Humane Culling for Pet Chickens: Chopping Block or Kill Cone?

[HoopyFrood]

... I use the hatchet and chopping block method. I grew up using hammers, axes, things like that. I'm confident I can hit the target. If you don't have that confidence it may not be the way for you to try.

I have used axes a fair bit. Obviously a hatchet is a one handed tool, but I think I could be on-the-mark. I'd practice first on thick sticks, of course

...One thing that concerns me about your proposed cone and hatchet method. You want to chop into the wood grain, not against it. If you cut into the grain, like the top of a stump, the hatchet head will sink in and make a good cut. If you hit against the grain the hatchet head will bounce off...

A VERY good point! I'd probably affix a board to the chopping block surface with the grain oriented with the hatchet bit, and thick enough to receive the full bit. That is a great caution, thank you!!

 

[HoopyFrood]

Luckily I've only had to do this once so far, but I went with the "gas chamber" method

I just couldn't bring myself to physically cull the bird and see the blood and so on and so forth. As long as you have plenty of fumes in the box it makes for a quick and quiet kill. The one I did just went to sleep and didn't wake up, no flailing around or blood or anything like that. For me it's the most humane because it's the only one I can carry out

Yes, the kill cone method is very bloody. It was quite unsettling. I wish I had known of the ether gas chamber method

A hatchet will also be bloody, but at least it will be quick.

We have something new to consider now, for sure. Fingers crossed we don't have to make a decision in the immediate future!

 

[DiYMama540]

Absolutely, no matter how you go about it, it's never a pleasant experience. You just have to find what will be most comfortable for you to carry out.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Appreciate all the replies!

Remember these are beloved pets. While I appreciate the bonus information, blunt force trauma, snapping necks by hand, etc, were never options for us.

I suppose shooting could be an option. All I have is a pellet gun to keep squirrels and the like out of our corn. I've killed enough squirrels that I don't think I'd want my girls to meet their end that way though. I feel bad enough about the squirrels, and they were eating our food!

What can I say, we're softies

 

[Henry&Friends]

Sorry to hijack your post, but couldn’t you dislocate the spinal cord by laying the bird down, placing a knife tip on the back of the neck and hitting the back with a mallet? I wouldn’t want to hang and bleed out the bird, or really cut it, but I’m afraid I’d mess up the broomstick. Seems like a quick way of doing it as well, but I don’t know.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Quick follow-up:

Starting fluid USED to be primarily ether, but nowadays it typically is only a small amount of ether with other hydrocarbons. I'm sure that's the low-cost way to do it

But there do not appear to be state or federal restrictions on the sale of diethyl ether. I even found it on Amazon, $50 for 500 ml. There are other online chemical supply companies that are cheaper than that (lowest I've seen is $20 for 500ml plus shipping).

Cheaper than paying a vet to do it! Food for thought

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Absolutely, no matter how you go about it, it's never a pleasant experience. You just have to find what will be most comfortable for you to carry out.

I just watched the broomstick method video. It does seem quick for the bird. I still cant stand to see the squirming...why does that happen when you dislocate the spine? I would figure the bird would just go limp...then again I've never really ended a bird before. Will they squirm no matter what? Could you give them a sleeping pill and not have this happen?

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Quick follow-up:

Starting fluid USED to be primarily ether, but nowadays it typically is only a small amount of ether with other hydrocarbons. I'm sure that's the low-cost way to do it

But there do not appear to be state or federal restrictions on the sale of diethyl ether. I even found it on Amazon, $50 for 500 ml. There are other online chemical supply companies that are cheaper than that (lowest I've seen is $20 for 500ml plus shipping).

Cheaper than paying a vet to do it! Food for thought

Can you still eat the birds if you use this method? Or will it taint the meat?

 

[aart]

Will they squirm no matter what? Could you give them a sleeping pill and not have this happen?

Yes...death throes.
No clue about a sleeping pill.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Yes...death throes.
No clue about a sleeping pill.

Guess my birds will have to just live forever I cant bear to watch that