I had used deer netting to create a temporary run for my birds while I began working on the permanent. In fact, I had finished 1/2 of the wire mesh last night and had one more side that was still deer netting to go. I went up to let out my chickens and then sat watching them for a while, and I saw movement on the ground on the back of the run. I could tell immediately that something was stuck in the netting where it pools a bit near the ground.
It was a bird. Its neck was completely stuck in one hole of the netting as was the top of its wing, its beak, and its foot. I ran and got scissors and gently cut it free. It could flap, but seemed limp, so I brought it in to give it some water, check it over, and so forth. I thought perhaps I would dip his beak in water like the chicks, but its head was just hanging. Don't be mad, but I gently moved the bird from side to side, and its head just hung and swung. Its neck was broken, although its spinal cord was still intact and able to move the body.
I looked it up on the internet, and basically, it said to put it down. I had read http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/ in the incubation or chick care section here and thought it was the most gentle way.
Now, let me say, I have never killed something before. I'm a bleeding heart vegetarian. The poor thing was so beautiful.
I didn't have time to do it right, really, with tubes and all, because it was actively dying and possibly in pain. It looked worse by the minute. I put some paper towels in a plastic container, put in a disposable cup with about half an inch of baking soda, and move the bird in. It was unresponsive by then, but still alive, probably in shock. I pressed down about 3/4 of the lid, but was able to bend the pliable lid back and pour some vinegar in the cup. It foamed over the sides and onto the bottom! I felt terrible - it didn't want to be wet! I quickly opened and lifted it out until it slowed, then put it in and poured a bit more vinegar and closed the lid. I am hoping that my mistake actually made the level of CO2 more gradual...
But the bird never moved. It was too far gone. When I took it out, it was in rigor mortis, I guess, with its feet sticking straight out.
I feel so guilty. I caused its death, not only directly when I tried to spare it some pain, but indirectly by setting up that stupid netting. I am also wondering now if I should have just left it alone once it was in shock - I don't think you feel pain beyond that point. I don't know.
Anyhow, tears keep rising and I feel awful.
I know I was at fault beforehand, and I don't know if I added to that fault or not...
It was a bird. Its neck was completely stuck in one hole of the netting as was the top of its wing, its beak, and its foot. I ran and got scissors and gently cut it free. It could flap, but seemed limp, so I brought it in to give it some water, check it over, and so forth. I thought perhaps I would dip his beak in water like the chicks, but its head was just hanging. Don't be mad, but I gently moved the bird from side to side, and its head just hung and swung. Its neck was broken, although its spinal cord was still intact and able to move the body.
I looked it up on the internet, and basically, it said to put it down. I had read http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/ in the incubation or chick care section here and thought it was the most gentle way.
Now, let me say, I have never killed something before. I'm a bleeding heart vegetarian. The poor thing was so beautiful.
I didn't have time to do it right, really, with tubes and all, because it was actively dying and possibly in pain. It looked worse by the minute. I put some paper towels in a plastic container, put in a disposable cup with about half an inch of baking soda, and move the bird in. It was unresponsive by then, but still alive, probably in shock. I pressed down about 3/4 of the lid, but was able to bend the pliable lid back and pour some vinegar in the cup. It foamed over the sides and onto the bottom! I felt terrible - it didn't want to be wet! I quickly opened and lifted it out until it slowed, then put it in and poured a bit more vinegar and closed the lid. I am hoping that my mistake actually made the level of CO2 more gradual...
But the bird never moved. It was too far gone. When I took it out, it was in rigor mortis, I guess, with its feet sticking straight out.
I feel so guilty. I caused its death, not only directly when I tried to spare it some pain, but indirectly by setting up that stupid netting. I am also wondering now if I should have just left it alone once it was in shock - I don't think you feel pain beyond that point. I don't know.
Anyhow, tears keep rising and I feel awful.
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