Not to be insensitive; when babies have to be culled.

[Stacykins]

Quote:
It's actually pretty quick with small animals (assuming your freezer is working) - they don't have a chance for frostbite, they just shut down.

Actually, it has been proven that before animals get to the 'shut down' part where they 'go to sleep' they experience freezing of their cells i.e. frostbite. And when a cell freezes, the ice crystals cause the cell to burst, which translates to pain. Freezing is one of the most inhumane ways to cull out there, even for small animals that lose body heat quickly. Please do your research before making such statements.

Edit for spelling

 

[TnChickHen]

I've had about 2 of them I've had to put down right after hatching. One was, sad to say, completely retarded (couldn't move anywhere but on its back), so I had to cull it just by pulling on its neck a little. It was quick and easy. Easier than on an older roo or hen. Another I had to pretty much do the same thing. I felt horrible! But what has to be done will be done. I've not thought about freezing, but will think of this if we get another chick that we know won't make it.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I use scissors for young chicks. Quick and done...

 

[SaraFL]

I've been very curious about this. I've been lucky and have not needed to cull any so far. I know the day might come when an adult is sick or badly injured. I've been thinking about hatching out a few ducklings too. I'm not sure what I'd do, but I don't think I can handle the decapitation. The idea of baby heads is just too much for me. I might have to break down and take them to a vet, although I know that would not really be financially feasible in larger scale production.

 

[Time-Out]

I haven't had to cull chicks so far (thank goodness!), but I have had to cull fish. It's horrible no matter the animal. I found the best, easiest and most effective way was to crush their brain in one go. I don't think there is a quicker, less painful way. Chopping a head off means you have to look at what you're doing and SEE it. Wrap it up in something and bring something big and heavy down onto it, then go have a quick sob. That's how I'd do it.

 

[warmfuzzies]

Quote:
Yup. Just like butchering, the least gruesome way is not normally the easiest or quickest for the animal. The most pain-free is going to be the yuckiest. My dh steps on them. Or he puts them in a bag and whacks then hard against the wall if they are still tiny. Otherwise, we do it like we would be butchering them- slit the throat. I don't know that I could freeze them, but thats just me.

ETA breaking the neck is good too.

 

[NovaAman]

Freezing... Nice. Try standing in an industrial freezer with out a coat for a few minutes... You will shake so bad that your bones will hurt. Think about the baby chick now. It isn't instant. First you are freezing and suffocating it at the same time. WOW. That is cruel. Your supposed to take care of your animals with compassion. That is not compassion. It might seem like it to you, but its not. It might be quick, but its not instant. And the poor little guy comes out of its egg, and you have decided to end its life with MINUTES OF PAIN. Its a baby chick. Just a quick tug will snap its neck. Done. No cruelty involved. I am sure you don't/didn't think of it that way, and I am sure you aren't intending that it be a cruel end, but it really isn't humane. Please rethink your culling methods. Maybe I am just to sensitive, but that hurts me just to think of it.

 

[PegramPoultryProprietor]

Not sure I should have started this; maybe the moderators can provide us with something in the sticky thread as to the most scientifically researched non-traumatic UN barbaric humanely sensitive way to cull a baby chick. I would be glad to implement and promote the process. Just a thought.

 

[ReikiStar]

Quote:
X's 2. I don't know where this myth about freezing being painless. The quicker the method, the better. Freezing takes minutes, how in the world can that be humane?

 

[nurse_turtle]

Freezing? While still alive? Wow. That never crossed my mind. Decapitation is instant. As humans we need to be able to face our "must do" tasks. Maybe it is easier for some to place the baby in a bag and into the freezer because we don't have to see the death. It may be easier on us, but it is really not IMHO humane. As an oncology nurse, I have witnessed many, many terrible human deaths. The dying process, at least for humans, involves the body cooling during shutdown. It is taught and practiced that dying patients are kept warm for comfort. I highly recommend decapitation to cull chicks. If you can't stand to look at it's little face, use a couple paper towels and wrap one around the head and one around the body leaving just a small slit to place the blade to the neck.