The right gun placement to quickly kill a rooster?

[Hanttu]

Hello!

A first time chicken owner and we would have to cull two roosters soon.

I've read about humane ways to cull a chicken, but soon noticed that our country's animal welfare laws make those methods a bit difficult.

They require that

1. The person is familiar with killing the specific animal
2. The animal is stunned before killing

We don't have previous experience with culling and stunning in our case would mean a hit to the head with a blunt tool, which I don't feel confident about, in case the hit fails and the rooster is left to suffer for a few moments.

We have a friend who is familiar with shooting wild birds. From my understanding shooting (while not recommended as a first method) is accepted and doesn't need stunning, if done quickly.

However, I would like to be sure of what's the right position for the gun, so the bullet goes through the brainstem and brain. I've tried to look up pictures, but only found a bit cryptic explanations about setting the gun behind chicken's head.

Should it be placed between the eyes vertically or close to the ear horizontally? Does any of you have experience with this or possibly pictures to share?

I'm also open to taking advice about (humane) stunning in home environments and what are the best methods.

Thank you.

 

[DobieLover]

I used to have my birds shot for euthanasia. By the time they needed it, they were usually quite weak. It was done well after dark when the birds become much more docile and don't want to move around a lot. If your roosters are young and healthy and may get up, you will need to wrap them in an old towel to pin their wings to their bodies.

The bird was then carried to wherever they were to be euthanized, placed on their keel and their head was laid down on the ground. We used a long gun .22 and it was placed in contact with the base of the skull and aimed directly into the skull. It's over instantly.

If the wings are not secured, they will flap around for several seconds.

The person that currently helps me with my birds prefers to use a hatchet. He has a large flat block of wood with 2 nails driven into it that form a "V". The bird is positioned the same way, face down with the head on one side of the V and the body gently pulled back exposing the neck. He holds the bird by pinning the wings up high. Again, one quick chop and it's over.

I cannot euthanize my birds yet. I'm too attached and I've never killed an animal but have been lucky enough to have friends who can help me.

 

[Bsmac]

I used to have my birds shot for euthanasia. By the time they needed it, they were usually quite weak. It was done well after dark when the birds become much more docile and don't want to move around a lot. If your roosters are young and healthy and may get up, you will need to wrap them in an old towel to pin their wings to their bodies.

The bird was then carried to wherever they were to be euthanized, placed on their keel and their head was laid down on the ground. We used a long gun .22 and it was placed in contact with the base of the skull and aimed directly into the skull. It's over instantly.

If the wings are not secured, they will flap around for several seconds.

The person that currently helps me with my birds prefers to use a hatchet. He has a large flat block of wood with 2 nails driven into it that form a "V". The bird is positioned the same way, face down with the head on one side of the V and the body gently pulled back exposing the neck. He holds the bird by pinning the wings up high. Again, one quick chop and it's over.

I cannot euthanize my birds yet. I'm too attached and I've never killed an animal but have been lucky enough to have friends who can help me.

Never easy to have to euthanize a creature you have nurtured... Makes me tear up every time.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I don't make a project out of it. .20 gauge #6 shot. Bang, dead and done. 15-20 yrds out.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've read about humane ways to cull a chicken, but soon noticed that our country's animal welfare laws make those methods a bit difficult.

They require that

1. The person is familiar with killing the specific animal
2. The animal is stunned before killing

We have a friend who is familiar with shooting wild birds. From my understanding shooting (while not recommended as a first method) is accepted and doesn't need stunning, if done quickly.

The target is pretty small and you hear stories of the bullets not killing as you thought they would. I use another method which probably would not be allowed in your country. This is not a question about whether it is humane or not but to be in compliance with your country's laws.

If I were to kill with a gun I'd use a shotgun. Wrap the bird in a towel or cloth of some type to immobilize it. I assume wrapping it would be allowed. If you plan to eat it, be close enough that you only shoot the head. I think this will give you the best chanced of immediately killing the bird without injuring it.

Good luck!

 

[CabritaChicks]

Never easy to have to euthanize a creature you have nurtured... Makes me tear up every time.

It’s always striking how many emotions come wrapped up in it. There’s never a right moment, never a perfect set of conditions. I always tell people the same thing: don’t do it alone. Having more hands makes the process steadier, faster, and far more controlled—especially if there’s even the slightest hesitation.

For me, it’s a Walther .22 with a suppressor, placed deliberately to ensure immediate loss of consciousness at the point just above where the spinal cord meets the skull at a certain angle back of head to beak at close range. The sound is minimal—more like a staple gun, honestly quieter—and it doesn’t alert or distress the other birds or nearby animals.

 

[yidava25]

Have your shooter use a shotgun from 10 yards or so away and aim carefully for the head, that is your greatest margin for error and as close to a guarantee of instant death as you can get. People have the notion from movies that a shotgun sprays a cone of death at very close distances but it’s surprisingly easy to miss if you get too close, from less than 20 yards you have maybe a softball-size pattern or a bit more. Seen it often enough when goose hunting and an injured bird needs to be dispatched on the ground.

 

[Kung_pao]

Can you just go in the coop at night and break their necks? Who is going to know you did it?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Tie the bird by it's feet upside down, take a .22, or pellet gun, & shoot at the top the head.
I put a red dot on where to shoot for fast death.

Are you sure the rule applies to poultry with the stunning in your area? Typically when I hear about stunning it's usually for larger livestock like Cows, or Pigs.