Easiest cull method

[Mamatomany123]

Not sure if this is the correct forum to post but thought you all would have the most knowledge. 7 weeks ago I got 4 chicks from a breeder. Now it looks like I possibly have at least 1, if not more, cockerels. I cant have boys. Ethically I can not sell them or give them away as after I integrated then with my older girls I quickly found out they were Mg carriers and had infected my entire flock. If they end up males then I am very tempted to drive to the breeders house and just drop them off but not sure if I'll actually do that. If I choose to cull them, what age and best,fastest and most humane method would that be? I've never culled before and dont want them to be in any pain.

 

[nuthatched]

The quickest and surest method is the hatchet

 

[Tre3hugger]

If you are not going to eat them, do it as soon as possible. I recommend lopping their head off with a pruning shear/branch lopper. It's very hard to mess up, the head comes right off. PVC cutter works well too I have heard. https://www.harborfreight.com/finge...mrPH3lgepxQ0OqW7dVR4BhU5ZS-S_R08aAjijEALw_wcB

 

[NatJ]

You can cull at any age.
You can eat their meat at any age, too.
(Some people eat quail, some eat pigeons, I sometimes eat small chickens.)

I'm another one who cuts the head off, with a hatchet or machete. One quick cut is all it takes.

I have read that the chicken (the brain) goes unconscious very quickly after the head is removed, at which point it's not feeling anything.

The body always seems to flap around after the chicken is killed, but having the head OFF helps me know I did the job right.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I just want to be sure they are in fact males before I do it. No one is crowing yet and I'm still not 100% based off of comb.

 

[NatJ]

I just want to be sure they are in fact males before I do it. No one is crowing yet and I'm still not 100% based off of comb.

That makes perfect sense.

If you do butcher them, you can check the gender at the same time. Obviously, testicles = male. (chickens keep their reproductive organs up inside the middle of their back.)

Confirming the gender usually makes me feel better, because no amount of waiting would have turned him into a her.

 

[Molpet]

If you are not going to eat them, do it as soon as possible. I recommend lopping their head off with a pruning shear/branch lopper. It's very hard to mess up, the head comes right off. PVC cutter works well too I have heard. https://www.harborfreight.com/finger-release-ratcheting-pvc-cutter-62588.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNzEwNzAxMzEiLCJza3UiOiI2MjU4OCIsImlzIjoiNy4xOTEifQ==&cid=paid_google|||62588&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1pyCBhCtARIsAHaY_5dUrxfoaQNcA8fAqptYGKumrPH3lgepxQ0OqW7dVR4BhU5ZS-S_R08aAjijEALw_wcB

Noooo that's a ratching pvc cutter.
Need a non ratching
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-...30m6d1jeersn6aqQrAEaAsGMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Mamatomany123]

That makes perfect sense.

If you do butcher them, you can check the gender at the same time. Obviously, testicles = male. (chickens keep their reproductive organs up inside the middle of their back.)

Confirming the gender usually makes me feel better, because no amount of waiting would have turned him into a her.

I'll have to look up how to do that. I have this. I know it overkill but would definitely do the job. Would probably just need someone to hold the chicken while I cut.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Heres the chicks in question. I'm lea nk ing #1 and 4 being cockerels. The others I'm not sure of

 

[Molpet]

I use a cut up kitty litter jug as a cone.
I tape the ankles
Head out the cut off spout, which doesn't show well in this picture