Culling chicks - how do you do it?

[Mdrook]

Perhaps garden shears?

I think cervical separation is so much cleaner and less stressful

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I think cervical separation is so much cleaner and less stressful

Okay? You can do that if you want. I prefer knowing 1010% that the bird isn't still alive and removing the head is that way for me

 

[Agathe]

For chicks I hold the bird like a hammer and whack it's head against a post or table or something. It's quick, it's easy and there's no mess.

Do you need to hit hard for them to die instantly? I worry I'll just injure them if I do it this way, but it sure would be easy.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I turn them upside down and let their head hang alongside a tall cement brick, then smack the head with the side of a hammer. Then I cut the head off. My understanding is that the kindest way to kill is by harming the brain.

 

[Agathe]

View attachment 3137122

"OXO Good Grip" poultry shears. Also good for spatchcocking. Better still, they come apart for cleaning. Oh, and they are cheap.

/edit I use a SHARP! knife. But as with so much else I do, my methods are not for most.

I have a couple of these!

 

[Agathe]

We kill quail by cutting their heads off.
I bought a few different pair of garden shears. They all sucked.
Regular scissors like these two work better.
View attachment 3137117View attachment 3137118



These SUCK.View attachment 3137119

Good to know! I was thinking the shears were better, but I do have a pair of sharp scissors. I wish I had something I could practice on aside from a live chick!

 

[Agathe]

I turn them upside down and let their head hang alongside a tall cement brick, then smack the head with the side of a hammer. Then I cut the head off. My understanding is that the kindest way to kill is by harming the brain.

That is a very good suggestion! Do the chicks stay still when you hold them upside down? I wonder if a rock might do the same trick as a hammer...

 

[raingarden]

Do you need to hit hard for them to die instantly? I worry I'll just injure them if I do it this way, but it sure would be easy.

It doesn't have to be hard at all. One whack and it's out cold and probably dead. I usually whack it several times just to make sure.

Hit the head from the side. If you hit it from the back the beak will fly around and poke your hand.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

View attachment 3137122

"OXO Good Grip" poultry shears. Also good for spatchcocking. Better still, they come apart for cleaning. Oh, and they are cheap.

/edit I use a SHARP! knife. But as with so much else I do, my methods are not for most.

These are amazing, picked some up but a different brand for £10 and there's no resistance when you cut, just one clean cut. Amazing purchase.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

My friend taught me his way to cull quail which I'd assume works for chicks, it is to hold the bird in your left hand and grab the head in your right hand and literally pull it off. It is crazy how easy it is to separate the two and if done properly I don't see how it's different to cutting their head off.