What do you do when your cull attempt fails..

[Themellowyellows]

Neither are laying anymore, they're about 6yrs old, the last of 5.
I've been treating the sick one for the past week for vent fleet, but her poop changed to green and now milky yellow. She's stopped eating completely and as of last night, she stopped drinking.
She's got a bed on the floor with water and mash beside her. She's obviously in pain. I did some research between posting this and going out to check them and give them mash. According to Mr google, paracodeine won't hurt them so I've crushed a tiny bit in their feed and added oregano (antibiotic) and basil (antiinflammatory/antiseptic)
Hopefully she will eat some food before it gets dark cos I have to cover their feed to keep the rats out.

Are you going to let them both live?

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

If you want to cull your chicken fast, it would be best to do the broomstick method. If you don't want to dislocate the neck, then a euthanasia with a vet would be the next best thing.

And I get that the two chickens are best buds, but it would be best to keep the other one alive. Culling a healthy chicken for no reason other than them being close to the other chicken sounds pretty dang sad.

I don't like the idea of culling healthy hens either. I've been trying to rehome them for months and they were meant to go to a sanctuary to retire last week but then one got sick so I put it on hold.
The healthier one took months to get over losing their sister in February, since then these never separate. They've got my roo beside them, and the young ones when its not raining (last 3 days) but they still stay together. Even now, the ok one has curled up beside her sister. It's winter here. I've lowered the perch to just above the ground but the sick one is too weak to stand let alone perch. I've been lifting her to drink and move a bit. I don't expect her to make it through the night

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

Are you going to let them both live?

That was the plan. I had them organised to retire so I wouldn't have to cull them, they've earned the right. Getting sick wasn't meant expected. The vets suggested looking on google, I've actually given them information about curing vent fleet and pneumonia in chickens. Because I need the space these girls are in is why I was rehoming them. Culling is a last resort.
If she makes it through the night, I'll reassess and try something else. If she doesn't get better, then I'll euthanize her. I do have somewhere her sister can go but she's showing signs of the milky poo

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

Hi!

Ok so, I've actually never heard of anyone gassing their birds! Very interesting! On the other hand though, I would like to tell you how I do my birds. I've done probably at least 100 this way with no incident at all. If you don't want to hear it then that's alright I am just trying to help



I don't chop heads off. I don't like that! Instead I slit the Jugular. With a razor sharp knife you slit their throats. It's quick effective and painless. Even though it sounds rough it's really not. Some blood comes out, they nerve out and then it's over. I don't know, but it sounds easier than gassing them. I hope this helps

not grossed out, I've watched a lot of you tube videos how to cull them including your method.
I'm not comfortable doing it only for the fact id probably get it wrong and end up with a half dead chicken
Thank you for sharing

 

[Themellowyellows]

That was the plan. I had them organised to retire so I wouldn't have to cull them, they've earned the right. Getting sick wasn't meant expected. The vets suggested looking on google, I've actually given them information about curing vent fleet and pneumonia in chickens. Because I need the space these girls are in is why I was rehoming them. Culling is a last resort.
If she makes it through the night, I'll reassess and try something else. If she doesn't get better, then I'll euthanize her. I do have somewhere her sister can go but she's showing signs of the milky poo

What do you mean? The healthy chicken has milky poo?

 

[MamaPoult]

not grossed out, I've watched a lot of you tube videos how to cull them including your method.
I'm not comfortable doing it only for the fact id probably get it wrong and end up with a half dead chicken
Thank you for sharing

I understand that!

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

I do understand that you are concerned that the healthy chicken will be sad, even grieve, over the loss of her flockmate. But for the most part, they seem to get over these losses in a day or two, especially if there are other chickens for them to bond with. I think @Shadrach may be able to give some insight into this, he is a very good student of chicken behavior.

Thanks, the healthier one was the one that took longer to get over their sister dying in Feb.

When one dies, I leave it a couple of days for the others to grieve, it seems to help them.

These girls used to belong to my neighbour, he didn't want them back so I've been looking after them for the past 9 months. This one has had vent fleet before, and a cold, but this is way worse. Even with the antibiotic herbs she's going downhill.
I'll be closing them in early tonight cos it's already cold. I'm hoping she passes away in her sleep, if not, I'll mix a drink in the morning and see if that helps her

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

What do you mean? The healthy chicken has milky poo?

It's starting to.

The sick one has yellow milky poo, the other has a little on her feathers.
Both have been given oregano and basil in seperate feed dishes.

Because of my young ones and my roo, I'm being careful in case its contagious

 

[User690263]

I have a CO2 canister that I use to make sparkling water, and I've also used it to cull chicks, not sure how well it would work for a full grown hen.

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

What did you do with both of them?

They're in their house. I didn't want to 'attempt' again and stress them out. Plus it's friggin cold, they can stay warm tonight and I'll see what's happening in the morning