Delicate Question About Culling A Goose..

[Miss Lydia]

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I understand completely Pete, I know if I was by myself and something happend then I think I could do the deed to keep my beloved goose from suffering, but thank goodness I have a husband who is stronger than me and will do the task if needed. and lets hope we are never faced with the decision.

 

[The goose girl]

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I totally agree. And I actually did use a hatchet - I just didn't know the difference between a hatchet and an axe - google is my friend.

 

[CMV]

I specially ordered an axe with an extra wide head. I used to use a standard hatchet, but it didn't do as clean a job as I had hoped it would. The extra money to specially order my current axe was worth every dime. I highly recommend them. Now, I use it on all my culls with never a worry about missing at the wrong time.

Good luck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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CMV looking at your new avatar I am thinking you have lost weight.

 

[StevenW.]

This spring I had to put down my gosling because she got her head stuck in an old metal hay feeder that was in her pen from when I had goats.
She had twisted her whole neck and her neck was broke from trying to get free. I was so sad. I had to put her out because she was screaming at the top of her lungs, I had to put her out of her misery.
I used an axe that was sharp and quickly ended it. I buried her about 4 foot deep so no predators could dig her back up and eat her.

It was the most aweful experience I have ever had in my 7 years of keeping poultry.

ETA: That hay feeder is no longer in the pen. I quickly took that out.

 

[redhen]

Thanks for all the input everyone!

Maybe we could use the axe then... it just scares me to cause them suffering..

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

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I understand

 

[Cottage Rose]

Sometimes you have to do these things.
Its not fun.

You can grab it by the legs and hit its head, as hard as you can 2 - 3 times on concrete or a large rock.
It will either be knocked out or dead with the first blow.
You can even put them into a burlap feed bag first so you don't see
the gruesomeness of the act, contains the blood and it calms the bird.
This is much easier than chopping heads off.

 

[Gyburc]

My husband has dispatched several ducks and a couple of geese (not ours) using this method:

Use a sturdy broom or broom handle. Hold the bird upside-down by the legs and lay its head and neck on the ground facing down. Place the broom-handle over the neck and stand with your feet on the handle one each side of the bird. Pull the bird sharply up towards you by the legs. This will dislocate the neck quickly and painlessly.

I have to admit I have not tried this myself, but I've seen my husband do it, and it is very quick indeed. Also, it's much less messy and distressing than decapitating the bird.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I would think it would be difficult to dispatch a goose with this method. but I'm not doubting your word, just not seeing it.