Help! How do I euthenize in Gainesville??

[cassle]

I have a chicken that was wounded by my rooster - a deap gash on her shoulder. I seperated her, cleaned the wound and started her on antibiotics. She seemed to be doing fine - walking around, eating and pooping. I checked on her last night and her wound looked diff and it looks like there is a bone sticking out of the wounded area. Im pretty sure it is but the wound is so awful with scabs and creveses that i dont understand. Not sure if they are wounds or a natural crease full of scabs. Anyway, i dont think i can save her and i know that broken bones are horribly painful so I think it is best to euthenize her - although shes walking around and eating as if nothing is wrong. Ive heard that chickens hide their pain bc if they appear weak the other chickens will attack them. Its so wierd- i dont understand how she could have broken her bone. Ive read about at home euthenizing but it sounds so hokey and i dont want her to suffer. Ive been caring for her for more than 2 weeks and im pretty distraught. Im going to call the humane society to see if they can euthenize her but thought id post here and see if anyone can give me some advise - either how to help her or how/where to euthenize her. I live in Gainesville, Florida.

 

[sourland]

Hens generally heal well from such wounds - it takes time. As long as she is trying to survive, I would give her the chance. Apply antibiotic ointment and monitor for fly strike.

 

[swamphiker]

If you have made up your mind to euthanize her, do you think you could do it yourself? It can be a pretty quick process either through cervical dislocation or slitting the throat.

Also, I am also in Gainesville FL! Hi neighbor.

 

[cassle]

If you have made up your mind to euthanize her, do you think you could do it yourself? It can be a pretty quick process either through cervical dislocation or slitting the throat.

Also, I am also in Gainesville FL! Hi neighbor.

Hi! I should be able to but i just cant bring myself to do it now - since ive had chickens im getting better at dealing with this type of thing but im not there yet. Lame i know...

 

[cassle]

Hens generally heal well from such wounds - it takes time. As long as she is trying to survive, I would give her the chance. Apply antibiotic ointment and monitor for fly strike.

Thanks. I was totally committed to letting her heal but a bone is sticking out!!! I think i would have to set it. Or could i just wrap it up and let it heal like that? Im not even sure if it is a bone but im pretty sure. Can i send you a picture?

 

[cassle]

Thanks. I was totally committed to letting her heal but a bone is sticking out!!! I think i would have to set it. Or could i just wrap it up and let it heal like that? Im not even sure if it is a bone but im pretty sure. Can i send you a picture?

 

[swamphiker]

Thanks. I was totally committed to letting her heal but a bone is sticking out!!! I think i would have to set it. Or could i just wrap it up and let it heal like that? Im not even sure if it is a bone but im pretty sure. Can i send you a picture?

Yes, feel free to send/attach a photo. I'm not well-versed in chicken injuries, but chickens can be super resilient and overcome crazy injuries.

 

[swamphiker]

Hi! I should be able to but i just cant bring myself to do it now - since ive had chickens im getting better at dealing with this type of thing but im not there yet. Lame i know...

I don't think that's lame at all, it's not an easy thing to do at all.

 

[nao57]

The way its done ...it seems, is people will get a device rigged up like an upside down road construction orange cone with the top cut out. (You know those plastic ones, where when you are a kid you pretend they are loudspeakers...or clubs if your friends are mean.)

Anyway they'll have something like this hanging on the back of a shed with the top cut off. Then you gently put the bird in it with their necks and heads facing down. Then slit their throats.

It ends fast. Supposedly.

I don't like doing it myself but this is the way most big poultry people do it. Plus, it lets the blood drain out for you to process the meat. (You'd need to drain the meat of blood anyway...so I think this sounds practical.)

If you use drugs then you might not be able to use and eat the meat. And its the same for other chemicals.

If this is what you decide to do, you'd want to do it early, because while the bird is stressed out, her blood will have more stuff like lactic acid and adrenaline in it, which may change the taste of the meat (and not in a good way). You could technically cut away the parts around the meat around the wound and salvage the rest.

 

[cassle]

Yes, feel free to send/attach a photo. I'm not well-versed in chicken injuries, but chickens can be super resilient and overcome crazy injuries.

Thank you so much for your input and help. I ended up bringing her to the vet and the vet said she would have to amputate her wing (it was a broken bone) so unfortunately, i had her euthanized. She went very gently and I am glad she is done with the pain. I didnt know it was broken until yesterday bc she was doing so well - eating and roosting - i guess bc i had her on antibiotics, it never got infected so I didnt realize the extent of her injury. Yes i cried - but Im ok today. The first time it happened, i was sad for a weak! Anyway, thanks for your support. Im so happy to know I can reach out to people on this forum.