What do you do with sick day old chicks?

[aart]

Boy, I guess there is no easy answer to this question.

You're right, it is a difficult subject, and more power to you for bringing it up.

Ditto Dos^^^

I use a sharp pair of garden clippers.

That's what I use...and pretty much follow your technique.

Best to just get it over once you've decided, the decision can be agonizing.

 

[Scotty from BI]

This is a good video on the subject. [

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[333113]

The best method I have seen for euthanizing/culling small chicks was from Anna Hess's Permaculture Chicken Incubation Handbook. I have this on Kindle. I think this is the most humane way. I have used it for chickens up to 16 weeks, who were victimized by a raccoon. Did I mention that I hate raccoons?

 

[aart]

The best method I have seen for euthanizing/culling small chicks was from Anna Hess's Permaculture Chicken Incubation Handbook.

Which method is that?

 

[theuglychick]

A little off topic, but sincerely Thank you for your service.

I am no delicate little flower, I was a corpsman in Vietnam Nam a million years ago and saw death and mayhem daily. But Boy oh boy, I really hope my chicks are delivered healthy. I mean really. The prospect of these acts is almost overwhelming. Chopping of their head or a gas chamber. I really do appreciate your suggestions, but again, I sure hope it doesn't come to that. I should say, I appreciate that you are offering humane suggestions which are practical and useful and in any case where prolonged suffering is the alternative would be welcome relief. This IS a difficult subject, rarely discussed but hopefully even if I don't need it, someone else here might benefit.

 

[333113]

Which method is that?

She recommends using a sealable box, like tupperware, and a separate container inside it with baking soda and vinegar. You set up the baking soda in the separate box, with a trial run to make sure it doesn't overflow when you add the vinegar. Then you put the box of baking soda into the tupperware box, add the chick to the dry area of the tupperware box, add the vinegar to the baking soda, and close the box quickly. The reaction of baking soda and vinegar makes carbon dioxide. This knocks out the chick quickly. It does struggle to breathe for a bit and may thrash briefly, but it's probably unconscious by then, and is dead shortly after. I think it's more humane and less traumatic for the chick, and for me, too.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Sharp pruning shears makes sense but can't bring myself to do that. Still wanting the fastest method for humane death I crush them. Odd as that may sound it's very instant and somehow easier for me to do. Find a cylinder block or flat rock and a hard place to set up. Carry the chick in my hand keeping it warm and stroking it to the spot outside. Put the chick down on hard spot and quickly pick up the heavy object to toss down on it. From there I walk away and deal with removal of crushed chick on another day. All I can say is I'm glad culling chicks doesn't occur often.

 

[bobbi-j]

She recommends using a sealable box, like tupperware, and a separate container inside it with baking soda and vinegar. You set up the baking soda in the separate box, with a trial run to make sure it doesn't overflow when you add the vinegar. Then you put the box of baking soda into the tupperware box, add the chick to the dry area of the tupperware box, add the vinegar to the baking soda, and close the box quickly. The reaction of baking soda and vinegar makes carbon dioxide. This knocks out the chick quickly. It does struggle to breathe for a bit and may thrash briefly, but it's probably unconscious by then, and is dead shortly after. I think it's more humane and less traumatic for the chick, and for me, too.

It's less traumatic for you. With the pruning shears it's over in a fraction of a second no thrashing or struggling to breathe. I get that it's unpleasant, though, to decapitate a cute, fuzzy chick.

 

[aart]

She recommends using a sealable box, like tupperware, and a separate container inside it with baking soda and vinegar.

Have you actually used that method?

 

[lazy gardener]

Any one ever had a brief experience with an occluded airway? I can't for the life of me imagine how, after such an experience, one can claim that death by asphyxiation is an easy death. It may be easier for the one administering it... but it's not easier for the recipient.