humanely culling young ducklings or chicks please !

[GAchick]

I, personally could never drown an animal. I have a morbid fear of drowning, myself. Just the idea of a critter being held underwater, struggling to breathe air, only getting water in the lungs, panic, slowly dieing. And I've read here that ether in the concentrations used to kill, cause pain in the animal as it inhales that first lungful of straight ether. Just because the lid is on,and you don't see the suffering, doesn't mean it didn't suffer. To me (and this is a personal opinion, only), a sharp knife, or machete, and instant removal of the head induces less suffering. But each of us has to choose that which we are ABLE to do. Do whatever your concience tells YOU is right, and you are comfortable with. But rest assured, no matter which method you use, it won't be easy, and you will be saddened. But, if in your mind, you are sure it is a neccesity, you will learn to live with it. Just do it with compassion for the animal, and you have made the right choice. We do use our chickens for meat as well as eggs. Every chicken we slaughter, we thank for the gift of food they provide for us. The last thing before the machete swings is 'thank you for this gift of food you are about to provide'.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I can see them....the can has a clear lid. I have yet to see any sign of struggling and over the years I have culled many chicks this way. You are right tho....we each have to make the decision on what method is right for us to use. To me the shears or drowning would be the worst.

 

[kyle7630]

I've never had to cull but may have an idea. A buddy of mine raises snakes. For the young ones just starting with mice, he puts the mouse in a plastic bag and smacks it on the wall. I know it seems harsh, but something about it being in the bag and not seeing it helps. When I catch the occasional live mouse on a glue trap, that's the method I use. It is quick, and I put the bag right in the trash never to see it again. Another method that some hunters use to cull sick pups is to put them in a bag and put the bag in a freezer. I think that way is a little more harsh, and wouldn't do it for a dog, but maybe a chick would go fast. IDK?

 

[GreenGoddess]

<b>****WARNING: The next statement is graphic!!!!!****</b>

Honestly, I had to cull a chick that was about 2 months old.. It was the most horrifying thing I've ever had to do but not because of the fact that i had to do it but because of the method i used and the turn out... It was a GC roo (was supposed to be a pullet!?) that had engorged himself and severly packed his crop.. I don't know why but it caused him to choke.. The poor thing was gasping for air and turning purple and first I tried to use a little bit of olive oil and massage his crop to see if I could dislodge whatever was blocking his airway.. When I realized there was nothing I could possibly do for him, I walked outside and as I was walking down the steps I said, "I'm sorry!" and broke his neck.. I head a very obvious "CRACK" and he went limp... About 3 seconds later, he picked his head back up and started gasping again! I panicked!!! As I was walking to where I was going to bury him, I did it again and again heard another "CRACK".. Same thing happened... I started shaking really bad and the 4th time I did it, he went limp and I laid him on the ground.. Surely he HAD to be gone.. NOPE! So, with him laying on the ground, I grabbed his shoulders with one hand and around the back of his head with the other and his head separated from his body!!! This was NOT my intention and to be quite honest, I had nightmares that night... I swore I would NEVER use cervical dislocation on ANY bird (chick or adult)... My machete is now cleaned and sharpened if I should ever need it!!! That poor little roo had one heck of a will to live but I didn't have a way to save him... Crop surgery would have been his ONLY chance of survival and he would have choked to death before I could even get him opened up...


Quote:
We ALWAYS get mice in our house when it's cold.. They were so bad last winter that they chewed a hole in my bathroom ceiling!!! I got some snap traps and now everytime it catches a mouse, I throw it out to the chickens.. It gives them a great little boost of protein and I don't have to worry about someone in the house getting bit by the little critters! The way I see it, it's no different than the chickens free ranging and finding a mouse or other rodent on their own and it gets the things out of my house!

Goddess

 

[michelle b 1972]

Quote:
i just thought you might like the item number for these "scissors" i posted about .... it is on the ebay uk site and this is the item number............360336626676 go to google and type in ebay uk and once on it type that number in the search bar.... it also states he posts worldwide ! good luck and thanks
michelle

 

[michelle b 1972]

Quote:
We ALWAYS get mice in our house when it's cold.. They were so bad last winter that they chewed a hole in my bathroom ceiling!!! I got some snap traps and now everytime it catches a mouse, I throw it out to the chickens.. It gives them a great little boost of protein and I don't have to worry about someone in the house getting bit by the little critters! The way I see it, it's no different than the chickens free ranging and finding a mouse or other rodent on their own and it gets the things out of my house!

Goddess

O.M.G. ! i would have been horrified if that had happened to me..... but i think we all know that you did what you had to in the circumstances you were in ! we all say something and then do the total opposite when we are in that situation ! i have posted the ebay number for the "scissors" i asked about on the above comment ... they may be of interest to you... atleast it would save you ever being in that type of situation again if you didnt want to use a machete !
big hugs to you as you were braver than i could be
michelle x

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

This topic has been discussed ad nauseum, and each time gets worse and worse. To the OP, have you searched for previous discussions on the topic?

 

[michelle b 1972]

Quote:
hi if you follow the thread from the beginning that i posted i wanted to know if anyone knew anything about these "scissors" to cull young duck/chicks that i had found on an ebay site and if they were no good what other quick method was best ! i cant control what other people post ... they are only sharing there experience with me which i ASKED for ! maybe it would be an idea to read it from the beginning and then comment ... dont you think ???????????
thankyou !
michelle

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
No. These conversations always start and end the same. Someone wants to know how to cull a bird, suggest or ask for a tool or trick to do it, and then it starts. Zip lock bags in the freezer, 5 gallon buckets with a rag soaked in starter fluid, kitchen shears, .22 caliber guns, putting it in a sock and slamming it on concrete..... Its always the same conversation.

The 'scissors' you found on Ebay have been discussed before, just like the rest of the topics. I'd bet that 99% of the responses in this thread have been typed and submitted in hundreds of others.

I just asked a simple question, if you had searched the topic before posting? It may help you even more than what you've read here.

 

[michelle b 1972]

in fairness i didnt expect to find an answer to the type of question i was posting about these scissors .... normally i do look for related threads but as this was a question and picture about an item that could be used i thought i could get some advice about the item ! i was horrified at some of the things that have been suggested and no way was it my intention to start a discussion like this.... i am haunted by the thought that i may have to use these scissors that i buy as i dont like hurting anything as you can see from some of my previous posts on this thread and on some others i posted for advice on last year ! i didnt mean to be rude to you and that is why i suggested you read the entire thead ... then atleast you would understand where i was coming from with my previous reply !
regards
michelle