UPDATE: Please tell me the humane thing to do.

[KKatknap]

I just today had to euth one of my beautiful little Ameraucana peeps. His legs were irreparably damaged during shipping. I used the vinegar/baking soda method. It was fairly quick (would have been quicker if the lid had fit tighter) and seemed quite painless. To him, anyway. I was bawling my eyes out.

I will use this method again if I have to. I'll attach the directions I found here.

ETA - Here's the whole thread I read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=147192

Here's the article included in the thread: http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia

 

[lemurchaser]

The baking soda method kills them by a carbon dioxide overdose. This is considered humane and is a method of euthanasia in lab mice. However the body is designed to sense high carbon dioxide (much more than it senses low oxygen) so this is no more humane than smothering them. A much more humane way would be the engine fluid method which is a carbon MONOxide death. The body doesn't sense this and the chick really will just pass away. Cervical dislocation would be equally quick and painless. Regardless of method, it should be fast, and really I guess if it only takes a few seconds the method doesn't really matter.

Freezing warm blooded animals is not considered a humane death. It is considered humane for cold blooded animals though.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
The grim reality of chicken keeping is that ALL of us must think about this, and have a plan formulated for a humane method of euthanasia for our own birds long before it is ever needed by an ill or injured chick or chicken. And it IS much more humane to help such a bird to cross to The Other Side of the Road and end its suffering than to let it die a lingering death.

 

[quiltnchik]

I had a chick hatch from my last batch with intestinal prolapse. My husband - ex Navy SEAL - broke its neck while I was outside talking to my daughter on the phone. When I came inside he said, "It died." It took me a while to get out of him what he had done, but I reassured him that he had done the right, and most humane, thing...

 

[underground chickenman]

Okay, I am going to be a little tough on you. Don't be offended, but YOU elected to raise chickens. Take the good, the bad and all the responsibility that comes with it. Just do the dirty deed and be done with it. The poor chick is probably suffering as you try to figure out a way to make this easy on yourself. Freezing is cruel. I have to believe the little gas bag method is no less than suffocation. Off with the head. Plain and simple. Cervical dislocation is fine if you know what you are doing, but let's be honest: you don't want to do this and that's going to make you use less force than necessary. You will probably just sprain its neck. Plus, with a chick that young, it's too difficult to gauge the force. There is a very fine line between enough force to dislocate the vertebrae and enough to pop its head off. Which brings me to my preferred method. A day old chick is most easily dispatched by popping its head off. That's right, city chicken farmers, it will come off easily in your hand. Just like game bird hunters do in the field when they retrieve their doves or quail. Larger birds, they dislocate the vertebrae. If that's too difficult, snip it off with a pair of scissors. Just be sure not squeeze down until the scissors are in place (and your fingers are out of the way) and then snip quick and hard. As they get older, pulling the head off gets a little harder and messier, but under a week or so, it's quick and easy and not that much blood.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I don't mean to be insensitive. Nobody likes doing this. But, part of the due diligence in deciding if raising chickens is right for you is more than just determining you have the room and like eggs. You have to be prepared to cull and euthanize when necessary and do it quickly and effectively. If you can't check that off your list, either because you are willing or have somebody around at all times that is, you shouldn't get chickens.

Good luck to you.

UGCM

 

[suzpyoung]

UPDATE: That last post really hit me - thank you for the "tough love". I did the baking soda/vinegar shortly afterwards. However, please someone tell me she was already unconscious when I looked after 15 minutes (I thought sure she would have been gone by then) and she was very still but appeared to be gasping for air. This is making me feel just awful.

 

[Chipper]

First off,congratulations for doing the right thing,even though it was uncomfortable for you.You have learned something here and you are a stronger person now because of your experience.
So,you tried the baking soda/vinegar thing and it did not work as well as you had hoped.If you continue to raise chickens there will be a next time.It may be a chick,it might be a fully grown bird.
It will be up to you to determine if the bird can be helped or is beyond help and you need to have a plan of action in place before you encounter this again.
Maybe next time you try the scissors or a hole in the ground with a pointed shovel or spade or the broomstick method.It is up to you.
No animal should be left to suffer while the owner is on the internet looking for support and I think you and hopefully others understand that now.
Again,congratulations on rising up and doing the right thing and enjoy your new babies.

 

[HickoryGuy]

Don't worry about it. What's done is done. Next time cut the head off. I had to do one this morning. She looked so awful beforehand, that I felt relieved when it was over because I knew she wasn't suffering. Just hold it down in the trash can or bushes, as someone else suggested, snip it good & be done with it.

I understand you're distress. I can remember being a child and watching my dad have to dispatch baby calves sometimes. His method was a 2x4 to the head and it was very stressful seeing it as a 5-year old. But it stuck with me. When you have animals, death is something you've just got to deal with, unfortunately.

It'll be o.k.

 

[KatieH]

You live and you learn. *hug*

 

[cluckcluck42]

I'm so sorry- don't beat yourself up, you thought the baking soda method was a good one, now you know for next time. You live and learn with anything in life, you did your best by the chick, and next time you will try something quicker. Don't overthink it, the chick is out of any pain, and thats what matters right now.