Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[fisherlady]

Sorry if this is a sensitive topic, but does anyone have a good home option for a kill cone? I am going to euthanize the banty tomorrow, but I don't have one here. It doesn't look like they sell them at tractor supply, unless they go by a different name.

For a quick cone that won't be needed for numerous birds I would use a bleach jug or any plastic jug of similar shape. Cut out bottom, cut neck of bottle just below cap threads or possibly a bit further down if needed and turn it upside down and run a screw through it into a tree.
You could also use a pillowcase if you have one you can throw away. Cut a hole in the corner and use a big zip tie to attach it to a screw you bury halfway in tree trunk. (Use a second zip tie to gather all the extra material into a bunch so the bird is held snugly)

 

[dheltzel]

I'm sorry that you must kill the hen. I was hoping the antibiotics would cure her.

When I must kill a chicken, I hold them by their legs and lay their head on the ground. Then put a broomstick over their neck, just behind their head. Hold it down with your foot and pull fast and hard on their legs. That separates their spinal column from their brain and kills them instantly. Usually, their head ends up separated entirely from their body.

In any method, be prepared for actions from the dead bird that make is seem still alive. That is just involuntary muscle contractions, the proverbial "running around like a chicken with it's head cut off". I used to use an axe to cut off the head and sometimes a body would manage to get up on it's feet and run for a bit. All that flopping can bruise the carcass of a meat bird, hence the preference for a kill cone. If you aren't going to eat the bird, I think a kill cone is not much added benefit.

On a happier note, whenever you are ready for eggs or chicks, I have a local source for several colors of cochins, and silkies. Raising them from chicks is really better, even if it takes more patience.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I'm sorry that you must kill the hen. I was hoping the antibiotics would cure her.

When I must kill a chicken, I hold them by their legs and lay their head on the ground. Then put a broomstick over their neck, just behind their head. Hold it down with your foot and pull fast and hard on their legs. That separates their spinal column from their brain and kills them instantly. Usually, their head ends up separated entirely from their body.

This is how I do it also if I have to put one down myself. It's the simplest and quickest way imo. When hubby does it, he uses .22 bird shot to take care of them. When we butcher though, I hold the feet and we lay them over a stump with their heads being held in place by two nails spaced a few inches apart. Hubby uses a hatchet to cut their heads off. All 3 methods are very quick.

I'm very sorry that you need to put her down

 

[BullChick]

Sorry if this is a sensitive topic, but does anyone have a good home option for a kill cone? I am going to euthanize the banty tomorrow, but I don't have one here. It doesn't look like they sell them at tractor supply, unless they go by a different name.

Instead of a pillowcase, use a feedbag. Otherwise, the jug was my other suggestion.

 

[kie4]

Set 313 eggs tonight, including 233 Legbars! Hatching season starts for real in 3 weeks.

Wow! That is incubating on a massive scale, good luck!

Today's hatch so far is 20 Olive Eggers and 2 Lavender Ameraucanas.

 

[dheltzel]

Would the female offspring of a blue egg black sexlink lay blue eggs? Does it depend what they roo is?

The blue egg sexlinks are a cross between an Ameraucana (2 copies of the blue egg gene) and a California Grey (no copies), so each one has exactly 1 copy. Since the blue egg gene is dominant, they lay blue eggs. But if you breed from her, only half her offspring will carry the gene for blue eggs. If the sire has 2 copies of the blue egg gene, then all the progeny will lay blue eggs, but if he has 0 or 1 copy, you cannot predict the egg color of the chicks. Roughly half will lay blue (or green) eggs, possibly 3/4 or all will, but for each individual pullet, you will not know until she starts to lay.

 

[FluffyButt789]

Welcome. Certainly hope your snow isn't headed our way (But according to the weather forecasts it probably is.

) What kind of eggs are you hatching? Good luck with them.

Thanks for the welcome, all! Sorry about the snow, I hope it doesn't hit you too hard! I'm trying to hatch a weird mix... Buff Orpington, Production red, and Speckled Sussex. We're trying to replace an aggressive rooster. I'm also thinking of getting more Reds from tractor supply, as we really want a red rooster. We'll see how it turns out!

 

[gonehencrazy]

What rooster aggressiveness do you put up with? There have been a few incidents with Batman this past fall. So when we were building the run I never turned my back on him for too long cuz I don't trust him. The other morning I went to let them out of coop and lingered In the run while they all went out into the yard. Well Batman put himself between me and the gate out of their yard. If I went right he went right. I went left, he went left. He eventually charged me which luckily I had feed scoop in my hand to wack him. I don't know if it's just his hormones in the morning or what? He chases all the girls first thing.

I've been taking a stick with me and have been filling feeder/water before I let them out so I can leave quick before he gets out

 

[BullChick]

None. There are too many good roosters being given away or eaten.

 

[ericreeser]

From Perry County