*sigh* How to humanely put a turkey down?

[judy mclean]

This is never an easy decision to make nor even discuss. I'm sorry your having to go through this.

  I've faced it numerous times with young Poults and Quail Chicks but not an adult Turkey. The method I use on smaller ones may work if you have a big enough box he would fit in. I have a box that I keep only for this purpose. It has a hole in the top of it and I place a plastic bag beneath the hole. I place the bird on the other side outside the bag and spray Ether (Starting Fluid) into the bag through the hole. The Ether puts them to sleep painlessly and the prolonged over exposure to the fumes finishes the job. You would want to make sure the Ether goes in the bag and not spray directly onto the bird. I haven't experienced it myself but I imagine it would burn badly if it were to get in their eyes. The reason I use this method is that it's painless.


  If you felt he is too large for this method, what I would do is use a 22 Cal. with Snake Shot in it at close range to the back of the head. While not totally painless, it would be quick.


Again, I feel badly for you,

David

I am having the same issue my heart is breaking I have to put my turkey down to she is the sweetest animal I've owned but she's truly suffering her feet hurt her just thinking about doing it kills me but I'm being selfish by keeping her like that

 

[maxsgoldens]

I am working on this myself. Although I raise mine for meat, I nonetheless want to make the kill as quick and humane as possible.
Great to see someone show compassion about the animal when it comes to dispatch. I was on the eat birds forum and I confronted someone who slits the throat without stunning,which I feel is one of the most barbaric things you can do to an animal.


I have tried chopping (very hard with a big turkey with a thick neck), then stunning followed by slitting (one turkey woke up during the bleed out even though I whacked her twice with a steel pipe, so I won't be doing that again). I would never use ether because then you are just suffocating him. Easier for the killer but not the killee.


I have come to the conclusion that my method of choice will be stunning (again with an iron pipe), then a quick decapitation with a sharp knife so it will be dead before it can wake up.


A 22 to the head would be about the quickest method, though. For those of us who raise them for meat, that wouldn't be very practical in the long term but could certainly work in your situation.


Good luck, and I admire your choice. Even though I don't see mine in that way, it is always hard to put down a pet.

 

[maxsgoldens]

Great to see someone who shows compassion when it comes to dispatching animals. I confronted someone on the meat birds forum after they said they neck clot, without stunning which I think is one of the most barbaric things you can do to an animal.

 

[judy mclean]

Ty so much for the advice I have a friend I talked to who is willing to do it with his 22 and i will take a ride to town im going to let them eat her I can't see her just going to waste She must be 40 lbs or more and he's got kids to feed

 

[WalnutHill]

I had to put down a tom Narragansett after a dog mauled him and he was suffering. A single pellet rifle shot with the barrel placed directly on the side of the head was quiet, instant, and effective.

 

[bbqnmama]

I'm really glad you asked this question as I have ordered 18 turkeys that will be arriving in April and know that in the not so distant future I'll be faced with this as well. Knowing the turkeys will be for meat I want to know how to do the deed in the quickest and most humane way. It sounds like stunning and then beheading may be the way to go?

I love animals and hate to see them suffer. But I do enjoy eating meat all too much to go vegetarian unfortunTely. And so I am researching.

 

[chisNchickens]

Great to see someone who shows compassion when it comes to dispatching animals. I confronted someone on the meat birds forum after they said they neck clot, without stunning which I think is one of the most barbaric things you can do to an animal.

What is neck clot? I'm going to be butchering soon and looking for the best way. Never heard of neck clot and did a search on it to no avail...thanks!

 

[maxsgoldens]

Neck cut. Predictive text

 

[neverbdone]

I have found that large sharp loppers are the best way for me. No extreme drama and no misses and instant. I hang the bird by their feet and then it is done.