I had to euthanize one of my birds recently. I found a method here on the BYC forum and thought I'd share my experiences.
I read somewhere on the BYC forum that you could use ether to euthanize a chicken. I had to euthanize a bird so I thought I'd try that. Our chickens are pets more than anything else, and they have names. Neither myself or my wife really wanted to use a more traditional method, so we opted for this.
I went to the local Wal-Mart and picked up a Sterlite clear plastic storage box with a lid (got one with plenty of room for a chicken to set in), a very cheap towel, and a couple of cans of automotive starting fluid (Ether). I think the whole kit set me back about $15. Might have been less if they'd had the Sterlite box on sale.
I put the towel in the bottom of the Sterlite box, then put the bird inside, put the lid on, then covered the whole thing with a big, dark colored beach towel to make it good and dark in the box. I could move the beach-towel a little so I could see her in the box. The chicken calmed down pretty quickly. I did not want her to feel distressed in any way.
I then soaked some folded up paper-towels with the ether, lifted the plastic lid and dropped the paper towels into the box on the side of the box she was facing away from. She stayed calm and made very little noise.
She started to look sleepy after a few minutes, and I folded up more paper towels, soaked them in ether and dropped them in. There was plenty of room in the box so I didn't drop the paper towels on her, just in the box with her. She continued to get sleepy and I continued to add ether soaked towels to the box. After about 15 minutes or so she went completely limp. I put in more ether soaked paper towels and after about another 5 minutes she died. She kicked and fluttered a little bit as she passed, but I figure that was just some nerve reaction, as she stayed unconscious the whole time. I left her in the box for an additional 1/2 hour with some more ether just to be absolutely sure.
This was not a pleasant task, and I didn't like doing it, but we just didn't have the money to have our vet do it. I can say though that it was not distressing to the chicken at all. She stayed pretty quiet and peaceful. Her breathing was not distressed and she seemed comfortable. Pretty much stayed in one spot the whole time. If you're like me and can't bring yourself to wring a pet chicken's neck, then this is a pretty good option. I hope this was helpful.
I'll also note that it did take a little time. Ether doesn't work the way it does on TV. It does take some time, but it does seem to work fairly well.
I read somewhere on the BYC forum that you could use ether to euthanize a chicken. I had to euthanize a bird so I thought I'd try that. Our chickens are pets more than anything else, and they have names. Neither myself or my wife really wanted to use a more traditional method, so we opted for this.
I went to the local Wal-Mart and picked up a Sterlite clear plastic storage box with a lid (got one with plenty of room for a chicken to set in), a very cheap towel, and a couple of cans of automotive starting fluid (Ether). I think the whole kit set me back about $15. Might have been less if they'd had the Sterlite box on sale.
I put the towel in the bottom of the Sterlite box, then put the bird inside, put the lid on, then covered the whole thing with a big, dark colored beach towel to make it good and dark in the box. I could move the beach-towel a little so I could see her in the box. The chicken calmed down pretty quickly. I did not want her to feel distressed in any way.
I then soaked some folded up paper-towels with the ether, lifted the plastic lid and dropped the paper towels into the box on the side of the box she was facing away from. She stayed calm and made very little noise.
She started to look sleepy after a few minutes, and I folded up more paper towels, soaked them in ether and dropped them in. There was plenty of room in the box so I didn't drop the paper towels on her, just in the box with her. She continued to get sleepy and I continued to add ether soaked towels to the box. After about 15 minutes or so she went completely limp. I put in more ether soaked paper towels and after about another 5 minutes she died. She kicked and fluttered a little bit as she passed, but I figure that was just some nerve reaction, as she stayed unconscious the whole time. I left her in the box for an additional 1/2 hour with some more ether just to be absolutely sure.
This was not a pleasant task, and I didn't like doing it, but we just didn't have the money to have our vet do it. I can say though that it was not distressing to the chicken at all. She stayed pretty quiet and peaceful. Her breathing was not distressed and she seemed comfortable. Pretty much stayed in one spot the whole time. If you're like me and can't bring yourself to wring a pet chicken's neck, then this is a pretty good option. I hope this was helpful.
I'll also note that it did take a little time. Ether doesn't work the way it does on TV. It does take some time, but it does seem to work fairly well.
