Killing my chicken humanely with medication

[DobieLover]

Take the poor thing to the Vet.

See above post...

 

[DoveChick09]

I know this thread is old. But I was looking for the same info and came across the article I'll link below. I could not break my chickens neck, nor let anyone else do something I'm not ok with myself. I am planning to use a high dose (well high for a chicken) of left over specific prescription pills. We have gabapentin and other anxiety pills. Apparently the combo in Tylenol PM is another option. I hope this link helps others who love their chicken
Link: How to humanely euthanize a pet

 

[The Caribbean Chick]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am sorry about your bird. Get some Engine Starter Fluid. It is mostly Ether. Towel her up and lay her on her lap. Spray down a rag really really well. Hold it over her beak and nostrils. She will go to sleep in 30 to 45 seconds. Keep holding the rag over her beak and in another minute her heart will stop. Keep holding it on her for another minute or so until you know she is gone.

I don't care for blood and gore either. This is a painless way to go. I am so sorry.

Thank you for this method. I have a lively old hen that was caught by my nephew’s dogs. The wound is very deep along the back tail area. Surprisingly she tolerated one human oral dose of norco (hydrocodone-acetaminophen for a 4 hours!). She’s been a trooper for the past week. However, the pain and damage is too severe for her to have a good quality of life. Nephew didn’t know this bird recently developed the skills to fly over the 9ft gate. When the dogs normally come over to visit, the entire flock is usually secured in a very large 600sqft fenced grass/garden pen. The dogs ignore them. The crazy thing that day the dogs felt so guilty! I didn’t know what happened yet when I got home at the front of the yard/house. The pair of them came around heads down. The brindle couldn’t look at me and kept his head turned away while I pet and rubbed their heads. The brindle is the more active hunter as he has clears most rabbits from our yard.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you for this method. I have a lively old hen that was caught by my nephew’s dogs. The wound is very deep along the back tail area. Surprisingly she tolerated one human oral dose of norco (hydrocodone-acetaminophen for a 4 hours!). She’s been a trooper for the past week. However, the pain and damage is too severe for her to have a good quality of life. Nephew didn’t know this bird recently developed the skills to fly over the 9ft gate. When the dogs normally come over to visit, the entire flock is usually secured in a very large 600sqft fenced grass/garden pen. The dogs ignore them. The crazy thing that day the dogs felt so guilty! I didn’t know what happened yet when I got home at the front of the yard/house. The pair of them came around heads down. The brindle couldn’t look at me and kept his head turned away while I pet and rubbed their heads. The brindle is the more active hunter as he has clears most rabbits from our yard.

I am so sorry, not an easy task to do but sometimes necessary. My heart goes out to you. ❤

 

[Jw_chickens]

Same. One time when I was younger I remember having a vet euthanize a chick and it was like $30…

The vet I just called on monday said $82.50... They already charged me over $100 to get her some medicine - after not really checking her out... I have already spent way more on the $4 chicken than I should... I'm finding it really hard to physically euthanized her myself... 1st year having chickens. I know what I should do... I'm just not sure that she's in any pain... she doesn't sound like it, anyway.

 

[Debbie292d]

The vet I just called on monday said $82.50... They already charged me over $100 to get her some medicine - after not really checking her out... I have already spent way more on the $4 chicken than I should... I'm finding it really hard to physically euthanized her myself... 1st year having chickens. I know what I should do... I'm just not sure that she's in any pain... she doesn't sound like it, anyway.

So sorry to hear.
There are several methods and links above. None take away the sadness of us doing it, but are painless for them.

 

[ReneesRanch]

Same. One time when I was younger I remember having a vet euthanize a chick and it was like $30…

I was just charged $400. I guess it depends on the vet.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

One thread here sonewhere said overdosing on medication is a bad plan, ad it goes into the crop, sometimes for hours, and is not digested immediately. If anyone is looking for a quick way to dispatch a suffering bird, please google "broomstick method" of culling a chicken. I'll see if I can find a link.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm sorry, I cannot find a good YouTube video that demonstrates this method. The best one I found is 11:45 minutes long and the lady stands holding the rooster and talking into the camera for about 11 of those minutes. At one point she appears to pray. I don't know, I had the sound off.