I had to cull my baby chick. I am still shuddering.

[riverhomela]

A.T. Hagan :

Go to Wal Mart or similar store and get a can of engine starting fluid from the automotive section. It's primarily composed of ether which used to be used as an anesthetic way back when. Put a piece of paper toweling in the bottom of a butter tub or some such then put the chick in. Give it a good spray of the starter fluid then seal on the lid. It will soon go to sleep then die painlessly. In about ten minutes you can dispose of the chick.

I will remember this humane way to cull a chick. So good off you to give us this advice. I am pretty new at chicken keeping so many of these things I do not know. Thanks......

 

[silkiechicken]

Your neck snap method or using sharp shears to cut off the head will be the most humane to the animal, despite hardest for you. Personally, I've seen too many animals gassed in an approved "humane" way, which in reality is easier for us, not to them.

As a side note, a little nubby protrusion above the tail on the back is normal, and known as the oil gland. Take a peek under the feathers of your other chicks.

 

[Sumatra503]

I've had to cull several animals for one reason or another. It is never easy and the first one almost made me sick, but I have grown a bit stronger since then. The first one is always the hardest. Always.

I always wring necks. It is quick and painless and is the easiest way to cull a bird without blood. They do spasm after they die as with any animal. I can assure you, though that it is very quick and there is little, if any pain involved with this method. I have never had it fail me.

It is always harder with babies, I know.

I couldn't imagine having to take 15 minutes for a chick to die. I know it seems painless and kind, but the thought unnerves me. It would not be a way I would want to die. Not that any way seems favorable.

I'm so sorry to hear about your little girl.

 

[spook]

I too am very sorry that you needed to cull a chick. Now mind you, I don't do well with culling my birds either, but what I do is fill a container with warm water (makes me feel better), drop in the chick and place another pan of water on over it, walk outside and see your good chickens. We are their keepers, it is our responsibility to make these critters well and healthy if we can. We are also responsible to cull, quickly and humanely, by what ever means is best for us and the bird.

Back a year or so ago I had a hatch where 1 chick was malformed legs. I tried to see if it would become better, but no luck. Taking care of the problem, placed him wrapped in a paper towel to bury him...it peeped. The tears ran and I too shook and shuttered. That is when I began drowning. How are your other babies doing?

 

[bigshoes213]

Everyone else is doing great. i ordered 52 chicks (EE, New hampshire reds, rhode island reds, australorps, buff orpingtons, and some plymouth rocks) I gave 6 to a friend. She wanted to raise chickens too. and I had 2 die including this one.

I am planning on selling some of the eggs at the farmers market and to a lady for her pastry shop. I am working out the details and hopefully will make a little bit of a profit to fund my new hobby. If it doesnt work out then that is okay too. I am still trying to make sure of all the guidelines and regulations so I am not commiting a crime. Once I think I have all the information then something else pops up.

I have 6 NHR and 6 black sex links hens. They are almost a year old now. I love my girls and am very excited about this adventure. It is a good thing my brother and dad like to build things. I see many more coops in the future.

Also my family thinks i am just a bit strange with my new found love for chickens!

Right now my chicks are all in a huge appliance box as the brooder and my brother is coming by this weekend to help me build a more permanent brooder set up. Time got by on me.

I will have to post some pictures soon. I never remember to take any until it is too dark outside.

I really appreciate everyone's responses. I feel much better knowing I did the right thing and that others have had to do the same.

Christina

 

[i<3chickens]

Quote:
Wouldn't it cause them pain to be drowned and cause panic as it does for us? If I ever get chickens I will probably use the ether method or slit their jugulars or get my dad to snap their necks.

 

[ChickyD]

I'm so sorry about your chick

I'm not sure if I could ever cull? If I did it would have to be with the starter fluid. May be easier on me? I'm not sure? But I know I would rather fall asleep then any of the other methods..

 

[Sumatra503]

I'm telling you guys. If you just ring their necks it is much better.

Drowning is extremely painful. It causes extreme panic and is not kind at all. It can take several minutes for the chick to die.

Slitting the jugular is also very painful and inhumane. In Europe it is illegal to cull chickens using this method. If you are caught doing this in any major operation you will be arrested for animal cruelty there but sadly, not here. It can take several minutes for this method as well. The chick panics and sreams until it finally dies from a painful death. I've seen this method used before.

Suffacation is also very painful. It ias best to just end it quickly.

If done correctly neck ringing is very humane. The chick dies before it even knows what happened.

The preper way to wring a neck is this. grab just below the bird's head. Let go of the body with your other hand. Hold the bird away from you and swing it in a circular motion. Be sure to swing the bird as fast as you can and to make several revolutions. Once the bird is released it will convulse, but is already dead. Once the bird has stopped convulsing it will go completely limp. It may take a minute or two for the body to stop convulsing, but don't let it unnerve you.

I know it sounds gruesome and tramatic, but the bird is dead after less than a second usually. It has felt no pain and died peacefully and most important has died quickly.

another method I use, and this is the only other, is to simply lop the birds head. This is quicker and surer than neck wringing, but also is very messy.

If you do not have the stomach to humanely cull a bird, then call a friend who will do this for you. You need to remeber what is best for the animal and not for yourself.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

I have read (on another site) about using engine starter.
The poster sprayed a rag heavily with the starter and used an ice cream tub as the container for chick and rag.
She said it stopped moving in seconds. I believe, but cannot be sure, that they become unconscious
that quickly, and then death follows. I wish I knew how long the whole process takes, but I don't.
Since I couldn't wring it's neck (afraid I wouldn't do it properly) I'd rather go this route, at least it's "out" very quickly.

 

[Sumatra503]

Yes, but once it is "out" what happens to it? Gasing animals has been outlawed in favor of humanely euthanizing the animals. If it is illegal to this in a veterinary clinic, then that makes me wonder. It sounds horrible to me!