Shaken from "dispatching"

[mydadsjoy]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Feeling better this afternoon. Much in part thanks to this forum - reading of others' experiences has helped to calm me down. I'm blessed that it never breached the coop. I have 2 grown hens, an australorp and a white rock, then my flock of EE's - 1 rooster and 7 pullets that are just 17 weeks old - so, eggs any day (or week) now. As distasteful as this morning was, it was preferable to walking out there and finding a flock of headless birds.

It had tried - one morning last week (a no cat food night) I woke to find the relatively heavy hatch door had been lifted about 3". The birds don't use this door - it's still mostly screened in with hardware cloth on the inside - only a small opening big enough for chicks when they were much smaller. And pretty high up. He never got it open that far. Thank God I've had the sense to not cut that wire until the door can be better secured.

I most certainly have learned from these past couple of months. We have french doors that lead out to that porch. One night the raccoon was in there - trapped. I sat perfectly still on my side of that glass and just watched. At first I was enjoying watching him- "oh so cute" - (avoiding the trap grr) after an hour, I stopped enjoying. Watching it climb walls like a spider - handle EVERYTHING - twisting, prying, pulling, pushing and learning from every move. Hissing and pulling back his lips... getting angry. I was amazed. He finally pried the cat door back open and got out but what I learned in those two hours or so was worth way more than any words I could read on a page. As was this morning's experience.

Live & Learn - the motto of the day.

 

[luvmychixandducks]

If drowning offends, the auto exhaust method puts animal to sleep from asphixiation . Garden hose piece in the tailpipe and cage in a large tough plastic bag- exhaust in the bag until animal is gone. No blood, no violence. Just make sure target is REALLY gone before you empty the cage and dispose.

 

[mydadsjoy]

Now there's a good idea! I like it. Maybe I could play a lullaby on the car radio..... go to sleeeeep, go to sleeeeeep..... go to sleep little Ricky....

 

[mydadsjoy]

If drowning offends, the auto exhaust method puts animal to sleep from asphixiation . Garden hose piece in the tailpipe and cage in a large tough plastic bag- exhaust in the bag until animal is gone. No blood, no violence. Just make sure target is REALLY gone before you empty the cage and dispose.

whoops meant to quote you...

Now there's a good idea! I like it. Maybe I could play a lullaby on the car radio..... go to sleeeeep, go to sleeeeeep..... go to sleep little Ricky....

 

[darkmatter]

22 short is all you need:

 

[bigoledude]

There are hundreds of testimonies of people who were revived after nearly drowning. The short amount of time spent trying to hold their breath was hard. But, once they "breathed-in" the water, everything went peaceful and quiet. No pain whatsoever! Drowning is very humane.

A shot to the brain is probably better though. But it's hard to miss a barrel of water.

 

[Ibicella]

I believe the OP was using a cage type trap, so striking the animal in any way was not an option.

Mydadsjoy - I'm so sorry you had to go through this. Unfortunately, I think that all of us will either face having to 'do in' a predator or an ill/injured chicken. Thankfully, you will have worked out the details and will be prepared then next time it happens.

That was my thought. I was wondering how you brain a raccoon in a live trap.

 

[Mattemma]

Coons are so hard to get close to in a cage.I bet they would move around a lot if you put a 22 barrel in there.Possums stay still for the most part. I can reach in and get those out of a 1089.Coons forget it.

Lol,on the gassing method.It certainly does work.Used it for house sparrows.Unfortunately the hybrid car my dh got me is not useful for this method anymore.

As much as people dislike it,if a gun is not an option,then the water is a good option.55 gallon barrel.Cage in.Cage out.

Now when it comes to dispatching my chickens I get the shakes too. Had to put a sock of my one girls head before I chopped it off.Doing the deed wasn't so bad,but getting myself to that point was hard. I don't know how many times I said," Today I am going to just do it,and put her out of her misery."

 

[mydadsjoy]

Hmmmm... that makes me think. I' bet that would work for getting rid of bugs and hiding vermin in my detached garage... hmmmm. Just make sure the kitty cats don't get closed up in there too. My oh my, I never thought I'd be obsessing about how to kill things. A gentle soul am I. Sigh.

The inner voice says "man up."