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

[Athenaeum]

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.

She's my little tweety bird (bc it took so long before she made actual chicken sounds) and I love her, but... because I love her, I know that I cannot help her in a way that would let her live as long as her siblings will.

 

[AshVau22]

This is the part about animal raising I dislike and absolutely dread. My husband is very hands off when it comes to my animals. He's all video games and I'm the outdoors animal lover. I've tried 3 different ways to dispatch a chicken. Broomstick, axe/chopping block and cutting the throat. The one that is the easiest in my opinion is kill cone and cut the throat. Very fast and I feel less traumatic. Other two methods did not go well for me at all. Maybe lack up strength on my part I don't know. I use a kill cone and very sharp surgical scalpel.

 

[Debbie292d]

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.

Our method may not work for you, but we live out in the country. It's by method of a 20-gauge. The first one was about five years ago. Hubby was at work and it was an old rooster who finally was giving his last breaths. He wouldn't wake up. I couldn't watch him thinking he was suffering, so I laid him on a towel in a cardboard box, then did used my gun after wiping tears away.

Since then, hubby retired and he's done the couple we've had to, same method, minus the box.

 

[kattabelly]

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

It doesn't feel nice but then it isn't something you should enjoy, if it helps to remember that. But you're doing it out of kindness - remember that too.

Whichever method you go with, I'd say the most important thing is to try and be confident in your actions even if you don't feel it. A clean kill made with one strong, swift movement is far less traumatic, both for the bird and the person, than a more drawn-out death because you were too tentative on the first try.

Since you're asking here, I'm guessing you don't know anyone in real life who might be able and willing to help?

 

[Ridgerunner]

How do I cull a chicken for the first time?

The way you can. Let me explain that. Your goal is to end the chicken's life as quickly and as sure as you can so it does not suffer. You also do not want to injure yourself, don't forget that part. We are all different with different experiences and sensibilities. What works for you might not work for me. With any of these methods there are details that can make a difference.

I use the stump and hatchet method. I grew up swinging a hammer, axe, hatchet, and other tools so I have confidence I can hit what I aim for. After you take the head off the chicken will flop around, that bothers some people. Happens with some other methods also. That's just reflex reactions, the head is gone so it can't be feeling anything, it is not suffering. But it really bothers some people to see that. If you are not comfortable using an axe or hatchet choose some other method, it would be easy to hurt yourself.

Many people use the broomstick method. If you don't pull hard enough the neck may not break. If you pull too hard the head can pop off. Again, if the head is gone the chicken is not suffering but some people are shocked when that happens.

Another method is the killing cone. A lot of variation on this one. You get a big cone, say a traffic control cone, invert it, and put the chicken in with the head sticking out. Then you can take a sharp knife and cut the throat. If you cut the arteries it bleeds out. Or instead of a knife use pruning shears or loppers to take the head off.

Some people shoot them. You have to be careful what is downrange, probably not feasible in town. And make sure you cleanly hit the target.

Some people use a CO2 box. Hook it up to an automobile exhaust. CO2 is heavier than air so make sure the box is sealed down low. I'd study the details on this one closely so you do it right.

Some people break the neck in their bare hands. I'm not exactly sure how that method works.

Of course there are other methods but that is enough.

As the chicken is suffering I think you are doing the right thing, hard as it is. One time I had to put a cat down that my wife really liked. I did not enjoy that at all and I would not let her watch. It was hard enough on her anyway just knowing.

 

[Athenaeum]

The way you can. Let me explain that. Your goal is to end the chicken's life as quickly and as sure as you can so it does not suffer. You also do not want to injure yourself, don't forget that part. We are all different with different experiences and sensibilities. What works for you might not work for me. With any of these methods there are details that can make a difference.

I use the stump and hatchet method. I grew up swinging a hammer, axe, hatchet, and other tools so I have confidence I can hit what I aim for. After you take the head off the chicken will flop around, that bothers some people. Happens with some other methods also. That's just reflex reactions, the head is gone so it can't be feeling anything, it is not suffering. But it really bothers some people to see that. If you are not comfortable using an axe or hatchet choose some other method, it would be easy to hurt yourself.

Many people use the broomstick method. If you don't pull hard enough the neck may not break. If you pull too hard the head can pop off. Again, if the head is gone the chicken is not suffering but some people are shocked when that happens.

Another method is the killing cone. A lot of variation on this one. You get a big cone, say a traffic control cone, invert it, and put the chicken in with the head sticking out. Then you can take a sharp knife and cut the throat. If you cut the arteries it bleeds out. Or instead of a knife use pruning shears or loppers to take the head off.

Some people shoot them. You have to be careful what is downrange, probably not feasible in town. And make sure you cleanly hit the target.

Some people use a CO2 box. Hook it up to an automobile exhaust. CO2 is heavier than air so make sure the box is sealed down low. I'd study the details on this one closely so you do it right.

Some people break the neck in their bare hands. I'm not exactly sure how that method works.

Of course there are other methods but that is enough.

As the chicken is suffering I think you are doing the right thing, hard as it is. One time I had to put a cat down that my wife really liked. I did not enjoy that at all and I would not let her watch. It was hard enough on her anyway just knowing.

I ended up contacting my husband's uncle and asked if he'd help with killing her. She's gone now, and I feel guilty, but she's... not hurting anymore, so I'll look at that at least?

 

[Strawberry74]

I ended up contacting my husband's uncle and asked if he'd help with killing her. She's gone now, and I feel guilty, but she's... not hurting anymore, so I'll look at that at least?

I am sorry. take comfort in knowing she's not suffering and your heart hurts because you loved and had to make a choice for overall well-being. I'm thankful you didn't have to do it yourself. That was nice of your uncle to help out.