How do you know when "its time"?

[Shadrach]

I've done both. For me one of the major factors in deciding to kill or leave and let die is the cohesiveness of the group they live with.
If they are a family/tribe then these days I leave them to die with their tribe, usually givng pain relief for the last few days.

It's more complicated with injuries I think. One can look at an injured chicken and thiink there is no way they will fully recover and in trying to keep them alive one would just be prolonging the pain until the inevitable conclusion. They can hang on to life with some truely horrendous injuries. It's having the experience I suppose of knowing what will heal and what probably won't. Internal injuries are particularly difficult to assess.

 

[Bsmac]

I've done both. For me one of the major factors in deciding to kill or leave and let die is the cohesiveness of the group they live with.
If they are a family/tribe then these days I leave them to die with their tribe, usually givng pain relief for the last few days.

It's more complicated with injuries I think. One can look at an injured chicken and thiink there is no way they will fully recover and in trying to keep them alive one would just be prolonging the pain until the inevitable conclusion. They can hang on to life with some truely horrendous injuries. It's having the experience I suppose of knowing what will heal and what probably won't. Internal injuries are particularly difficult to assess.

Yes, Many factors involved, every one is different at least most of the time. At any rate,
it never get any easier, at least for me it doesn`t.

 

[Mrs. K]

best at night with a small flashlight, not during daylight.

I was thinking this very thing. Take her off the roost or off the floor in the near dark. The are nearly comatose at that time even if they are healthy.

The broomstick method is very quick. To warn you, no matter how you do it, the death throes generally scare people half to death because they think they botched it, actually they are a good sign that it is over. I have found putting mine immediately in a 5 gallon bucket helps with that.

As to when, the first one is generally later than it should be, but do your best. Maybe she will go before you get desperate. Good luck.

Mrs K