UPDATE: Please tell me the humane thing to do.

[redhen]

Quote:
I'm not going to baby you either... she was probably suffering. (and that upsets me..) sorry. Thats WHY the cervical dislocation or be-heading is the MOST humane way to cull a bird!!! (and you were told that..) all the other cruel ways..freezing and that thing that you tried...is easier on US... NOT the poor bird!
Trust me..we dont like to do it either..we use the broom stick or hatchet method..and its over in half a second... they dont linger on and have to gasp for breath and suffer.
When you own animals and cant get them to a vet..it IS your responsibility to stop their suffering as QUICKLY as possible. And you didnt do it this time...i really hope that you have learned a lesson and do right by the animal next time. Sorry if i am a witch.. but the thought of a little innocent thing laying there gasping for air..REALLY bothers me... when she could have been pain free in an INSTANT....

You can get mad at my post...that wont bother me.... just please do the right thing next time, thats all i care about. Take care

 

[suzpyoung]

Quote:
Thank you. So much. I'm not angry at all for the posts that "chew me out". Hurting, but not angry. Yes, I learned my lesson all right.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Thank you. So much. I'm not angry at all for the posts that "chew me out". Hurting, but not angry. Yes, I learned my lesson all right.

Aww..thats all i wanted to make sure of!

Trust me..i KNOW how hard it is to do the deed... very very scary. But youre doing the best thing for them by ending it quickly for them. Trust me...

 

[underground chickenman]

Quote:
That's what's important now. You'll make a fine chicken farmer yet.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
I'm not going to baby you either... she was probably suffering. (and that upsets me..) sorry. Thats WHY the cervical dislocation or be-heading is the MOST humane way to cull a bird!!! (and you were told that..) all the other cruel ways..freezing and that thing that you tried...is easier on US... NOT the poor bird!
Trust me..we dont like to do it either..we use the broom stick or hatchet method..and its over in half a second... they dont linger on and have to gasp for breath and suffer.
When you own animals and cant get them to a vet..it IS your responsibility to stop their suffering as QUICKLY as possible. And you didnt do it this time...i really hope that you have learned a lesson and do right by the animal next time. Sorry if i am a witch.. but the thought of a little innocent thing laying there gasping for air..REALLY bothers me... when she could have been pain free in an INSTANT....

You can get mad at my post...that wont bother me.... just please do the right thing next time, thats all i care about. Take care

But you understand that she was only trying to put the chick to sleep in the most humane way (her intentions were good) and I'm sure there were lots of people praising that method. It's a very hard thing to break a neck or chop off a head, and a few months ago I would have done something along the lines of what she did to avoid having to do such a bloody thing. It breaks your heart having to do that. I know the time will come that I will have to do it or be a party to it. I am dreading it. I have a chick that might go that route, and I am just sick even thinking of it. It's brutal, but yes its my responsibility to make sure if its not having any quality of life or is in pain, I need to dispatch it quickly and as painlessly as possible. IF the baking soda method worked without any hitches, we would all be doing it. We're all just trying to find the most pain and stress free euthanasia methods for our animals, no one who takes a life is taking it lightly....

I guess my point is don't rub salt in her wounds, she is clearly very upset at the thought of her chick going through any suffering (as we all are) but she did what she thought was right. She has learned and the chick is not in pain any longer. It's not like she invented the idea to do this, it was an option offered to her on this forum by people who have done it and recommend it. With all the cruelty going on to animals and people in this world, you have a lot to feel bothered about besides this kind lady who was just trying to do right by her chick. Don't mean offense, just saying.

 

[Spore]

 

[MuranoFarms]

None of us that have ever tried to baking soda/vinegar method thought that the bird would sufferer. Or we wouldn't have done it. Everything I've ever read about it says that it acts as an anesthetic before death. Many organizations recommend CO2 as a humane method. (the gas produced in the baking soda & vinegar combination) Right now I'm looking at a paper published by The American Association of Swine Veterinarians stating that it is an approved humane method. Ok so chickens are not pigs, but death is death no matter what animal it comes to.

The OP's only goal was to end her chicks suffering. Having the strength and courage to do the right thing should be applauded! Nobody needs to come on here and bash what's already done. Have some compassion! If you've ever had to do it, you know how hard it is the first time!!!

I know she did the right thing!

 

[bel]

Don't kick yourself, to me it sounds like the concentration of gas was too low and she was unconcious. I've never had it last that long or take more than a minute, its not normal for it to turn out that way but she probably was not aware of anything.

 

[suzpyoung]

Quote:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is what I needed to hear. And thanks to everyone for all the help and kind comments. I cannot express how appreciative I am. I think this thread can close now.

 

[jjparke]

I've had to put down several chics myself and it's never easy. Slaughtering full growns has gotten a lot easier over time but it's hard every time I have to do a chic. My prefered method is the hatchet.