Is ETHER a humane way to euthanize? any info for me? DH wants to no

[sonew123]

Hi everyone, My Dh and I have to euthanize some of our handicapped birds that are just not flourishing. We have been trying to save these guys 4 of them for a month or two and its just not getting any better-in fact they are gtting worse-not walking-crying-wont eat or drink witout us almost forcing them-its unfair to them ad I cannot keep doing it for fear of guilt-I need to suck it up and do whats right. My Dh has been asking me to ask the ether question for a while now--has anyone used this method or heard of it and can you please tell me how its done-weve read about the other methods and we cannot cut heads off-snap neck-etc...not this group. please help.. thank you so much

 

[Lollipop]

In your words, you "need to suck it up and do what`s right". No matter what anyone says, there is no quicker or more humane way than chopping the head off. Hard to do, but with raising animals comes the responsibility to do the right thing. Good luck......Pop

 

[allison finch]

Check out carbon dioxide poisoning. I'm not sure of the ingredients, but I think you can put them in a bucket with either baking soda or powder. Add vinegar and the reaction will produce CO2. I'm not sure how much is needed, but someone will come on the the details, I'm sure.

 

[sonew123]

I agree pops-I was just hoping with this group, I could do it easier than chopping heads but if I cannot find the ether answer I will by tonight-with recruting help:-( It is a part of the life I chose to live with my chickens-Im sure when its done I will feel much better about them being better off-I had this nurse complex I guess

 

[NYREDS]

For euthanizing young chicks Either works well. With older birds it's slower & causes severe convultions,
Quickly seperating head from body is really the most humane way to go.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Baking soda and vinegar will permanently put them to sleep without having to chop their heads off. Personally I cant cull anything I have my DH do it and he takes them to the chopping block. We have to cull a chick that hatched out yesterday and i was thinking about the CO2 method this time around. I believe if you put them in an air tight container and put a small dish at the bottom filled most of the way with baking soda then pour the vinegar on top just enough to fill the dish should do it.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Chemically putting an animal down is not the most humane. It takes much much longer than a quick chop of the head that is an instant death. That is the most humane way. Any other way is really just appeasing the owners feelings. Breaking the neck just crushes the windpipe and suffocates the bird but I would even choose this way over the 'gassed' method. You can go to your vet and pay them good money to do it for you but that is not a quick most humane way either IMO and a waste of money when you can do it yourself. It is a very hard thing to do. Especially if you are attatched but sometimes it is a necessary evil. JMO

 

[jaalb]

I agree chopping off the head is the most humane way to go,,, chemicals take longer and make the bird suffer

 

[sonew123]

ok then..I knew I would have to do it-I was hoping not to though-ahhh I better go look for a big sharp ax and some sort of chopping block! bleah

 

[briteday]

As a research scientist I have used many methods including ether.

For home use I have done the chop off the head routine as well as ether. I find either method equally as quick.

You obviously know how to chop off a head. And remember that it is normal to have some residual reflexes remaining for up to a few minutes. There may be some muscle twitching and such. We chop, cover with a towel, and come back in a few minutes to do disposal.

Ether...engine starting fluid is relatively easy to obtain at an auto supply store or even Walmart. You are looking for "diethyl ether" in the ingredients. Depending on the size of the chicken, use a zip lock bag large enough, put a paper towel or two in the bottom, soak with ether (really soak). Hold or zip the bag closed for a few minutes allowing the ether fumes to fill the bag, get the chicken, insert into the bag (you may want to cover the bag with a towel so you don't have to watch), zip closed, and within 5-10 seconds the animal is dead. Be cautious about disposing as the fumes are flammable.