Easiest cull method

[aart]

Has anyone tried a wire garrote? Wrap once around neck, pull handles with both hands?

I haven't tried this, in fact, just thought of it. Seems like it might allow easy placement around the neck while loose?



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Well, that would take two hands, so need to have someone/something hold the bird.
...and I doubt it would be quick.

 

[ladybrasa]

Sorry, I have not read all the way through so if I’m just repeating I apologize. For gender, personally I would wait until at least 3 months when gender specific saddle feathers come in to be completely sure. From what I’ve seen and read, big or red combs, body shape, hefty legs, even some garbled crowing probably indicate male, but not 100% surety.

As far as culling, we use loppers and a cone.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Sorry, I have not read all the way through so if I’m just repeating I apologize. For gender, personally I would wait until at least 3 months when gender specific saddle feathers come in to be completely sure. From what I’ve seen and read, big or red combs, body shape, hefty legs, even some garbled crowing probably indicate male, but not 100% surety.

As far as culling, we use loppers and a cone.

Well I am glad I waited because I THINK they're all girls after all.

 

[affacat]

Well, that would take two hands, so need to have someone/something hold the bird.
...and I doubt it would be quick.

Maybe? I was thinking once lightly around the birds neck it wouldnt be able to go anywhere. I wasn't sure whether it would either be extremely effective (nearly instant, garrotes exert a lot of force and chicken nets are skinny), or a disaster... which is why I was wondering if anyone had tried it.

Edit: upon doing more research, probably a bad idea? Risk of crushing rather than cutting through.

 

[JessicaDotta]

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

I'm planning on culling my roosters from the eggs that I'm hatching. This is the method I've decided to start with. My only worry is how quick it is. Is it like in a second? Thx

 

[WestTNriverrat]

To be clear it was a duckling, about 5 weeks. Idk If ducks have stronger necks but it did not cut the head off. Instead it forced the lopers apart sideways. The loper blades are tall and strong in one dimention but thin side to side. So the blades bent out with the neck between the blades. I loped 3 times, still not dead so i loped again and twisted to break the neck. It was not a humane death in any fashion. I was very surprised it did not work. Pvc cutters are designed differently and may work. Photo so you can understand what I'm talking about.

Those look to me like shearers not lopers. Definitely would make a difference.
Don’t want to use any that look like an oversized scissor. Lopers tend to have small curved blade with a short stubby finger the blade cuts against.

Not that the op will need them since they are looking to be female.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Those look to me like shearers not lopers. Definitely would make a difference.
Don’t want to use any that look like an oversized scissor. Lopers tend to have small curved blade with a short stubby finger the blade cuts against.

Not that the op will need them since they are looking to be female.

Yes, they all ended up being pullets. We're at 11 weeks now. But I do appreciate this thread. We never know when we will have to do the humane thing for our girls and I want it to ve as pain free and fast as possible.

 

[NatJ]

I'm planning on culling my roosters from the eggs that I'm hatching. This is the method I've decided to start with. My only worry is how quick it is. Is it like in a second? Thx

The actual cut might take less than a second.

Then the body flops around for what feels like forever (probably less than 1 minute, but it can feel like a long time.)

But if the head is OFF the body, you can be sure the bird really is dead, so it is not suffering.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I'm planning on culling my roosters from the eggs that I'm hatching. This is the method I've decided to start with. My only worry is how quick it is. Is it like in a second? Thx

It should be pretty much instant. Just make sure you get a NON RATCHETING tool. I accidentally linked the ratcheting one. Good luck!

 

[Isadora]

Yes, they all ended up being pullets. We're at 11 weeks now. But I do appreciate this thread. We never know when we will have to do the humane thing for our girls and I want it to ve as pain free and fast as possible.

The way we cull our birds is to cut a small hole in the corner of an empty feed bag and put the chicken in the bag until the head sticks out. We lay them down on a wide stump and wait for them to start moving around and stretch their neck out far enough and then chop off the head with a long heavy condor machete. So far has worked very well. I've read that some other methods can be more effective for bleeding out, IE slitting the throat, but I like the finality of the head being off so I know the bird feels no pain. It makes me feel better.