Culling/Euthanizing for those who "can't" break a neck?

[cracked1]

DISCLAMER: I don't know if this will be offensive to anyone out there. I can understand if it is. If there is any issue with this post I will edit/remove it.

Ok...... I've been wrestling with this in my mind for awhile. I recently saw a post asking about the easiest, most humane way to cull a bird and I think the general consensus was a quick neck break. From what I understand there are many people who just can't bring themselves to do it. This started a discussion with a local lady who is very intelligent and very experienced with farm/ranch animals. She said that for those people she tells them to put the bird in a garbage bag and attach the bag to the exhaust of a running vehicle. Suposedly it's the same as when people do it... The chicken just kind of nods off. I'm told it's pretty peaceful.

Like I said, I've been struggling with this. I'm not too sure if it's a good thing or if it's really horrible... Any thoughts out there?

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I've wondered about this, too. I don't think I would be able to break the neck of on of our chickens if I needed too, but I'm not sure I'd be able to cull them with an exhaust pipe, either. For one, it can't be too easy to get the bird into a garbage bag without a lot of squawking and flapping (depending on how injured the bird is).
Maybe there is some way to cull using whatever vets use. It seems that method is the least traumatic.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Honestly and I say this with respect... That would be a HORRIBLE death in my eyes.. To be put in a bag , dark, frightened, then smell the exhaust from the vehicle and to slowly feel your lungs not getting enough air. I get a headache almost instantly just sitting at a light behind an exhausty car, so I can only imagine that their may be pain involvoed, plus what if it doesnt work ???? What if after 30 minutes you go out and the chicken IS floppy around and trying to get out, what if she is only knocked out and then when she comes too has major brain damage from oxygen depravation, she cant remeber how to walk or eat... I know it is graphic but thats what is needed to show others that these alternatives are not as humane as simply severing the spinal cord.. Beleive me last year ihad a very hard time killing anything, but as a responsible chicken owner I understood that the time would come when i would have to end an animals suffering...

If its a chick just hit its head very hard and then snip off with scissors.. if its a hen you can stun them with a blow to the head then remove with a hatchet.. Please do not suffocate an animla to death it it cruel ...

 

[CoopCrazy]

The Chickens' Maid :

I've wondered about this, too. I don't think I would be able to break the neck of on of our chickens if I needed too, but I'm not sure I'd be able to cull them with an exhaust pipe, either. For one, it can't be too easy to get the bird into a garbage bag without a lot of squawking and flapping (depending on how injured the bird is).
Maybe there is some way to cull using whatever vets use. It seems that method is the least traumatic.

Vets use a mixture of sedatives that cause a lethal reaction.. You can not purchase these items and a hatchet is much kinder then you trying to find the heart or a vein in a chicken ...​

 

[farmgirls]

Hi, I have been reading these posts as we are new to raising chickens. I will be honest with you and didn't even know what "cull" meant. Anyway, my husband and I have talked about what to do if one needed to be put down. Honestly, we still don't know. Probably call a farmer friend. Neither one of us want to do it. I know we will eventually be better at dealing with sickness and death but I am thankful to have this discussion with all of you. Don't they have some kind of drug or something. Bet all the farmers will get a good chuckle over that one.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Cull does not mean kill. Cull means to select, usually select to remove. You can cull a hen from your breeding flock and still have it in your laying flock. You can cull a rooster from your flock by giving it to someone else who may let it live. Or you can cull a chicken by killing it. Many people cull chickens without killing them. Many people do use cull and kill interchangably, but that is not always correct.

To me, the most humane way to kill a chicken is the way that you can do that is quick and sure. That is going to be different for different ones of us. I personally use an axe and a chopping block, but I grew up chopping firewood, splitting wood for kindling, clearing brush, and butchering chickens with an axe. If you are not used to handling an axe, especially one-handed while the other is holding the chicken, that method may not be quick and sure. A hatchet is a lot lighter and easier to handle for a lot of people. You can put the chicken's neck under a broomstick, stand on the broomstick, and jerk the chicken upward, breaking the neck. Maybe bolt-cutters are the way to go. You can hang a chicken up-side-down and cut its throat with a sharp knife if you can force yourself to get a good slice. I think I would have trouble with that one.

Whatever method you choose, look at is from the chickens viewpoint of making it quick and sure. As long as you do the best you can with your abilities and limitations, I am not going to judge you on how you do it.

I'm sure there are other ways to go about it. Sometimes being an animal owner, whether pet or livestock, requires us to make decisions or do things that are not pleasant or easy. Responsible animal owners make themselves do what is necessary.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

In terms of the carbon dioxide method, I have no insight for you Cracked1 but I hope you get some answers to your question. Good luck finding what works for you. It's never easy regardless of the chosen technique.

 

[cracked1]

Thanks everyone! Personaly I'm more of a quick neck snap/hatchet method person... I just had to get more input on this. I'm pretty much with CoopCrazy on this in that I'm leaning towards the "it's horrible" side. I also thought about the chicken not dying and coming out to find it had woken back up and now has more issues.

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
Me too, If you have a Hatchet, You KNOW You Killed it.

Quote:
There Is NOTHING Humane about euthanizing in the first place, (In my opinion) But i don't like that method either.

 

[gumpsgirl]

After having to cull/dispatch numerous chicks a few years ago, I honestly just cannot break necks anymore. That did me in. The only way I can cull/dispatch birds any more is to use Ether, which is found in vehicle starter fluid. I spray, almost saturate, a paper towel put in a zip lock baggie (size depends on the size of bird you are having to cull) and zip the bird up inside of it. It usually takes about 5 minutes and they peacefully just go to sleep. I hold them until they are gone and then my kids give them a burial. All life is precious in my eyes and it's never easy for me to have to take a life from any creature, but when it is necessary, this is the easiest way for me to do it.