Ether to cull a chick

[OregonHoneyBee]

Hello everyone! I am brand new here. I bought a little giant still
air incubator last month and gave it my first go. I did the dry incubation method. I set 13 eggs. They were due to hatch tmrw. But so far we have 6 healthy chicks in the brooder, 5 in the incubator still of which 3 have externally piped. And awaiting the remaining 2. Our 8th born was deformed. His insides were outside. I couldn't bring myself to cut off his head. So I researched the ether method. I just want to say this for anyone in the same situation. Hopefully it will help you decide. But I would not recommend this method to anyone. I used alot so I know I did it correctly. But our chick did not go quick as all of my reaserch assured me she would. She gasped for air for about 5 minutes. Im sorry I know that's graphic. But if another chick needs culled I will step up and cut its head off quickly. For anyone considering using ether, dont. Our chick suffered.

 

[Abriana]

Welcome to BackyardChickens!
I'm really sorry about your chick!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I want to say Welcome here I am sorry why your here but happy you are

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to Backyardchickens.com aka BYC!
We are so glad you joined our flock.
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
Sorry about you chicks,
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

 

[OregonHoneyBee]

Thank you all so much! Out of 13 we have 11 healthy chicks. 10 black barred rocks and one white with black spots (im stumped). I culled one and another died after hatching for reasons unknown. All in all id say it was a good turn out for my first try! 100% hatch rate!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Welcome to the flock, and thank you for sharing such important information.

 

[John2510]

I've had to kill two small birds in nature, whose injuries were not survivable. One was hit by a car. The other had a badly broken leg.

In each case, I found something very large and heavy, and killed them instantly by crushing them - targeting their heads.

While that wouldn't be a good way to euthanize an adult bird, I would think it the most effective way to deal with a suffering chick.

You can complete the process in a few minutes, versus letting the chick suffer while you set up an alternative. Ending their suffering quickly should be the primary goal.

I hope what I've said doesn't sound cruel or heartless. It comes from the opposite place. When you care for animals, you have to make some difficult choices and take difficult actions.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

Question: Would curved pruning shears work to cut off a chick's head if the chick were still small enough? Just gathering information in case I'm ever in that spot.

 

[John2510]

Question: Would curved pruning shears work to cut off a chick's head if the chick were still small enough? Just gathering information in case I'm ever in that spot.

I've seen others suggest that works. I have a pair of the long-handled ones that work on small tree limbs, so I'm sure they'd work on any sized chicken.

Though I haven't seen it discussed, I would think (in the appropriate environment) a shotgun would work quite well. The bird would be dead before it could know what was happening. I'm not entirely sure that's the case with decapitation.