Euthanizing chickens, least violent way?

[secuono]

I know you can use starter fluid, but is there anything else you can use?

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
Personally, I think that suffocating them with a noxious gas is extremely violent. If you don't want to use an ax, I suggest taking them to the vet for a simple injection.

 

[secuono]

Yea, that's why I'm asking, I'm just finding out that starter fluid isn't that great.
I found something called a chicken dispatcher. Anyone know if you can buy it in the USA?
"It mounts to a sturdy garage or barn wall. Insert then neck of the chicken into the U-shaped gap and pull the lever down quickly and sharply. This will break the neck of the bird, sever the spinal cord, yet keep the chicken from bleeding externally, because it doesn’t remove the head. An adjusting screw is provided to regulate the gap from one size or type of bird to another. "

 

[MOChickenz]

I use a hatchet.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I would keep the ether based starter spray for CHICKS.

Trying to use it with mature birds is going to be problematic.

An axe and a stump works very well if the axe is at all sharp and you don't hesitate at the moment of truth.

 

[ChickiKat]

we have only had to cull one girl so far, my DH used a big stick, swung it like a baseball bat... one swift strike and it was over.

 

[BarefootMom]

This may be gruesome but Stepping on their heads and pulling seems to be the quickest we have found. It can be done by one person and doesn't require help as the hatchet did. Especially if you are doing several of them.

 

[brkuk]

This is never a fun venture but I use a very sharp knife to the neck with a feed bag very close. It sucks no matter what you do.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
I found that a firm grasp of the head and a quick swing worked really well too (learned from a LONG time breeder). AND I was happily surprised to see there was MUCH less flopping and twitching than there is when you decapitate.

For chicks, I prefer a sharp pair of shears. I can't bring myself to suffocate an animal, no matter what they are or how young / small.

 

[ChickiKat]

suffocation just sounds so wrong!!!