Do you ever get used to "putting down" a baby chick?

[Rancho Libertad]

So far I have not had a sick chick, but I did get one that could not stand up. I red about the rubber band method on the legs, but decided not to try. The babies (any baby) just breaks my heart. Had to put down one of our puppies once, and so I paid the Vet his $40. ;(

 

[Avalon1984]

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I did do it with my own hands and I wouldn’t do the freezer method. I have had to kill several chickens but the chicks get to me. I just feel sad about it and wondered if others feel like that too…

 

[Avalon1984]

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That's terrible! We have an ailing old barn cat and I think I may have to put her down soon as well...

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

I had to put down a baby silkie this morning, its legs were all messed up and wouldn't bend properly. The other chicks were walking all over it so I just took a pair of scissors and did what needed to be done. Its gets easier everytime, at least for me.

 

[Avalon1984]

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I am not quite there yet. This was my 3rd or 4th baby chick I believe. I still feel awful afterward.

 

[NateinFL]

This is the worst part of raising chickens IMO. I had to put a badly deformed chick down, I just put her in a pre-dug hole and shot her with a .22 short bullet and walked away. Very sad.

 

[Dunkopf]

I've always heard a wood chipper is the best way. That's how they did it in the Sopranos.

Actually I usually use ether (starting fluid from NAPA in a spray can) sprayed on a paper towel thrown in a 1 gallon zip lock bag with the chick. Always careful to spray the ether on a paper towel and not let the wet part touch the chick because it supposedly can burn. They just go to sleep.

I save the wood chipper for 2 legged predators.

 

[Redcatcher]

I use ether (a spray can of starting fluid works). Soak a couple of cotton balls and place them in small ziploc bag with the chick. It is much quicker than the freezer method and I think using the scissor method is both bloody and bordering cruel. While it is relatively quick, there is enough oxygen in the brain for it to feel pain for a minute or so.

 

[Avalon1984]

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I think it depends on each and every person and there has been plenty of discussions of which method is the best. I did not intend this thread to turn into such a discussion, I was merely wanting to hear what other people felt like after doing the deed. I have not tried the ether method yet and rely on both good and bad that I have heard about it and I am not planning on using it. Scissor method has worked fast for me in the past and I don’t feel that it is cruel at all, at least not crueler than any of the other methods. Just because there is no blood doesn’t mean there is no suffering. I would like to shoot it but quite honestly I am not sure if I’d have a good aim being emotional and all. But I have used it successfully for adult chickens in the past. Wood chipper makes me shudder a little bit. But then again, if it works for the Sopranos

 

[Dunkopf]

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I think it depends on each and every person and there has been plenty of discussions of which method is the best. I did not intend this thread to turn into such a discussion, I was merely wanting to hear what other people felt like after doing the deed. I have not tried the ether method yet and rely on both good and bad that I have heard about it and I am not planning on using it. Scissor method has worked fast for me in the past and I don’t feel that it is cruel at all, at least not crueler than any of the other methods. Just because there is no blood doesn’t mean there is no suffering. I would like to shoot it but quite honestly I am not sure if I’d have a good aim being emotional and all. But I have used it successfully for adult chickens in the past. Wood chipper makes me shudder a little bit. But then again, if it works for the Sopranos

If you shoot it a shotgun might be more effective for you.

The spraddle leg chicks are harder than the ones that are just dying for unknown reasons. The spraddles look ok except they can't walk. The others look like they need to be put out of their misery.