How do you make the decision to cull a chick you have nursed?

[Leslieb118]

A simple twisting pull, like the vet did in the post above, is "wringing it's neck", or a quick snip with lobbers, a quick chop and it's painlessly, quickly ended. The use of gas chamber baggies or a slow, painful freezing to death are very poor methods, dare I say rather cruel methods, of euthanizing a chick.

You say this as I was just posting a link for that baking soda method. I have to agree with you on what you said, however. I, myself, haven't had to cull a chick/chicken but I think about it often..the "what would I do" and I'm finding myself leaning toward the quick snip/chop method. I hate to see anything suffer. I was just throwing options out there for someone who might be more squeamish.

 

[mixitup]

Thank you for that link. It makes sense as the air would be consumed by the bs/v mixture.

Fred, that's why I said I hate to say it (re the freezer) it was my understanding that it wasn't the worst way to go. Now, I know more.

This is a method I would definitely use!

 

[Fred's Hens]

This is a tough subject here on BYC because most people have no farm experience and seek methods that are easier for the person, or convenient, or "not messy" or whatever. Ending a chick's life is tough, it shouldn't be emotionally an easy thing. But, the surest, brutally quick methods are still the most humane.

Chicken's need to come with a huge, long warning label, like those stupid drug commercials on TV where the voice over of the side effects is three times longer than the ad itself. This is an aspect of animal husbandry that old timers, dating back to pre-historic times understood, but often catches the modern person off guard. Yes, the responsibility of ending suffering and putting down some animals just comes with the package.

 

[Reurra]

When i was a kid, my Dad killed 2 hens with an axe. The head remained alive for 10 seconds. Its eyes were looking around and its mouth was moving. I think it was feeling something. Not to mention it was just creepy. I like the CO2 method, its a much better way, quick, quiet and painless.

 

[Fred's Hens]

You say this as I was just posting a link for that baking soda method. I have to agree with you on what you said, however. I, myself, haven't had to cull a chick/chicken but I think about it often..the "what would I do" and I'm finding myself leaning toward the quick snip/chop method. I hate to see anything suffer. I was just throwing options out there for someone who might be more squeamish.

Frankly, there very little blood. It's a chick. Have a rag towel, a quick snip, done.

The neck wringing, as done by the vet described above and used by old timers, takes determination. This isn't likely a good time to "practice" neck wringing, if you've never seen how it is done.

 

[Leslieb118]

When my husband's Grandmother was going to serve chicken for dinner, she'd go out, grab two and walk back holding their heads in her hands just swinging them in circles. Job done!

 

[mixitup]

I don't have an issue with euthanasia or killing something. I just think about the suffering. I know with puppies, if they are born with something wrong, within days I just put them in the freezer to end their suffering. But now I know a better method! I grew up with my father hunting all the time. I feel bad, though, for the people who don't have experience with killing. I hope OP that you have good luck with this. The bs/v method sounds pretty easy.

 

[Fred's Hens]

When i was a kid, my Dad killed 2 hens with an axe. The head remained alive for 10 seconds. Its eyes were looking around and its mouth was moving. I think it was feeling something. Not to mention it was just creepy. I like the CO2 method, its a much better way, quick, quiet and painless.

Well, that is how it is done. Once the spinal cord is severed, describing the head as still being alive is a curious way to put it. The nerves function and reflex both in the head and in the body for several seconds, tis true. But alive? De-capitation remains a very quick and efficient method for dispatching and is still a preferred way. But let's not get too far afield. The reality is that killing is killing. It is not enjoyable, only necessary. It is necessary when chickens are to be dispatched for meat purposes. It is necessary when any animal is suffering and needs to be put done. What does a chick feel when a vet wrings it's neck?

I am quite unsure how we would know what a chicken is feeling during either being gassed or decapitation. We only know what WE are feeling. We should not make the mistake of assuming that the gas chamber is completely painless because we don't witness much external demonstrating by the chicken. It would likely be brief and minimal and that is the goal of euthanizing.

Bottom line? We're killing it, it dies. It needs to be done. It gets done. There's a greater good and that is the end of suffering.

Now, I am going to go on with my day and do some more life affirming things. Take care everyone.

 

[adgcountrygirl]

I had a chick that started having seizures after falling in the water and getting too cold. I thought it was dead when I found it. After warming and drying it, the seizures ended after a few hours. When it started eating and drinking on it's own, I put it back with the others. Yes, it stunted the growth. Yes, it got ran over by the other chicks for awhile. And, to this day, it is not quite as active as the others. However... this chick started getting better on its own with MINIMAL care. This chick is also catching up in growth with the others. Does this mean I won't cull it, if later it seems to be suffering or not doing as well. Absolutely not. When you see that there is no way this animal is getting better, and the suffering is greater than the progress, it is better for the animal, the flock, and yourself to cull it in a timely manner. I have had to cull 4 roosters. Two I gave to friends who needed roos. The other two went on the supper table. All 4 animals were healthy. The problem was that I did not have enough hens for the flock to be happy with that many roos. Yes, I am happier when I can find a home for them. However, I'm satisfied that my family was provided with a healthy meal too.

 

[Mainechick168]

We just had to make the decision to end our sick chicks suffering. She had not eaten or drank anything for more than 4 days, and I was amazed she was still alive- just barely. We tried nursing her as much as possible, but my husband and I decided that at this point it was probably more for us than her- He used the neck wringing method, and I have to admit we both cried- we buried her out back by a nice big rock. ALthough this was sad, it was the right thing to do, and I know that it might happen again...