I have to destroy my entire flock. I need a very humane way

[Payette]

Quote:
My friend used Loppers ( like what you cut branches with ) to cut off the rooster's heads in their sleep.
Maybe you could put them in a seperate coop than your future chickens.

 

[Boring Farm]

Actually from what I read, the "Hatchet" method is part of the "Cervical" methods which seem to be oddly humane. For me, the blood would be bothersome but it's what to do with the blood after. Since we live in a very rural area, there are cougars (and sadly, not the good ones), coyotes, wolves and raccoons which will be attracted to the blood in a big way.

This has toughened me up quite a bit, which is both good and bad. But ChooksChick summed it up quite well. And hearing Chevis & Purple Chicken are going through the same problems and emotions doesn't make me feel quite alone in all this.

Oh my god... I just went through kill-a-chicken therapy. Where do I send the check?

 

[EweSheep]

LOL Boring Farm, no checks needed. That is what we do here, offer sympathy and advices when you need it. Also we CAN be criticial as well. At this point, you are doing everything you can and start all over again when you are ready.

So sorry to hear what you are going through...its tough but you will be stronger for it!

 

[ChooksChick]

It's true- someday I'm going to need you (figuratively) to make me be pragmatic and give myself permission to cuss and cry.

I expect you all will be kind and firm with me. It's a loving hand and we all extend it to one another as needed.

 

[MandyH]

We had to destroy a whole flock several years back, it IS horrible. We have had to put chickens down here and there through the years also. My personal preference is a shotgun. It will take the head right off and there usually isn't much blood or movement after. It's always rough to put one down, but putting down the whole flock does suck.

 

[heatherindeskies]

Quote:
We will feel your pain too.

 

[Laurieks]

Quote:
From a very recent post on another website "I also found the articles about Mycoplasma interesting, as he talks about Tiammutin (Denagard) as an effective treatment
http://www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/avian_mycoplasma.htm

http://www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/mycoplasma_sensitivity.htm


Mycoplasma is present in 75% - 89% of ALL flocks, both commercial and private according to Dr. Scott Jones at the Baron Diagnostic Lab in Wisconsin. If you have bought birds from somewhere else or birds were previously raised on your property, it is highly likely that you have Mycoplasma in your birds. Most people never know it, as symptoms usually do not appear unless the flock is under stress. Common symptoms are decrease in egg production, also embyo and chick mortality (Mycoplasma can be transmitted via egg). Mycoplasma It is extremely hard to treat but Tiamulin (sold as Denagard) is a very effective antibiotic, especially against bacterial respiratory diseases. Denagard has the added advantage of having zero withdrawal period for eggs as it is unrelated to any antibiotic used in humans. You can read more about it here:

http://www.tiamutin.com/vet-poultry/firstchoice/en/protection.shtml

I ordered it from QC Supply. http://www.qcsupply.com/
I keep it on hand as an effective broad spectrum antibiotic that is available without Rx. It can also be used as a preventative against Mycoplasma. Dosage instructions;

Preventative is 8cc's to a gallon of water
Treatment is almost double the preventative dosage, 15cc's to a gallon of water.

Give as only water for 3-5 days, repeat in 3 weeks

If breeding for chicks with your birds, I would do the treatment dosage for the 5 days, then again in 3 weeks reduce dosage to 12cc per gallon. (Denagard given to breeding hens prevents transmission via egg)

Don't exceed the 15cc's to a gallon of water, it can harm kidneys. Denagard is bitter, if your birds won’t drink it add a bit of sugar to the water

Make sure you are not using medicated feeds. Chick starter with Amprolium in it IS SAFE to use with the Denagard, the Tiamutin site lists the drugs that are safe to use with it. You don’t want to use other antibiotics at the same time as antibiotics can be hard on the bird’s kidneys"

I've since read up on it; sounds very promising. And note that it is a bacteriacide.

/AGREE

Try Denagard first! At least for your pet birds

Thank you Sonoran for a timely post... I have birds with sniffles, I thought from weather, but now not so sure (necropsy pending on the third body found, before anyone showed signs of illness

) ... and had just placed an order for denagard, from the first source I found, at twice QC's price (how can they do that?). I emailed them to cancel the order and will place it with QC.

 

[seminolewind]

So sorry.
I would put an add on Craig's list looking for someone to come and "process" chickens. I would not want to be there. Sorry again.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Last year my flock had CRD and I called a vet out to destroy them (cervical method). I was and am devastated. I had a large variety, mostly my hatches and up to 6 years of age. I'm so sorry you're going through this as well.

 

[lurky]

Quote:
For the record, My Vet is AWESOME......... it was not 'my vet' that was in question. She is such a great Vet, i felt guilty every time i saw that post