touchy subject

[MissPrissy]

I use a very sharp scissor. Over and done with quick.

 

[chickenshadow]

Quote:
Sometimes reality isn't an easy thing. Arlee's advice is the best and most humane for
the chick. There has been so much ridiculous discussion on this forum about other
ways to euthanize a chick from gasing to freezing. I find that cruel.


I've had to euthanize at least 10 chicks and each one I did with a sharp heavy knife.
I've never used scissors but I trust the people who say they work well.


Is it easy? No way. I've wanted to puke after having to do it and had a few tears
as well. What helped the most was knowing in my heart it was THE RIGHT THING
TO DO. Will you cry? Yup and it's ok. That just means you care.


We hatch a group of chicks every month and every month we have the few we lose.
Every time I say never again but then it wears off and we enjoy all the new lives
living in the brooder in our kitchen.

 

[LynneP]

Spraddle-ledded babies can usually be saved- here's how!

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Humanely culling a chick or chicken is an issue that comes up a lot. Here's a past thread that may be of help to you. I'm sorry for your experience. Hope future ones are better.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=37292

 

[Crunchie]

I just recently had to euthanize a chick (severely deformed legs that no amount of splinting would help--and goodness knows I tried). I used starter fluid (the kind for your car engine). It was very quick and very peaceful. The chick did not appear to suffer at all--it simply went to "sleep" in a matter of seconds after I sealed the bag and never moved again. I believe it took only a couple of minutes for him to actually pass. (I watched. I wanted to make sure that, if I use this method again, that it was humane.) Not that it wasn't horrible. It was. But I made the decision to take responsibility for these animals, so it's my responsibility to ensure that they don't suffer. If that means ending one's life in certain instances, then I have to get past the fact that it is uncomfortable for me and do what is in the best interest for my animals. If that meant using scissors, I would (though yes I would personally have a really hard time with it--I am a vegetarian and am very uncomfortable with the thought of killing an animal for any reason--but I am more uncomfortable with the thought of an animal suffering), but in my experience the starter fluid method did not seem to be prolonged or painful for the animal.

 

[ginbart]

Thank you for letting me know about using the starter fluid. You said, "If that means ending one's life in certain instances, then I have to get past the fact that it is uncomfortable for me and do what is in the best interest for my animals" And you are right. I would not want to see any animal suffering so I used very sharp scissors. Thank you for all your help and understanding. I really appreciate it.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I use starter fluid too. Works pretty fast and I think they just go to sleep. Not that I like doing it at all, but I know I couldn't do the scissor method.

 

[chickenshadow]

Quote:
Remember you have a lot of people here who know how you feel right now. It's
not an easy thing to do. But you did what you had to do and that says a lot about
your character.

 

[Love my Critters!]

Sorry to hear about your loss and what you had to go through. That sucks!!!
I know on small chicks you can take a pencil or pen and hold in horizontal behind the head on the neck and in a snap push the head backwards onto the pencil or pen. It breaks the neck and is quick and painless. For me there is not blood and that helps. Really its a hard thing to kill a chick no matter how, you just have to find the way that works "best" for you and the chick. Hope this helped.

 

[chickbea]

Never apologize for being upset about something like this. I cry as much as I need to about every animal I lose and I don't care what anyone thinks.
In my opinion, the only people who should apologize are the people who can see and do terrible things and not feel bad at all. You did what needed to be done and that takes a lot of strength. :aww