Culling - Is This Humane?

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=147192

I tried this for culling a few deformed chicks, worked wonderfully and I do not believe the poor chicks suffered.

Here is also a link on the whole subject as well: http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia

 

[Uzuri]

Quote:
Around here it's difficult to find someone to do it

We had a rabbit that was jumped on by another rabbit and had its back broken, and finding anyone that would even look at it, let alone put it down was a real trick. And rabbits are more widely accepted as fitting firmly in the "pets" vs "non-pets" category. I can only imagine how difficult finding someone to take care of a chicken would be

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
I'm sorry, but that's really harsh. Most people who keep chickens must learn to take care of most of their needs themselves. It's not possible, feasible, practical, or necessary to run every sick or injured chicken to a veterinarian. That's one reason for these forums, for us to learn the best ways to care for our chickens by ourselves. This used to be common knowledge in our culture. How many homesteaders hitched up the team to carry a sick chicken into town for professional attention?

For many of us new to keeping chickens there is a lot of things we need to learn about every aspect of their care. Including all the very unpleasant but necessary tasks such as suturing, splinting, and efficient culling. In many situations that call for culling it would be more barbaric & inhumane to make the animal wait while you made an appointment with a vet, confined it to a container, drove it across town, and waited your turn in the office before it was put out of its misery.

Chihuahuamom,

and best wishes for a happy & healthy flock.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
I'm sorry, but that's really harsh. Most people who keep chickens must learn to take care of most of their needs themselves. It's not possible, feasible, practical, or necessary to run every sick or injured chicken to a veterinarian. That's one reason for these forums, for us to learn the best ways to care for our chickens by ourselves. This used to be common knowledge in our culture. How many homesteaders hitched up the team to carry a sick chicken into town for professional attention?

For many of us new to keeping chickens there is a lot of things we need to learn about every aspect of their care. Including all the very unpleasant but necessary tasks such as suturing, splinting, and efficient culling. In many situations that call for culling it would be more barbaric & inhumane to make the animal wait while you made an appointment with a vet, confined it to a container, drove it across town, and waited your turn in the office before it was put out of its misery.

Chihuahuamom,

and best wishes for a happy & healthy flock.

I agree. I think it behooves us to become as learned as we can and to handle our own business as much as we can - within reason of course. There is a time to seek professional help, but to be dependent on professional help is ...... well, it seems to me a little irresponsible. Sick chickens don't really have time to wait for veterinarians.

And please, Chihuahuamom, i hope you won't take offense. I think everyone here, including you, wants to do the very best thing for their chickens. But i feel it is a common and dangerous modern misconception that the only responsible thing to do for our animals and ourselves when it comes to healthcare - is to go running to "professionals." IMO we give professionals way too much authority and decision making ability over issues that we should have the common sense to become educated on and make decisions ourselves.

 

[Sallyschickens]

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I read the whole article. Thank you for posting this extreemly helpful information.

I hope I never have to use it, but it is good to know.

-Sally

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Okay!

Gladly! You're crazy!!!

If you cannot dispatch a little chick with your own two hands, you don't need to own one either. Vets don't sit around on the porch awaiting our call to put down a tiny chick, and a suffering animal shouldn't have to wait until one conjures up a vet who will do so.

Owning any animal comes with the responsibility of not causing undue suffering. I don't consider culling for these purposes...or any other, for that matter, as barbaric. Its life, its normal, its what is supposed to happen when an animal is suffering and has no quality of life.

Money doesn't buy the privilege of being the only people who may possess an animal. I've seen a lot of money spent on extending an animal's life far past any good quality of life.....just because you CAN pay for treatment, doesn't always mean you SHOULD.

Animals die. As long as its quick and painless, what does it matter who actually commits the act, be it owner or vet?

A real big thumbs down for the elitist attitude towards animal husbandry!

 

[KattyKillFish]

i agree. if you cant stop an animal from suffering, you shouldn't have them. it's just one of those things that come with caring for your animals. i've never lost a chick until a kept button quail though! i had to cull 2 of them. well, i didn't do it, my boyfriend did. it was a really sad day but we all felt better when i whipped up a gravestone and sprinkled bird seed around it. now thy can feed the microbes and make the grass grow as decay bodies are meant to.

it's hard to do, but sometimes it just has to be done. if you want to have animals you have to be prepared for them to pass.

 

[Emzyyy]

Baking Soda and Peroxide in a closed container I would say is the most humane.

 

[TimeMist]

This is what I use, and a wooden block (piece of firewood etc) You can't get quicker than this and it's instant. Just give the chopper a sharpen before use.

I would NEVER suffocate an animal to death, I don't care how apparently humane it is. Think about your prefered method if it were you that had to be culled

 

[nwgirl]

I fully sympathize with not wanting to cull a chick. I tried to prepare myself prior to finalizing my decision to raise chickens knowing that if I had to I would. I looked it up on uTube so I would have a better understanding plus some friends offered to help cull if we ever needed to, and I think just knowing there is someone out there who is willing to lend a guiding hand aids some relief, but of course it would still be emotional. For me it would be more emotional watching a chick suffer than to end its suffering. Try and be brave for the sake of the chick. My thoughts are with you.