Update: Pet hen needs to be put down humanely. I need to know how.

[picklespickles]

"I'm talking quick and painless, so that leaves out axes, cuttings, guns, etc."

confused. do you mean painless to you? those ARE the quickest most painless methods. my grandmother hated axes and shot her chickens in the head.

hugs. i know it is hard. hang in there.

 

[speckledhen]

The most humane really is the axe. Some hang the bird upside down to calm and subdue it, then lay the head on the ground, placing a broomstick across the neck. You step on that with both feet, one on either side of the head and pull firmly. It dislocates the neck, there is some reflexive flapping and she's gone. There is a CO2 method with vinegar and baking soda in an enclosed space, but I cant say how much of each. Someone may know.

 

[picklespickles]

maybe you mean with less blood? but then again, that is your comfort level. all the ways i can think of that are bloodless take longer which means more suffering for them. i can't picure you being able to wring her neck.

hugs. can you ask someone else to do this.

 

[Wifezilla]

I would cull the whole lot and start over.

 

[Indiana hens]

If she were my pet I would try. If she was just a chicken you are correct. Did you worm her and treat for mites? Mine only peck each other for a reason. After a battery of worming, dip the pecking stops. I know it seems like alot at one time but time is of the essense. If she is eating and drinking she can make a recovery!

 

[patandchickens]

What Wifezilla said. It sounds like you're just going to lose them gruesomely one by one til only one is left, otherwise.

If you don't want to do it yourself is there a small processor in your area to whom you could send them?

Condolences, and best of luck,

Pat

 

[chiknlittle]

Maybe a shot of something that would make her got to sleep and just not wake up. Look, I've got the meat birds on order so it's not like I haven't or couldn't do the ax, cutting, gun type of death. My reasoning is that I can't do most things alone because of my physical disabilities and I need my husband's help. My husband is in the military, and he just got news that one of his guys died, and I don't think he can help me with this right now. So yes, painless to us, but as painless to her as possible.

Wifezilla: I'm getting to that. I have so few left that it would be easier to start over than to sort out the remaining problems.

Patandchickens: No processors. We learned that the hard way last year after we bought 25 meat birds.

 

[Wifezilla]

It just sounds like a twisted version of chicken HIGHLANDER...
"In the end there can be only one...."

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I'm sorry for your hen, & for you having to deal with this dilemma. I recently had to cull a sick hen and described the method in another post in this forum titled "We're about to cull our first birds" with the last post on 2/07. I'm sorry I don't know how to link you to it automatically. It was quick & as humane as I could make it, without the expense of taking her to a vet to euthanize. Perhaps there is someone else who would do it for you, sometimes it's easier than having to do it yourself.

 

[Wynette]

I'm very sorry you've had so much trouble with your chickens...but I'm concerned with a statement you made about continually replacing chickens...it sounds to me like you need to work on the issue instead of just getting rid of the chickens and getting new ones. There's got to be something going on if they're all picking at each other. There area loads of threads on BYC about how to keep your chickens happy - maybe you need to put some of those suggestions to use, and see if that doens't help with your next batch of chickens. That being said, IMO, you ought to get rid of the ones doing the most damage...and work on keeping the others happy and content. It appears they have enough room, and I assume you are keeping the coops clean, dry, and beeded with shavings, straw, or other absorbent material. That's the hard part! Keeping them busy is the fun part! Try hanging heads of cabbage - it's a healthy treat, and if you hang them just above the level of their back, they have to work at getting it. Also, pick up a suet feeder; I have a "triple" sized one. You can put all sorts of healthy veggies/fruit in them, and hang them or attach to the side of their coop or a tree...or hang them. I also have several plastic boxes that I have cut holes in the sides of (these are automotive parts bins that I picked up at someone's curb), and I place them around the run, and periodically move them around and/or tip them up against something or even stack them atop each other. All these things give them something different to look at each day, and something to draw their attention away from each other. HOPE this helps, and again, I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles.

Humanely culling a bird is VERY difficult. I don't envy you this task. But, as others have stated, the most humane way is to quickly remove the head - however you decide to do it. I say a prayer for the Lord to give me strength before....and during...I keep thinking of how happy they will be in chicken heaven. Maybe there isn't one, but I have to believe there is.