NY chicken lover!!!!

[JLaw]

I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your egg laying bird! Is it possible to knock out the bird first, maybe with a mallet? I never thought about this part of the whole chicken raising thing. Just figured they'd die out naturally. Miltex makes some really nice scissors. During the hatch I used a small pair of Miltex Iris scissors to puncture the shell and remove small segments, however the chick had already expired. Iris's may be too small for this purpose, usually they're used to delicately dissect soft tissue. Perhaps a veterinary person would know of a better instrument for this purpose? Is the technique to sever the vertebral body mid level of the neck?

There have been a few ways to put a chicken down but alot believe a clean cut through neck by head is best. I've done a few that people say are humane and decided as much as I don't like this way it works. One other way is vinegar and baking soda. It sorta knockes them out by replacing oxygen with co2. When I did it, it seemed like it went to sleep with one death flop and it was done. This was a chick about 1-2 months old I think. I have also taken a shovel and hit a 3ish month old chicken over the head it wasn't moving around much had trouble standing and it was this winter and what I had ready to use. It didn't flop around ether but it was already weak. It seemed fastest to me but if you don't hit hard enough or in right spot you could just injure it and make it run away. So I've gone with the removal of head. It seems the easiest and most accurate and humane to me but make sure you have sharp tools that can actually cut through the neck.

A few that I've not tried and don't plan on it. Is putting chicks in bag then in freezer. a box and a tailpipe. a sealed bucket. I think some do a cone method where put chicken upside down I a cone and just slice/puncture the juggler and let them bleed out. But I think that's more if your going to eat the chicken. And the only reason I don't do that is I don't have a cone and I don't know where the juggler is so removal is best for me.

 

[Overhill Flocks]

I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your egg laying bird! Is it possible to knock out the bird first, maybe with a mallet? I never thought about this part of the whole chicken raising thing. Just figured they'd die out naturally. Miltex makes some really nice scissors. During the hatch I used a small pair of Miltex Iris scissors to puncture the shell and remove small segments, however the chick had already expired. Iris's may be too small for this purpose, usually they're used to delicately dissect soft tissue. Perhaps a veterinary person would know of a better instrument for this purpose? Is the technique to sever the vertebral body mid level of the neck?

This is one of several of your posts, why do, that have made me consider whether you're running a satirical experiment or truly have these questions. I think Stony is right about checking out his blog and getting more prepared for the reality of livestock. Doing so might cause me to have less "Are you for real?!?" reactions to your posts. I grew up in an agricultural environment and have spent my professional life in the veterinary world. In both realms I have learned this: unpreparedness when owning animals often leads to unintentional cruelty. We should always be prepared to eliminate pain and suffering in the animals under our care. I am concerned that you may be learning about the aspects of animals that you enjoy and are comfortable with, while completely shutting out the parts that make you uncomfortable. Chickens often do die on their own. Despite our best efforts, they are just as likely to suffer a horrible fate that requires us to intervene in order to prevent them further suffering. Please be ready to do so.

 

[JLaw]

I use the handle of a rake or something long like that. Put the bird on the ground n lay the handle over the neck so the head is on one side step on the handle with both feet one on each side of head. Pull up on the feet quickly and hard. This separates the spine at the neck and they die instantly. It's the only way I find to be quick and not bloody.

Do they flop around when you do this? I don't know if I could do it this way may try next time. My luck I pull too hard and rip head off then have it bleeding on me.

I'm not sure I see the difference. Hit a chicken in the head with a hammer or cut it's head off. Not seeing how hitting it with a hammer males it less stressful for the bird.

IF you are going to raise livestock you really need to be prepared to kill. To kill your livestock, to kill predators who are killing your livestock. These are things you NEED to know you are GOING to have to do.

You should really read my blog. You would benefit from it greatly.

Yep hitting with hammer or mallet is worst I would think. Mainly because you have chance to miss and just injure the bird.

Like stony said have to be ready to kill the animals you raise or the ones threating your stock. I wasn't quite ready to kill the ones I raise but its getting alittle easier each time. That don't mean its fun but I'm not crying over it anymore like I did the first chick I nursed for like 2 weeks until stony I think it was said its time to put it down and let the poor thing rest it had suffered enough.

 

[Overhill Flocks]

Do they flop around when you do this? I don't know if I could do it this way may try next time. My luck I pull too hard and rip head off then have it bleeding on me.

Yep hitting with hammer or mallet is worst I would think. Mainly because you have chance to miss and just injure the bird.

Like stony said have to be ready to kill the animals you raise or the ones threating your stock. I wasn't quite ready to kill the ones I raise but its getting alittle easier each time. That don't mean its fun but I'm not crying over it anymore like I did the first chick I nursed for like 2 weeks until stony I think it was said its time to put it down and let the poor thing rest it had suffered enough.

This was a source of great anxiety for me the first time -- that I would do it wrong and cause pain and stress to the bird. In any case, the handle method worked fine for me.

 

[stonykill]

This is one of several of your posts, why do, that have made me consider whether you're running a satirical experiment or truly have these questions. I think Stony is right about checking out his blog and getting more prepared for the reality of livestock. Doing so might cause me to have less "Are you for real?!?" reactions to your posts.

I have also questioned the same. I certainly hope these are legitimate posts. But honestly some of them are so out there I really feel....hope I'm wrong...but really feel the thread is being "played". Gawd I hope I wrong and why do is very innocent and studies up CONSIDERABLY before purchasing any more critters.

On a related note...that kitchen will never be cleared as a commercial kitchen with chickens living in the house. Vacuumed chickens or not.

 

[stonykill]

Do they flop around when you do this? I don't know if I could do it this way may try next time. My luck I pull too hard and rip head off then have it bleeding on me.

Yep hitting with hammer or mallet is worst I would think. Mainly because you have chance to miss and just injure the bird.

Like stony said have to be ready to kill the animals you raise or the ones threating your stock. I wasn't quite ready to kill the ones I raise but its getting alittle easier each time. That don't mean its fun but I'm not crying over it anymore like I did the first chick I nursed for like 2 weeks until stony I think it was said its time to put it down and let the poor thing rest it had suffered enough.

yup that was me. Honestly I wish I had given you that advice earlier. I was hoping you would have come to the conclusion yourself sooner.

 

[JLaw]

yup that was me. Honestly I wish I had given you that advice earlier. I was hoping you would have come to the conclusion yourself sooner.

I did but I didn't want to do it and wanted to hope the poor thing could go on and be fine. Glad you spoke up though made me just do it and be done with it. I remember looking up so much crap to do with crop issues and what to do about it. Nothing was working only thing left was cut open crop and hope it lived or put it down. Was set of my first chicks and didn't want to let go.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

HELP..My rooster's waddles are rock hard and are bleeding..I should bring him in and warm him up right?

 

[JLaw]

HELP..My rooster's waddles are rock hard and are bleeding..I should bring him in and warm him up right?

I would bring him in and at least let it thaw and see how bad it is. Deside what to do from there.

 

[rancher hicks]

Holy Mackerel,