I just wanted to post a tender message to those looking to humanely and quietly euthanize a chicken. I was faced with this dilemma. Earlier this spring I had a hen who got stepped on by a horse. When I called several vets in the area, they refused to euthanize a chicken. All of them said they would not treat anything with feathers.
I finally called my equine vet who initially refused explaining that finding a vein to inject the necessary drugs was impossible. She finally agreed to 'figure something out'. I dropped my hen off and never asked how they decided to euthanize her. I was relieved to pass my poor hen on to someone else.
Today after returning from a lovely 4th of July holiday, I was faced with a decision regarding another paralyzed hen. After consulting the BackYardChickens Forum, I decided to use carbon monoxide.
I placed my poor little hen in a plastic bucket on a cushion of wood shavings and set the bucket in a garbage bag. I then used the hose from my shop vac. I slipped one end over the exhaust on my car and placed the other end inside the garbage bag. I used duct tape to tape the bag closed after I snugged it tightly over the hose.
I started the car and within a minute, my hen flapped her wings a few times and let out her final breath. It was very quick with only a moment or two of struggle. I did allow the car to run a few minutes longer, although I don't believe it was necessary.
It is always a hard decision to end the life of a hen or rooster's life but I feel good about my decision and that I was able to take the step to end her suffering.
I finally called my equine vet who initially refused explaining that finding a vein to inject the necessary drugs was impossible. She finally agreed to 'figure something out'. I dropped my hen off and never asked how they decided to euthanize her. I was relieved to pass my poor hen on to someone else.
Today after returning from a lovely 4th of July holiday, I was faced with a decision regarding another paralyzed hen. After consulting the BackYardChickens Forum, I decided to use carbon monoxide.
I placed my poor little hen in a plastic bucket on a cushion of wood shavings and set the bucket in a garbage bag. I then used the hose from my shop vac. I slipped one end over the exhaust on my car and placed the other end inside the garbage bag. I used duct tape to tape the bag closed after I snugged it tightly over the hose.
I started the car and within a minute, my hen flapped her wings a few times and let out her final breath. It was very quick with only a moment or two of struggle. I did allow the car to run a few minutes longer, although I don't believe it was necessary.
It is always a hard decision to end the life of a hen or rooster's life but I feel good about my decision and that I was able to take the step to end her suffering.