How to euthanize a pet chicken?

[Godiva]

We have a dear little cochin hen who has an impacted crop. We tried everything and it is more than a week and she is going downhill and is obviously suffering... We usually just use a machete to cull birds, but this little one is different... she is such a sweetheart and has been a joy to us. I can't bear the thought of putting her down the usual way. Does anyone have a recommendation for putting Sonnet to 'sleep'. It seems a little crazy I know, but I am really sad and want a peaceful way to see her on her way to the big coop in the sky. Please help us...

 

[Wiglwerm]

So sorry. Have you tried the crop surgery? I personally have not had to yet but the posts I have read on here regarding the surgery say that it is not that difficult and the birds bounce back quickly. If my only other option was culling I would try it first. Good Luck.

 

[Attack Chicken]

I would try the crop surgery. She sounds like a little sweetheart and would be worth the try.

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

Try the surgery, if that doesn't work then the machete really is the most humane way.

 

[Godiva]

My problem with the crop surgery is that this is the second time in about 6 months that Sonnet has eaten loads of junk. First time was mostly straw and this time (I removed all the straw) she ate the pine shavings!? I posted about this on this forum and had no answers. It seems that this is a habit for her and I would hate to put her through this over and over again when I know she is just going to go and eat a bunch of indigestible stuff... I really don't know what to do... she is not going to last long with the way things are going ...

 

[Godiva]

Can anyone give me a thread to read about the crop surgery? I am trying to do a search for it and nothing I put in brings up anything!!! OF all the times to have a glitch in the works...

 

[chickenzoo]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=21291

It is on the top of the page under helpful links if this doesn't work........ Best Wishes to you, it is very very hard to put a beloved chicken down, done it a lot this year it seems. One way, although I have not used it, is to place chicken in a box that has a hole made in it big enough for like a metal air vent hose to go in and then put the other end of the vent pipe over the muffler tail pipe of a running car. The carbon monoxide would put them down like it does people so it is said.......

 

[smithhouse]

I read that you can use the Google bar on the top right of the page. Not exactly search, but it worked well for me earlier.

 

[smithhouse]

ps I hope you can do surgery, but if it comes to euthanizing, I read a post about putting them in something airtight and adding baking soda and vinegar to a cup within. I don't know more personally about it, but you may want to look into it.

 

[Wiglwerm]

Type " impacted crop" in the search box at the top, lots of stuff comes up and one of the posts will tell you how to do the surgery. If she is eating the straw and now the shavings I would take all that out, althought it helps to soak up the poop a bare dirt floor works too! Does she have any oyster shell/grit available? maybe she is eating all that "roughage" cause she needs some grit?

Good Luck