Please help...ways to cull a chick?

[rancher hicks]

I recently had to cull a chick and it nearly made me get rid of every chicken I have, it's just to D hard. Anyhow I put it in a brown paper bag and put it in the garage. It was just 2 days old. I say if it's a chick do it fast and early. Don't drag it out. They're fragile at that age so they pass quickly. Oh it's freezing here, I forgot to say that.
As for 7 wks, well now that's a different story. I had one who was older and had to be done. She got sick and then after a month of treatment didn't seem to be getting better so I. I got up early at 5:30 while it was still dark and matter of factly put her on the ground and put a stick acrossed her neck and pulled her up by her feet. It was quick.
And then I cried. Sorry but that's the truth.

The thought of having to go through that again is not easy. Next time I get someone else to do it or I'm getting rid of them all.

 

[ChooksChick]

I hate when those times happen when we need to know this, but it's good to have on hand:

http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/

This is a very tried and true method, but don't use the baking soda marked 'aluminum-free' or it won't be quite right.

Best of luck!

 

[bargain]

I'm sorry you're having to go through this but remember that you are ending the chicks suffering....

 

[lceh]

Ditto ChooksChick above. I used that site when I made my first (and so far only) cull last spring. Follow the instructions carefully and it should work.

Sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[omelette'smom]

sorry

 

[Mac in Wisco]

You can spray some starting fluid (ether) on a rag and put it in a coffee can or bucket with the chick.

 

[BigSkyChickens]

I don't have any good advice, just offering moral support. What a difficult decision! I hope it goes quickly for you and the chick. If I ever have to do it, I'd probably opt for pulling and twisting the head under a towel so I wouldn't have any mental images of it.
Think about the fact that you're taking the best possible action by ending the animal's suffering; perhaps that will give you strength to do the deed.
Best wishes, and I'm sorry you have to cull your chick.

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
I prefer the starter fluid method, soak a rag throw it in a sealable container (I have a small plastic tote) put bird in and close it. Come back later and the deed is done.

 

[speckledhen]

Sadly, we will have to do this with a just hatched Ameraucana chick. It seems to be blind.

Ether/starter fluid works well with small chicks, as does snipping off the head with sharp shears. Sometimes, it's just necessary, but never easy, at least not for us.

 

[sunket77]

ok ...thank you everyone for your support, I kept putting it off for one reason or another. I decided to use dry ice and had to wait on an opportunity to get some. She is gone now, it worked in minutes, very fast and peaceful, exactly what I was hoping for. Now to deal with sad kids tomorrow morning

but the dry ice made it much easier on me. I hope I don't have to do this again EVER but if I do I will use this method for sure, I know when you have chickens this is a fact of bio-security for the whole flock when one gets this sick and stays this sick for so long. Thanks for all your support and advice and educated responses that is why I love this site!!!!