & was going to have my stepdad do the deed, but he lives in another town & wasn't going to be here until Saturday. The problem seemed to be in the thigh area & by yesterday afternoon, her leg was turned all the way around the opposite direction & was no longer hopping, just kinda flopping around to move.

I looked at a number of forums on how to cull in the must humane way, the least stressful, etc. Well, at least the least stressful for the chick, because it was stressful to me, just having to consider doing this myself.

There are many options out there & I opted to do the CO2, using vinegar & baking soda. I followed the instructions given, even tested out how much would be needed to not overflow all over the chick.

I used a tall rubbermaid container & a large tupperware glass. The amount in the large cup was more than indicated on sites, so I felt pretty confident this would be the best way.

From the experience I had, I wouldn't call this humane, at all.

Before I even started, I was crying & wailing.

I knew from the beginning I couldn't be near as the deed was done, so after I closed the lid I walked away. I could hear insistent pecking on the container immediately & had to go to the back of the house. Waited 10 minutes, expecting the deed to be done.

Although the chick appeared dead, laying on the ground, eyes closed, she wasn't, she was gasping for air really badly. This had me crying even harder & gasping for air myself, as I could see this was not as humane as folks claim. I walked away again. Came back another 10 minutes later. Now, the chick was no longer laying on the ground gasping, she was standing up, eyes closed, head all the way back on her back & still gasping. That was 20 minutes of torture.

I had to take her out & break her neck, I pulled on it 3 times & hope it actually accomplished the deed. Just to make sure, I put her in a ziplock in the freezer. This was a horrible way to die.

Honestly, it would have just been better to have broken her neck to begin with.

The incident keeps playing over & over again in my mind, as I feel like this was complete torture.

Not sure if anyone else has experienced this or not, just want to get it out there so others don't go through the same thing, others meaning chicks mostly, but it was very traumatizing to me as well.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I'm sorry it didn't end well for either of you! That must have been horrible to see. I'll be praying for you!

 

[Juniper2]

o no im sorry you had to do that

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We just do a quick snip with a pair of clippers

 

[writerskramp]

.22 in the back of the head is not my preference, but it works,, Chopping block would be more humane.. My 1896 Grandfather just snapped them up and gave a twist, probably better.. So you are saying you have PTSD or the gold ring on the Merry-Go-Round.. CPTSD. As one who relishes CPTSD. This is life. short for death.. Animal, Vegetable or Mineral.. not anything you can do about it.. It's just life. Get over it as it has been so recommended to me.. Seriously, it's an animal, not fellow man. You can do it.

 

[LavinmyBasket]

Hi Everyone -

This isn't really a question, just want to share my recent experience.

I don't know if you'd call me a veteran or not, I've been keeping chickens for 9 years, on my 3 addition to the original flock. One of the original is still alive & kicking.

I had to put down a baby chick, 5 weeks old. Where I am, it's next to impossible to find a chicken vet, the closest is more than 2 hours away & it's pretty pricey.

She wasn't as active as the others, but was a Buff Orphington, past experience with the breed is they are fairly docile, so I really didn't think much of it, until I started putting them in the coop, blocked off from the bigger chicks, on warm days to start acclimating them.

I noticed she was standing funny, one leg like a kickstand. Thought, maybe splay leg, but so late? Started trying all the different things to do with splay leg about a week ago. No matter the process, she would get it off, except for the hair tie with the straw, but that didn't seem to do anything. The other thing was, when I'd pull her legs together, I could hear a loud pop.

She still ate, drank, hopped, not walked around & seemed pretty happy.

I gave up on Monday & was going to have my stepdad do the deed, but he lives in another town & wasn't going to be here until Saturday. The problem seemed to be in the thigh area & by yesterday afternoon, her leg was turned all the way around the opposite direction & was no longer hopping, just kinda flopping around to move.

I looked at a number of forums on how to cull in the must humane way, the least stressful, etc. Well, at least the least stressful for the chick, because it was stressful to me, just having to consider doing this myself.

There are many options out there & I opted to do the CO2, using vinegar & baking soda. I followed the instructions given, even tested out how much would be needed to not overflow all over the chick.

I used a tall rubbermaid container & a large tupperware glass. The amount in the large cup was more than indicated on sites, so I felt pretty confident this would be the best way.

From the experience I had, I wouldn't call this humane, at all.

Before I even started, I was crying & wailing.

I knew from the beginning I couldn't be near as the deed was done, so after I closed the lid I walked away. I could hear insistent pecking on the container immediately & had to go to the back of the house. Waited 10 minutes, expecting the deed to be done.

Although the chick appeared dead, laying on the ground, eyes closed, she wasn't, she was gasping for air really badly. This had me crying even harder & gasping for air myself, as I could see this was not as humane as folks claim. I walked away again. Came back another 10 minutes later. Now, the chick was no longer laying on the ground gasping, she was standing up, eyes closed, head all the way back on her back & still gasping. That was 20 minutes of torture.

I had to take her out & break her neck, I pulled on it 3 times & hope it actually accomplished the deed. Just to make sure, I put her in a ziplock in the freezer. This was a horrible way to die.

Honestly, it would have just been better to have broken her neck to begin with.

The incident keeps playing over & over again in my mind, as I feel like this was complete torture.

Not sure if anyone else has experienced this or not, just want to get it out there so others don't go through the same thing, others meaning chicks mostly, but it was very traumatizing to me as well.

I am so sorry this happened. I’m sure it was difficult to relive this through your post, but thank you for your honesty. I hope that this helps prevent someone else from experiencing the same. (((Hugs)))

 

[neo71665]

Just use my pocketknife on a tree stump. Small chicks are a treat for my pet coons.

I started butchering livestock when I was 7 or 8 but have been around it my whole life.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I see this is a little bit older post. Personally I'd just cut their heads off because it's instant death.

I bawled and shook like crazy the first time I killed a rooster and had flashbacks for days and days afterwards. I don't regret what I did though because I believe I was doing the right thing. I believe you were doing the right thing, too. I hope the flashbacks have subsided. So sorry you had to do this.

 

[MissE]

I have chick that hatched yesterday. It has wry neck. Trying to keep it in a container so it stays upright and under the brooder lamp. Treating it with NutriDrench drops on its beak. It's ok for another day or so without food and water, but if it's not better by the time it needs to start eating and drinking, I will need to cull it. Taking off their head is the fastest, most humane way I've found, no matter if it's a day old chick, a meat bird on processing day, agressive rooster, or a sick hen.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I have chick that hatched yesterday. It has wry neck. Trying to keep it in a container so it stays upright and under the brooder lamp. Treating it with NutriDrench drops on its beak. It's ok for another day or so without food and water, but if it's not better by the time it needs to start eating and drinking, I will need to cull it. Taking off their head is the fastest, most humane way I've found, no matter if it's a day old chick, a meat bird on processing day, agressive rooster, or a sick hen.

I wish you the best of luck. I hope your chick recovers.