Culling Deformed 5 week pullet

[Mama_Arty]

Hey everyone. So we got some chicks at the end of November. Bramahs, I'm very excited to watch grow. They came with a free friend. I can't remember which hatchery but it's one of the big ones.

Well the little freebie is an Easter egger but it's got a Deformed beak. It's not scissor beak. More of a really bad over bite and a short chin... if that makes sense. Seriously has a chin like the bobs burgers characters.

Anywho, I scoured the forums and found a post on someone with the same looking deformity. Their bird died. As did the other few people who had birds with this issue who posted after that member.

I can tell she's not getting enough food. Her crop is indistinguishable, she's small and kind of ragged looking. I doubt she's able to drink proper.

I'm not in the business of starving animals to death. So I just need to know how to cull a youngster. I Don't have a kill cone... I can probably fashion one from supplies at the barn if that's the best option.

I'll likely be assisting my husband.

Also, how far away from other birds should it be done. I don't know if they'll acknowledge what's going on. The barn is a quarter mile from the coop. So I could do it there.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brooks_]

Broomstick method. I do mine out of sight, but have read that the birds don't care/get over it quickly. Chasing to catch is what stresses the flock. Pull off roost in the early morning or put in a cage the night before.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Your other birds wont notice nor care so should be fine

 

[Mama_Arty]

Broomstick method. I do mine out of sight, but have read that the birds don't care/get over it quickly. Chasing to catch is what stresses the flock. Pull off roost in the early morning or put in a cage the night before.

Thank you. Luckily with the cold snap these little ones are still waiting to venture to the coop. She's not even fully feathered yet, so I can just scoop her out of the brooder.

 

[Brooks_]

PVC cutters are another common suggestion. SHARP ones, not the old used ones.

 

[Mama_Arty]

PVC cutters are another common suggestion. SHARP ones, not the old used ones.

Noted. My husband does like an excuse to go to the hardware store lol. And we don't have PVC cutters... yet

 

[Sussex19]

Broomstick work well for me.
Just be aware if its your first time doing it, that the head can come of which is a bit more messy.
I know most people say that the other chickens don't care, but I have not found that to be the case. I always do it out of sight, but if they hear the flapping they get pretty upset. But then, they also get over it pretty quickly.

 

[Sally PB]

Sorry you and the little one have to go through this. Fly high and free, little bird! Rest in Peace.

 

[Mama_Arty]

Thanks everyone. My husband underwent some advanced survival training while in the military and one thing they learned was cervical detachment for rabbits. He played executioner for me today and put the wee one out of its suffering. Everything went smoothly

 

[Brooks_]

Everything went smoothly

That's the best way.