Help: How to Cull (if you've never culled before)

[Athenaeum]

Aight, so. How do I cull a chicken for the first time? Especially since this is one I'm attached to and so is my husband. Raised from egg to now, and... it isn't going well right now. So... suggestions? Preferably not poisoning bc that's got potential to be slow and cruel.

 

[kattabelly]

Just to be clear, you're asking how to kill a chicken? (Culling means removing from the flock - killing is just one way you could do this)

I don't use it myself but a lot of people seem to prefer the "broomstick method" for cervical dislocation (breaking the neck). There's some discussion about the best way to do that, as well as how it compares to other methods, in this thread and there'll be other threads as well if you do a search.

 

[Athenaeum]

Just to be clear, you're asking how to kill a chicken? (Culling means removing from the flock - killing is just one way you could do this)

I don't use it myself but a lot of people seem to prefer the "broomstick method" for cervical dislocation (breaking the neck). There's some discussion about the best way to do that, as well as how it compares to other methods, in this thread and there'll be other threads as well if you do a search.

Unfortunately, yeah. I mean to kill a chicken. I didn't realize cull could be used as a general "removing from the flock".

 

[Strawberry74]

What symptoms is the chicken having that makes you think it needs to be euthanized, out of curiosity?

 

[kattabelly]

Unfortunately, yeah. I mean to kill a chicken. I didn't realize cull could be used as a general "removing from the flock".

It does cause some confusion because some people use "cull" like it means "kill". But you could also cull a particularly bossy or timid hen by sending her to live with another flock where she'd fit in better, for example, or cull a bird from a breeding group just by kicking them out of that pen and letting them mix with your other chickens.

I'm sorry you're having to do this for the first time.

 

[Athenaeum]

What symptoms is the chicken having that makes you think it needs to be euthanized, out of curiosity?

So, this is a chicken that we've been trying to help live despite disabilities she has. Scooter, the chicken in question, was born with malformed legs and we had been trying to help fix them as best as possible.

Unfortunately, we couldn't.

So, we've mostly been trying to at least have her comfortable and happy, but her legs are getting worse and it is to the point that I'm fairly certain not euthanizing her is harming her more than helping her.

 

[casportpony]

I'm so sorry. Cervical dislocation is the method I use most. We also have a CO₂ chamber, but setting one up correctly is not cheap.

 

[Athenaeum]

It does cause some confusion because some people use "cull" like it means "kill". But you could also cull a particularly bossy or timid hen by sending her to live with another flock where she'd fit in better, for example, or cull a bird from a breeding group just by kicking them out of that pen and letting them mix with your other chickens.

I'm sorry you're having to do this for the first time.

Oh. I... usually use relocate or re-home for those situations? Thank you for the clarification, though!

And thanks. I. Am not enjoying this. I've had hens and young roos die on me, but... never had to euthanize one myself.

 

[Strawberry74]

So, this is a chicken that we've been trying to help live despite disabilities she has. Scooter, the chicken in question, was born with malformed legs and we had been trying to help fix them as best as possible.

Unfortunately, we couldn't.

So, we've mostly been trying to at least have her comfortable and happy, but her legs are getting worse and it is to the point that I'm fairly certain not euthanizing her is harming her more than helping her.

Ah I am very sorry. I've been in your shoes. I helped a little chicken along for several months that had a leg issue. I had her set up in her own cage in the coop so she could be around everybody and I put her in a sling to allow her to move her legs and of course she had access to food and water. She did okay but eventually I did make a choice to have my neighbor who was a vet euthanize her due to quality of life.

Sorry you are facing this. I have no advice on because I never have had to do it personally. I can only imagine how much harder it will be given how attached you are to the special one.

 

[Debbie292d]

I didn't realize cull could be used as a general "removing from the flock".

I've honestly never heard it referred to as "removing from the flock" as in relocation, although perhaps in some countries or cultures it is.

Culling to the vast majority here means exactly what you mean, killing.