Killing chicks that are hurt

[kwhites634]

Thank y'all for the responses. I've seen pics online of chicks with their neck twisted. Some that are limp and chirping like they're hurt. Under developed ones, tumors... I was wanting to ask. I think one of my hens may be going broody and I think it would be neat to watch them hatch but I'm very soft hearted and I don't know if I could handle a chick that's dying.

Sooner or later, it's going to happen. All part of animal husbandry that we all face, eventually.

 

[kwhites634]

Thank you. I have dispatched enough animals/birds over my lifetime that I feel comfortable sharing my knowledge if it can help someone. Most people do not wish to dispatch an animal and I have always taken over because I don't want any creature to suffer, especially once it's clear all avenues have been exhausted. I was the grim reaper for my section of the hog barn and have been the grim reaper for decades on this farm. Now I live trap poultry predators. I take pride in being able to end life in one shot, as quickly and painlessly as humanly possible rather than leaving them to suffer. It is a depressing subject, but one necessary to discuss.

The pellet gun I use fires a .177 pellet and uses a spring piston.
The gun is rated at 450 FPS, which is more than adequate to dispatch a full-sized bird when shot at the back of the head at the base of the skull, which is my preference. The gun would be about 8-10 years old I believe.


The following is my guidelines.

Blunt force trauma: Most small animals/birds that's a baby, small lambs, piglets, rats

.177 pellet gun: full-sized poultry; chickens, small ducks, guineas, mice, rats, baby bunnies (if something's wrong)
(Blunt force trauma can work for most of these as well.)

22 rifle: for anything larger; dogs, cats, foxes, skunks, raccoons, sheep, calves

Full-sized cattle: .243 rifle

I'd be comfortable with any of those methods except for the rat. All I can think of is a rat "skinning the cat", as we used to know it, and biting or trying to bite the person holding it. I've had that happen when carrying what I thought were dead squirrels by the tail or hind feet.

 

[aart]

which is more than adequate to dispatch a full-sized bird when shot at the back of the head at the base of the skull,

How do you get the bird to hold it's head still?

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'd be comfortable with any of those methods except for the rat. All I can think of is a rat "skinning the cat", as we used to know it, and biting or trying to bite the person holding it. I've had that happen when carrying what I thought were dead squirrels by the tail or hind feet.

When I wrote that I was thinking more along the lines of a rat/mouse that had been mangled by a dog or cat and was on its last legs...but not dead yet.

You raise a valid point. I certainly agree with you that it is not a good idea to be picking up a rat or any rodent capable of biting. Perhaps I should strike that from my original post. If it comes across that way to you, I wouldn't want anyone else not familiar with rodents to try that.
Thank you for noting this kw.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

How do you get the bird to hold it's head still?

You really had me thinking back. For the few chickens I've had to dispatch, I've nursed them along until there was absolutely no hope. They were at the point of sitting in one spot quietly.

However, in case you're meaning putting chickens down for slaughter, I don't shoot those. I'll be using a hatchet and a block. Very different.

 

[kwhites634]

When I wrote that I was thinking more along the lines of a rat/mouse that had been mangled by a dog or cat and was on its last legs...but not dead yet.

You raise a valid point. I certainly agree with you that it is not a good idea to be picking up a rat or any rodent capable of biting. Perhaps I should strike that from my original post. If it comes across that way to you, I wouldn't want anyone else not familiar with rodents to try that.
Thank you for noting this kw.

Not a problem; we southies need to take care of our frosty cousins to the north.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would not be restraining an animal with one hand while shooting with the other. OH my... How do we spell ER trauma??? Better to restrain the animal by an other means, perhaps a pillow case???

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I would not be restraining an animal with one hand while shooting with the other. OH my... How do we spell ER trauma??? Better to restrain the animal by an other means, perhaps a pillow case???

Oh gosh...I meant with a pellet gun and only a pellet gun.
I better fix that.

 

[lazy gardener]

Even then, a pellet gun can inflict a serious injury!!!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Even then, a pellet gun can inflict a serious injury!!!

I extracted the entire paragraph so no one gets the wrong idea.