How do i put down a hen, humanely

[Chickens14]

Neither way is easy or the best in being humane... With the co2 they fall
asleep very quickly... One also needs to learn a method they can handle
physically & emotionally...

 

[sune42]

Quote:
They are dieing from lack of oxygen. Suffocation is a terrible way to die. Do what's best for the chicken, not what's best for us.

 

[chicmom]

Very sorry....I would also quickly chop off it's head. If you can do that in the evening, when it's dark out, she will be calm and quiet. Or you could just cover her head before you do it. Only takes a sec, and it is the most humane way, I think.

 

[bigstack]

I have to put my two cents in. Just chop it off! It is quick and least painful for the bird. If Co2 is not done right the bird will suffer for a long time and still may not die! I have seen the baking soda method and the car exhaust method go terribly wrong! ( not by me) The bird just kept caughing and gasping and making horrible screeching screams! It seemed to last for ever. I finally couldn't stand to watch any longer. I went over and popped the neck! It was a friends birds. I just couldn't take it any more!!! It was so terrible! I will never forget that sound! It was my first time to cull at that. I just gave a sharp quick jerk up, while holding the chick down with the other hand. Just as my arm quit moving up, I gave a sharp twist. Like you lean your head over to your shoulder motion. It was very quick and very little movement! It is sad either way that you have to do it!!! I am really sorry!!! It is a nessecery evil. we must do what is best for the bird and not ourselves!

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[Bird Collector]

I think everyone with chickens faces this at some point. I have never put anything down personally so I called my vet and they put my hen a sleep fairly cheep. It was worth it to me and I don't need any therapy for myself now either. Just one adult beverage in her honor. My thoughts are with you.

 

[karen71]

Sorry you have to go through this

I had some sick adults before and needed to cull before I lost my whole flock BIL and DH did the deeds with the dislocation while holding under arm - BIL was talking to the hen and telling her how good she was makes my eyes tear still -

Just had to put two day old down last night used baking soda vinegar chamber they were not well .

thought about the chopping but unsure if there would be lots of blood or not -
just know whatever choice you make that you are ending your pets suffering

 

[Mt Top Chick]

Well, i just spoke with my husband and he will be doing the culling for me. He is going to break the neck. (i am a "chicken" (really no pun intended) and will be hiding in the house.)
THANK YOU ALL

Gina

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Bless his heart. He's a good egg.

 

[FrenchToast]

Quote:
I'm assuming you stand on the broomstick?
I've recenty had to have two of mine put down and had husband do it of course. I made sure I wasn't home.
He simply twisted the neck. I didn't ask for details but he is a hunter and knew how to do it.
Perhaps you can find a friend or neighbor that is a bird hunter that would know how to do it.
Hope her suffering ends soon. It is so sad to do but if there is any chance her illness can spread to your other birds you are saving their lives at the same time. That's how I made my decision even though the two I put down would have eventually died on their own I think. They did not have a good quality of life at the end so it was best for them.
Good Luck

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

The CO2 stuff isn't a good way to go at all. There's too much that can go wrong and it takes longer than just chopping the head off or breaking the neck. Quite frankly, if you can't handle having to put something down emotionally or whatever, then maybe animals like this aren't for you. What's best for the animal is very rarely what's easiest/least "traumatic" for us, that's all there is to it. Personally, I wouldn't want to die by suffocation or poisoning of any sort, doesn't sound all that pleasant to me. I've seen what bigstack was talking about, and I'm not easily disturbed, but that scene bugged me big time. I had a neighbor that used to put all his animals down like that, trust me, they didn't just peacfully fall asleep.