Needing reassurance, i am freaking out, just culled for the 1st time

[Zzzzia]

hi. I don't mind blood and all, but I wouldnt hurt an animal in any ways. We got chicks for the 1st time so my young kids could learn and interact with them.
I have 2 cockerels that I posted on various sites first to confirm gender but also offer them for free. Nobody showed interest and 1 starting crowing. We are not allowed rooster. So I felt it was inhumane to abandon them in the forest, so I cull them with a home made killing cone from a bottomless 1 gallon water bottle, which I had enlarged the neck for them to fit in nicely, and after research online, convene to use garden loppers as I was too scared of doing a wrong cut with a knife, and missing them with an axe.
Their bodies kept shaking for maybe 10 seconds after the snap.... were they feeling something? Maybe I should have stopped after the 1sr one, but I had to finish before freaking out.... i snapped the tool completely so their spinal cord must have been severed??? Did i do it wrong? There was little blood from the lopers maybe being dull...... but it must have severed the cord???
Please help, as I may have 2 more in a few weeks, still unsure of sex as of now. I need to do it right, and hubby refuses to help as he says chicks were my project and I need to embrace all aspects..... argghhh

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

It sounds to me like the neck was broken and the cord was severed. When you have the birds hanging you should be able to feel that the head is almost disconnected inside of the skin. It will be loose and flop more easily than other parts of the bird.

I use the broomstick method and from my experience there is a lot of movement after the cord is severed. It doesn’t mean that you did it wrong.

 

[Sequel]

I’m so sorry you had to face this but you showed courage and compassion. The movements you describe sound normal and if they went on only 10 seconds it sounds like you did everything right. It’s also normal to feel upset, it shows your heart is in the right place.

 

[bobbi-j]

You did it right. The shaking is from the nerve ending firing, but the birds were already dead and didn’t feel a thing. Good for you for doing the responsible thing. I assure you they didn’t suffer. It would have been far worse to abandon them in the forest for other animals to kill them. Imagine the terror they would have felt. This way, they lived a good life up until one bad moment.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I was less than 6 years old when the neighbors over back from us harvested some chickens in there back yard. Chickens really do run around with their heads cut off, LOL. It was eye opening to my family, as we never saw that before!

 

[Zzzzia]

It sounds to me like the neck was broken and the cord was severed. When you have the birds hanging you should be able to feel that the head is almost disconnected inside of the skin. It will be loose and flop more easily than other parts of the bird.

I use the broomstick method and from my experience there is a lot of movement after the cord is severed. It doesn’t mean that you did it wrong.

Thank you! I feel so reassured

 

[Zzzzia]

You did it right. The shaking is from the nerve ending firing, but the birds were already dead and didn’t feel a thing. Good for you for doing the responsible thing. I assure you they didn’t suffer. It would have been far worse to abandon them in the forest for other animals to kill them. Imagine the terror they would have felt. This way, they lived a good life up until one bad moment.

I just wished I could have found them a good home. They were sweet roosters. But i think this year with covid and all, a lot of people are looking at rehoming hens, less people want roosters
Now, I surprised myself being able to actually do it. Hopefully my lavender orpingtons are pullets and I don't have to do this again.
Thanks for all the support

 

[Sally PB]

I had to cull two cockerels that became very aggressive. It was VERY difficult. Even though they had turned mean, were harassing the pullets, and had bit me, I cried. Hard. It wasn't their fault they were born male.

They flopped a lot too. Not easy to watch. They are buried in my garden now. I say hello to them and thank them for giving nutrients back to the soil.

It shouldn't be easy. You did the right thing.

 

[3KillerBs]

With my admittedly limited experience of using the broomstick method to kill chickens, a strong flapping reaction shows that the kill was quick and clean.

I'll admit that it's disturbing, but understanding that the strong reaction means a clean kill helps.

 

[Stablecoop]

Yes you did the right thing, and it sounds like you had clean culls. Not easy, and good for you for having the courage and compassion needed for this task.