I had to cull a baby this morning and (Graphic Description )

[Poulets De Cajun]

You're more ok with suffocating it than you are popping the neck or pulling the head off? I dont get that one, but ok.......

 

[aidenbaby]

I used the baking soda and vinegar method. I'm kind of a weanie to start so if what happened to you happened to me I'd probably have a hard time culling again. (I don't want to hear any griping about it being a part of chicken ownership, blah, blah, blah.) Anyway, it was quick and she was already sleeping when the gas took over. She just kept sleeping until she died. According to the AVMA, they prefer to gas over dislocating necks. http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf I think it is just as humane to allow an animal to go to sleep as to snap their neck.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

For those that dont want to read that report...

CERVICAL DISLOCATION
Cervical dislocation is a technique that has been used for many years and, when performed by well-trained individuals, appears to be humane. However, there are few scientific studies to confirm this observation.
This technique is used to euthanatize poultry, other small birds, mice, and immature rats and rabbits. For mice and rats, the thumb and index finger are placed on either side of the neck at the base of the skull or, alternatively, a rod is pressed at the base of the skull. With the other hand, the base of the tail or the hind limbs are quickly pulled, causing separation of the cervical
vertebrae from the skull. For immature rabbits, the head is held in one hand and the hind limbs in the other. The animal is stretched and the neck is hyperextended
and dorsally twisted to separate the first cervical vertebra from the skull.72, 111 For poultry, cervical dislocation
by stretching is a common method for mass euthanasia, but loss of consciousness may not be instantaneous.134
Data suggest that electrical activity in the brain persists for 13 seconds following cervical dislocation, 127 and unlike decapitation, rapid exsanguination does not contribute to loss of consciousness.128, 129
Advantages—(1) Cervical dislocation is a technique
that may induce rapid loss of consciousness.84, 127
(2) It does not chemically contaminate tissue. (3) It is rapidly accomplished.
Disadvantages—(1) Cervical dislocation may be aesthetically displeasing to personnel. (2) Cervical dislocation
requires mastering technical skills to ensure loss of consciousness is rapidly induced. (3) Its use is limited to poultry, other small birds, mice, and immature
rats and rabbits.
Recommendations—Manual cervical dislocation is a humane technique for euthanasia of poultry, other small birds, mice, rats weighing < 200 g, and rabbits weighing < 1 kg when performed by individuals with a demonstrated high degree of technical proficiency. In lieu of demonstrated technical competency, animals must be sedated or anesthetized prior to cervical dislocation.
The need for technical competency is greater in heavy rats and rabbits, in which the large muscle mass in the cervical region makes manual cervical dislocation
physically more difficult.130 In research settings, this technique should be used only when scientifically justified by the user and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Those responsible for the use of this technique must ensure that personnel performing cervical dislocation
techniques have been properly trained and consistently
apply it humanely and effectively.

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
So, if I'm reading this right: Cervical dislocation/snapping the neck's main disadvantages are that it makes some people squeamish and that it's not useful on all animals -- but that it IS just fine if you know what you're doing, for poultry.

Or am I missing things?

(Seriously -- I don't have any problem saying that I was grossed out by poppping the head off that baby, but I also don't doubt for a SECOND that it went from alive to dead in a blink of an eye. It's HEAD was off, you know? It's not like I pulled slowly> It was alive and then VERY MUCH NOT in a fraction of an eyeblink)

 

[Becky_H]

Quote:
Hey, I admit freely that my issue with head popping off was the grossness factor. Had I used scissors or an ax I wouldn't have felt that wet tear and wouldn't have lost my lunch.

 

[countrybum]

I will not suffocate or break a neck. I found the easiest method to cull a baby is decapitation.

Hold the baby down and use a small size axe. It is quick and painless and not messy.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
Thatssss what is sounds like to me! Other than the very few seconds of "electrical activity" the bird is rather dead...

 

[Mrs MIA]

Just for clarification, my method of choice is letting hubby do it...

I hate doing it by any method. Sorry if I offended anyone with my method.

 

[countrybum]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Just for clarification, my method of choice is letting hubby do it...

I hate doing it by any method. Sorry if I offended anyone with my method.

Oh, I am just offended. Why would you want someone else to do the dirty work.

I only allow hubby to do it when he is home and if not, I just wait until he gets here and he still uses the small hand axe.​