Help! Peacefully putting a chicken Down??

[TheYLWFlock]

i have to put my sweet girl Ruthy down. She has Mareks Disease and it’s just not a good life anymore. So yeah.

We can’t go broomstick method. It was disturbing and scarred us all last time. We want it to be peaceful without her flapping around. We need someway to calm her down before. We had the idea to crush up some sleeping pills and give that to her, then just use an axe. We are ok with using an axe, but we want her to just be peacefully asleep. Is there any other way to put them asleep before killing them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Flapping around is normal, I'm sorry to hear that was scary for you.
To be honest, I'm not sure even with sleeping pills or similar there would not be flapping once the head is chopped off.
How much to give or of what I have no way of knowing. Hopefully someone else will chime in with that.

If it's the flapping that bothers you, wrap her body in a towel and secure it, this will capture the wings which should limit the amount of movement you see.

I'm very sorry to hear that your Ruthy is not well and that you are facing this

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Thanks for your help. I’m just so sad. Can’t stop crying

Flapping around is normal, I'm sorry to hear that was scary for you.
To be honest, I'm not sure even with sleeping pills or similar there would not be flapping once the head is chopped off.
How much to give or of what I have no way of knowing. Hopefully someone else will chime in with that.

If it's the flapping that bothers you, wrap her body in a towel and secure it, this will capture the wings which should limit the amount of movement you see.

I'm very sorry to hear that your Ruthy is not well and that you are facing this

***If anyone can help or chime in please do***

 

[TheYLWFlock]

@casportpony @WVduckchick

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Has anyone euthanized a chicken with high-quality (high ether-content) starter fluid?

 

[WVduckchick]

So sorry this has become necessary.

Do you have any starter fluid/ether?
Let me get a link....

 

[AltonaAcres]

I'm so sorry, hate making that decision. You are doing he right thing though. I've heard putting a sack over a chickens head can calm them, but I'm not sure it would work. They don't know what's about to happen, so it's not like they are afraid/worried. I think the axe method is pretty simple, and cant go wrong. They will move after you kill them, but they aren't still alive, it's just nerves. We also sometimes shoot the chicken in the head with a gun, I feel like that is a very instant/painless way to go. Wrapping them in a towel would keep them from moving while you put them down. A few question: How have you gone about with your flock having Mareks? When do you know when to put them down? Do you get new chicks even when your adult birds have Mareks? How many of your birds became affectd? We just recently found out our flock has Mareks..... Hope this helps, again I feel SO bad for you...it's the worst part of raising chickens by far.

 

[WVduckchick]

I’m actually in the “waiting period” in the middle of this process right now.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...re-culling-the-injured-and-sick-babies.72140/

 

[microchick]

I have been dealing with Marek's for the past three years and just two days ago put down a sweet rooster who was slowly declining from the disease and refusing to leave a nesting box.

First off I am so sorry you are going through this. I have lost over 2/3rds of my original flock to this disease and currently have 11 birds remaining out of a flock of 38. So I am no stranger to what you are going through.

I cry with every one that I put down and trust me, there is no easy method. I have read about the ether method but have no idea how much you have to use for a standard sized hen. I've always employed a proper calibre bullet to the back of the head just behind the comb. They die instantly. Yes, there is some flapping around. But I am careful to use the right calibre to get the job done. For the rooster I mentioned, I used a 38 as he was a big boy. Yes, the flapping bothers me. I usually sit with the bird, cuddle them for awhile, talk to them, tell them how much I love them and how I don't want them to suffer any longer. Many just lay on the ground where I put them but some want to stand and as I want the one shot to count, I will lay those birds down on the ground, on their breast bones with their feet behind them so I can hold the feet and be a safe distance from their heads. They are not afraid. They have no idea what is happening to them. I make sure to fire a point blank shot It's over in an instant. I just make it my policy to immediately turn away and walk around for a minute, not going back until I am sure all the movement is over. It doesn't take long.

Whatever method you choose make it the easiest one for you to endure because sadly, this will not be your last loss.

As for the question about breeding. No. I do not allow any of my large birds to set eggs nor do I allow any to hatch from these birds. I am hoping to get 6 Marek's resistant Egyptian Fayoumi's next month and these birds will be crossed with my bantam barnyard mixes that have proven to be resistant to the disease in order to further their resistance.

I am so sorry. My soul cries for what you are going throughThe only way to truly understand is if you are fighting this disease in your own flock and frankly, I wouldn't wish that on any chicken lover.

 

[WVduckchick]

I have been dealing with Marek's for the past three years and just two days ago put down a sweet rooster who was slowly declining from the disease and refusing to leave a nesting box.

First off I am so sorry you are going through this. I have lost over 2/3rds of my original flock to this disease and currently have 11 birds remaining out of a flock of 38. So I am no stranger to what you are going through.

I cry with every one that I put down and trust me, there is no easy method. I have read about the ether method but have no idea how much you have to use for a standard sized hen. I've always employed a proper calibre bullet to the back of the head just behind the comb. They die instantly. Yes, there is some flapping around. But I am careful to use the right calibre to get the job done. For the rooster I mentioned, I used a 38 as he was a big boy. Yes, the flapping bothers me. I usually sit with the bird, cuddle them for awhile, talk to them, tell them how much I love them and how I don't want them to suffer any longer. Many just lay on the ground where I put them but some want to stand and as I want the one shot to count, I will lay those birds down on the ground, on their breast bones with their feet behind them so I can hold the feet and be a safe distance from their heads. They are not afraid. They have no idea what is happening to them. I make sure to fire a point blank shot It's over in an instant. I just make it my policy to immediately turn away and walk around for a minute, not going back until I am sure all the movement is over. It doesn't take long.

Whatever method you choose make it the easiest one for you to endure because sadly, this will not be your last loss.

As for the question about breeding. No. I do not allow any of my large birds to set eggs nor do I allow any to hatch from these birds. I am hoping to get 6 Marek's resistant Egyptian Fayoumi's next month and these birds will be crossed with my bantam barnyard mixes that have proven to be resistant to the disease in order to further their resistance.

I am so sorry. My soul cries for what you are going throughThe only way to truly understand is if you are fighting this disease in your own flock and frankly, I wouldn't wish that on any chicken lover.