Humane euthanization of chicks-what's your opinion?

[shaggy]

turn it into a capon


apparently it is extremely easy .... put it on a clean surface -- restrain it -- go in with a scalpel or exacto knife between the last 2 ribs ... peel the skin back enough to see what you are doing ... remove the testicles

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Caponizing.html
http://www.afn.org/~poultry/capon.htm

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
I would love to be able to do this. However, I'm entirely unsure that I wouldn't just end up disemboweling the poor bird and leading to an extremely slow and painful death.

 

[gwennym]

Chickychicky, I would have offered to take him ---- he'd have to be mailed (I'm in Illinois), but he'd just be a pet, like my other fowl.

Let me know if your hubby's coworker changes his mind.

Gwen

 

[shaggy]

Quote:
I would love to be able to do this. However, I'm entirely unsure that I wouldn't just end up disemboweling the poor bird and leading to an extremely slow and painful death.

if crowing is your only concern --- you could let it grow until the day it crows ... then turn it into homemade chicken noodle soup

holler --- i have an excellent recipe for it

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
I would love to be able to do this. However, I'm entirely unsure that I wouldn't just end up disemboweling the poor bird and leading to an extremely slow and painful death.

if crowing is your only concern --- you could let it grow until the day it crows ... then turn it into homemade chicken noodle soup

holler --- i have an excellent recipe for it

Actually FIGHTING is my only concern. The crowing and noise levels aren't an issue at all. To tell the truth I *like* crowing and I love the personality and appearance of roosters a LOT.

Though And yeah, my solution so far is either rehome it or eat it. The eating it's only in theory, because I've only had one spare roo, but I'm not opposed in theory.

 

[Akane]

Fighting depends on the breed and individual roo. I have about 10 japanese bantam roos just reaching breeding age out in the coop right now and not a single fight. They are being butched with the quail though if noone takes them because I just don't have the space or time to care for 10 extra roos. There's also 1 standard roo and 4 half grown bantam EE roos in with them. Previously I had 2 adult jap roos and 2 hens in a 3x6' pen with no fights and I had 2 adult jap roos with the standard in the coop. I"ve never had a fight or so much as a bald patch on the hens and aside from one of the bantam EE (who is out of here fast) none of my roos have shown any agression toward me. It just depends on what breeds your working with and the personality of each roo.

 

[JReedy72]

Geez...I am glad mine turned out to be all ladies. I would not have been able to keep a roo, but I would have hated doing any of what you all have suggested. I would have done it, but it has to be awful.

Jason

 

[shaggy]

too bad there isn't a method of chemical castration or something similar (i'm thinking along the lines of salt peter)

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
Thanks. I'm pretty much going to just see how things shake out. I should end up with everyone still here separated out for breeding, leaving the big guy with the egg-layers soon. After that I suppose it really is just a waiting game. (Plus 2 of my 3 are still only about 10 weeks old. T hat has to help.)