Need help with putting hen down-edit it's done :(

[wistlindixie]

Quote:
Now that I read that, I do remember someone describing this method once. It might be an option if the vet thing is not do-able. Keep us posted.

 

[Sorin]

I agree with the vet idea, it is kind of surprising that is not mentioned more often. They may not even have to inject anything, most vets have a "gas chamber" they use for anesthetizing cats that can't be handled safely that could put her to sleep, and any small animal vet worth his salt should be able to sever the neckbone. At least that way you wouldn't have to fight the poor thing with the rake, even though I think that is a pretty good idea too. I would not try the ether method. I know a lot of people espouse this for baby chicks that need to be culled, but I the first time I had to put a full grown chicken down I tried that and it was not good. I had her in a 1 foot by 1 foot plastic tub, snapped the cover on, taped the edges except a small spot to get the nozzle in, gave about a ten second spray and left her. Went bak out about ten minutes later to check on her and she was still alive! I was so mad! That poor thing suffered in there for ten minutes having to breathe this horrible fumes and was alive and awake

I quickly grabbed some long handled pruning shears and ended her suffering. I won't try that method again.

 

[DTRM30]

I think I'm going to contact my son's old teacher - I remember now her hubby is a vet - maybe he'll do it for me.
I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks for all the great ideas of how to handle this ..... all I could find being talked about with a search was the hatchet method - but it was all pertaining to meat birds - which I know you need to bleed out. But that isn't the case here ...

 

[flowergirl60]

I am so sorry you are going through this, must be so hard. I would try the vet to myself. I couldn't bare the thought of anything else. I hope you find one that is affordable. My prayers are with you a your son and your hen.

 

[DTRM30]

Thanks guys for all the hugs ....

It means a lot - really.

I just e-mailed his teacher - maybe having two kids that were in her class will have a little "pull" ...

I'll let you know.

 

[augustwest]

We've done the cervical dislocation before on a chicken that was just not getting better from a gi issue. She was week and my husband did it with the hen tucked under his arm. He read about it on the Internet. He said it was no problem and was over quickly.

We also put a hen with neurological issues to sleep at the vet. I wanted the vet to look for mareks anyhow (negative). They used gas first and then gave her the shot. I sweet talked them a bit with a story like yours and they did it for $25. It was a bit more for the autopsy.

You're doing the right thing by putting the hen down, it sounds. My kids have really learned a lot about death with chickens and it's been great for them.

 

[Bluerock]

If you're wanting a relatively bloodless, non-disfiguring method, a .22 to the head probably isn't the way to go. Sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[DTRM30]

Well, it's done

It's better for the hen - but we're still sad

She was so sweet ...
I couldn't get in touch with the vet - though if I need to do this
again in the future I'll try to call them again.
I wanted to get this done quickly before he had a lot of time to re-think this. We talked about it - since I do think it's fair to let him know -it will give him the comfort of knowing we did what was best to end her suffering . (he's 12 so is old enough)
We are going to bury her tomorrow since it started to rain right afterward. Almost as if nature herself is saddened.
I ended up using ether. She was a bantam so fit onto a gallon size plastic bag.
I covered her eyes and placed her in the bag with a soft cloth to sit on. I sprayed the cloth and closed the bag.
It was very quick. She was unconscious within literally about 3 seconds and had stopped breathing a few seconds later. My son was not allowed to watch - and I'm glad because the involuntary twitching after she stopped breathing would have bothered him.
I held her on my lap - I don't think she even knew what was happening - or maybe she did - either was she seemed very calm and at peace and being held on a warm lap.
My son is doing well - knowing she went quickly and was calm and happy for her last day. She spent a few hours propped up so she didn't fall on her side outside in the sun out of her sling pecking at stuff on the ground.

Thank you everyone for all the good ideas, help and hugs.

 

[wistlindixie]

I had been wondering how things went. So sorry :-(

 

[MeowCluckBark]

I'm so sorry for you. I really am. That is one of the hardest things to deal with, putting down a pet. I think you did the best thing for her and if it's any sign of her acceptance I think her being calm with you was definitely it. She had to have been miserable like that and you did the best thing for her. Bravo!