Topic of the Week - Let's talk about euthanasia

[Betsy57]

I've used the cone and cut the jugular and that works the best for me. It still isn't easy for me to do but effective. I've tried breaking their neck but that is too traumatic for them and me. I had one chicken, Lazarus, who I did that to and two days later she is back at the house. She then laid the best she ever laid for 6 months until she died on her own. Not sure what but when I tried to put her down she was obviously not feeling well but did great for 6 months after the "adjustment". You can see the bare spot on her neck from when I performed the adjustment.

 

[lazy gardener]

Euthanasia is one of the cons of this wonderful hobby called chicken keeping and most, if not all of us, dread having that decision placed in our hands. When to euthanise a bird and how to go about it? On this thread I would like to ask you all's thoughts and methods on euthanasia. Specifically:

- When should it be done?
- What is the most humane and the quickest method, especially for people who have never done it before and for a much loved flock member?
- How do you handle the situation when you have children and other family involved with the flock?

When should it be done? when the bird's quality of life is affected, or when it's time to cull flock to increase productivity or process birds for the freezer.

- What is the most humane and the quickest method, especially for people who have never done it before and for a much loved flock member? Use a broomstick, or a .22 to base of skull, or have a knowledgeable friend do it the first time, while you stand by and help, when you need to have it done. With chicks, I put them in a paper bag or wrap in a paper towel, and use a pair of garden clippers. Don't even see the blood or dead body.

- How do you handle the situation when you have children and other family involved with the flock? My 7 y.o. GD wanted to help with the first season of processing, and I allowed her to. Kids are more resilient than many folks give them credit for. A matter of fact response from adults involved makes all the difference. Kids are emotional sponges, and will absorb the vibes from folks around them.

It's also helpful to have the hole dug before hand: whether processing birds or killing for quality of life issues. Have this part of the process planned before you ever are faced with your first cull. It's illegal in most towns to dispose of dead animals at the dump. Nor is it an ethical thing to hide the body in a trash bag, and then haul it to the dump. I have too much respect for the valued town employees who work in the "reception area" to expose them to the stench of death. The next time I have someone on my property with some "power digging equipment, I think I'll have him dig a trench, so that I am spared the work involved in digging in the heavy rocks and clay that are called "Maine soil". One decent sized hole, and a yard of top soil should last me many years!

IMO, it's far more humane to physically cull a failing bird than to "allow it to live out it's natural life" in a lingering decline of health.

 

[lazy gardener]

When should it be done? when the bird's quality of life is affected, or when it's time to cull flock to increase productivity or process birds for the freezer.

- What is the most humane and the quickest method, especially for people who have never done it before and for a much loved flock member? Use a broomstick, or a .22 to base of skull, or have a knowledgeable friend do it the first time, while you stand by and help, when you need to have it done. With chicks, I put them in a paper bag or wrap in a paper towel, and use a pair of garden clippers. Don't even see the blood or dead body.

- How do you handle the situation when you have children and other family involved with the flock? My 7 y.o. GD wanted to help with the first season of processing, and I allowed her to. Kids are more resilient than many folks give them credit for. A matter of fact response from adults involved makes all the difference. Kids are emotional sponges, and will absorb the vibes from folks around them.

It's also helpful to have the hole dug before hand: whether processing birds or killing for quality of life issues. Have this part of the process planned before you ever are faced with your first cull. It's illegal in most towns to dispose of dead animals at the dump. Nor is it an ethical thing to hide the body in a trash bag, and then haul it to the dump. I have too much respect for the valued town employees who work in the "reception area" to expose them to the stench of death. The next time I have someone on my property with some "power digging equipment, I think I'll have him dig a trench, so that I am spared the work involved in digging in the heavy rocks and clay that are called "Maine soil". One decent sized hole, and a yard of top soil should last me many years!

IMO, it's far more humane to physically cull a failing bird than to "allow it to live out it's natural life" in a lingering decline of health.

 

[BrandoMan]

Cute, Jewish peeps!    So please post this information or at least the link for myself and others.

basically without getting into the prayer and blessing part the blade is super duper mega ultra razor sharp and they slit the throat. Gotta be really really really really sharp and the animal doesn't feel it and they bleed out and fall asleep. The dude tests the sharpness of the blade and if not to standards does not proceed till blade is to spec. They do this with the utmost respect and only when the animal is relaxed and calmed to not stress the animal. They don't just run around chasing a chicken around swinging an axe at it like a chicken with its head cut off.

 

[BrandoMan]

Here's some links: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/kosher-slaughtering-an-introduction/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shechita

http://m.wikihow.com/Properly-Slaughter-a-Cow-Under-the-Kosher-Method-Shechitah

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/06/jewish-muslim-slaughter-animal-welfare-humane

Do not click on the last link if you don't wanna see an animal slaughtered. It is a video of such. Warning..

I am not Jewish, but I do have much respect for alot of the traditions and way of living. I used to work at a Jewish nursing home and we had to learn there customs and while we were at work couldn't do anything that was against there ways. Although ironically most of the elderly in there were not even Jewish and would frequently leave with family to eat a cheeseburger. If u knew anything about there dairy and meat rules u would find the cheeseburger comment funny...

 

[Mrs. K]

For culling do to age or roosters, I begin to distance myself from the birds. I feed and water them, but I don't stand and watch them. I have done several now, but it still takes me working myself up to it.

For sick or injured birds, I have tried the broomstick method, but for me, the slitting the jugular works best. I am a woman, and can more easily handle a banded razor and the bird. The bird just gets tired and relaxes.

As for kids, they will follow your example. My kids and grandkids were more curious than anything. They were interested in the guts, and the feet. Personally I think it is a good thing for kids to know and understand death. Death is a reality of life, and pretending otherwise can really shock a child later in life when they have to deal with it.

Mrs K

 

[lovemy6hens]

We take ours to the vet and if there is no treatment or the treatment would involve more suffering, the vet will euthanize the bird.

It has been my experience that if the situation is explained, children understand it and also understand why it wasn't possible to say goodbye. We bury the bird and they help make a cross and place artificial flowers.

We haven't had a sick bird which would need to be sent to a lab for necroscopy. If we ever do, a cross & flowers will still be placed in our little graveyard as a memorial.

 

[Melissa Sakata]

This is a serious topic that all BYC owners must face at one time or another, and having a plan in place is important.

I was recently faced with this issue, and luckily for me, and my Winnie, her crop problems took a turn for the better. But now I know that someday I will be faced with this issue and will NEED to take action, so that the chicken does not suffer.

BTW her name was changed to Winnie after Winston Churchill "Never, Never, Never give up!"

 

[lydiagirl99]

- When should it be done?
I think it should be done when the bird is no longer capable of living a quality life and you have done everything you can to help.

- What is the most humane and the quickest method, especially for people who have never done it before and for a much loved flock member?
I personally just had a rooster that had to be put down. We believed he had Mareks disease and gave him almost 2 weeks doing things we thought might help and things people on BYC had suggested and saw no signs of improvement but only decreased. I could not bar the thought of having his head cut off or shooting him, wringing his neck.. Although those are quick methods I was so afraid something would go wrong and cause him much pain before finally dying. So, with that being said I thought maybe euthanasia by a vet. I called around and found a vet that would do it for $25. Peaceful and quick. Everyone was so kind and they even gave me this clay mold of his foot. For me... the $25 was far worth it.

 

[Melissa Sakata]

[COLOR=333333]- When should it be done?[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]I think it should be done when the bird is no longer capable of living a quality life and you have done everything you can to help.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]- What is the most humane and the quickest method, especially for people who have never done it before and for a much loved flock member?[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]I personally just had a rooster that had to be put down. We believed he had Mareks disease and gave him almost 2 weeks doing things we thought might help and things people on BYC had suggested and saw no signs of improvement but only decreased. I could not bar the thought of having his head cut off or shooting him, wringing his neck.. Although those are quick methods I was so afraid something would go wrong and cause him much pain before finally dying. So, with that being said I thought maybe euthanasia by a vet. I called around and found a vet that would do it for $25. Peaceful and quick. Everyone was so kind and they even gave me this clay mold of his foot. For me... the $25 was far worth it.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]

I am with you on that. I made arrangements with a Vet just in case it got to that point. The $25 for me is nothing compared to the nightmares I think I would have, if I had to do it myself, especially if something did go wrong.