Help with "Broomstick Method" (culling method)

[Zoomie]

She knows about post death twitching, just was observing it's length.
IME, the sicker the bird being euthanized, the shorter and weaker the twitching.

I would agree with this and in addition I would add that the younger the bird is the longer it twitches. Older birds don't seem to go for as long.

It would be interesting to try and do a study: record age of bird, euthanize, record time of flapping. Perhaps it's all just in our minds, perhaps it has to do with some other factor. It would be cool to find out.

 

[BantyChooks]

IME, the sicker the bird being euthanized, the shorter and weaker the twitching.

Yep. I had to euthanize a mostly dead bird today... he wriggled a bit and fell still. That's all.

 

[BantyChooks]

It would be interesting to try and do a study: record age of bird, euthanize, record time of flapping. Perhaps it's all just in our minds, perhaps it has to do with some other factor. It would be cool to find out.

I would be interested too, since it seems that 'nerve impulses' should not discriminate like that.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I think you are all right about the age and health of the bird with the amount of flapping.

Normally I am culling sick hens and young cockerals.

This time, due to odd circumstances (several re-homes fell through) I ended up culling 10 month old roosters in the pink of health...not younger cocks to eat, not sick birds.

A whole lot of flapping going on and much tougher necks.

LofMc

 

[bald Rooster]

I like a more instant death. breaking neck, cutting throat all are slow compared to baseball bat. I have a short children's bat I can swing it with one hand. A chickens skull is not real thick. I hit them on the side of the head and they never feel or know a thing.I dig the hole first so once the deed is done I toss them right in the hole reduces flopping around.
If I'm going to butcher them I use a tube and a knife. But to cull sick ones its the bat.

 

[Trish1974]

Firstly, please nobody scold me for reviving this old thread... I feel it is very pertinent to my situation and I know most of the participating members are still active.

I need to euthanize a bird tonight. This will be my first time and I am absolutely devastated by the thought of it but I NEED to learn how to do this.


@aart , this video you posted is no longer available. Is there a similar video you could share that is just as good?

This is the best I've seen.
Items marked with *'s are very important points.

Cervical Dislocation is shown in this video at about 1:00,

it's the only CD video I've found that doesn't remove the head.

*Notice the slight divot in the ground under the stick and neck, this will keep the bird from being choked.

*Notice that she slowly stretches out the neck and legs before giving the short sharp jerk that breaks the neck, this is key to success IMO.

I've found this technique to be very effective.

I haven't used this method before, so I don't have much to say... figured I'd just ask if you've tried manual cervical dislocation? It's the same thing but there's no chance of choking the bird or breaking the neck too far up. I have killed birds with decapitation and with (manual) cervical dislocation and flapping/other movements were way less with the latter method. Supposedly they're dead just as fast but it sure looked nicer with the 2nd.

@BantyChooks how would you perform cervical dislocation manually?

I have read about all the flapping they do afterwards; how do I know I have done it right or if they are flapping from an error on my part?

 

[BantyChooks]

Firstly, please nobody scold me for reviving this old thread... I feel it is very pertinent to my situation and I know most of the participating members are still active.

I need to euthanize a bird tonight. This will be my first time and I am absolutely devastated by the thought of it but I NEED to learn how to do this.


@aart , this video you posted is no longer available. Is there a similar video you could share that is just as good?



@BantyChooks how would you perform cervical dislocation manually?

I have read about all the flapping they do afterwards; how do I know I have done it right or if they are flapping from an error on my part?

https://mikethechickenvet.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/euthanasia-for-backyard-birds/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/how-to-humanely-euthanize-chicken-by-dr/
These two articles are written on the topic by the same vet. They are similar but have a slightly different slant, so I linked both in case one is more applicable than the other. I found them immeasurably useful when I first attempted the method.

Check corneal reflexes to determine whether the bird is dead or not. Done properly, there should be no attempt to blink even tested very shortly after CD is performed.

 

[aart]

@aart , this video you posted is no longer available. Is there a similar video you could share that is just as good?

Clicked on the 'watch this video on youtube' link and it worked.
Give it a try.

 

[Trish1974]

Clicked on the 'watch this video on youtube' link and it worked.
Give it a try.
View attachment 1811785

Thanks, I was able to watch it that way.

 

[aart]

Thanks, I was able to watch it that way.

Thanks for letting me know, will try to change the link.