Whats the most humane way to kill a chicken?

[Tereseb]

I've had to do this several times and I'm not happy with the axe method. We even bought a Machete and the method still didn't work as well as I would prefer. Next time, if there is one , I will try your method.

 

[Tereseb]

I haven't read this whole thread but I've been researching about gassing chickens with helium to put them to sleep before bleeding them out. I plan to raise meat chickens and dread putting them through any pain...so I am definitely going to try the gas chamber method!

 

[Tereseb]

I think carbon monoxide might be better, as it produces a dream-like state. You can produce this from your car exhaust. Or, you can mix a tiny bit of baking soda and vinegar inside of a garbage bag. With Helium, you'd be producing a low oxygen state-anoxia-which in any animal usually produces panic. I don't have any knowledge if the helium produces euphoria or not. Maybe. If it does, then that might be the way to go.

 

[BantyChooks]

I think carbon monoxide might be better, as it produces a dream-like state. You can produce this from your car exhaust. Or, you can mix a tiny bit of baking soda and vinegar inside of a garbage bag. With Helium, you'd be producing a low oxygen state-anoxia-which in any animal usually produces panic. I don't have any knowledge if the helium produces euphoria or not. Maybe. If it does, then that might be the way to go.

Baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide, not monoxide.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I have not had to cull yet, I am sure I will though. A friend of mine told me how to make a cheap killing cone, a traffic cone nailed to a tree...

Gary

 

[jvls1942]

I've read a quite a few of the comments.
it seems like many are trying to make it easier for themselves..
I would not use car exhaust, it might get into the meat. not a problem if you are not going to eat the chicken,
I just would not use any gas, personally .

I agree with the killing cone.
I also use a traffic cone hung upside down.
very sharp knife. cut the two juggler veins,
do not cut the wind pipe. you do not want the chicken to suffocate.
it takes only 30 seconds for a chicken to die with the jugglers cut..

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Interesting thread...good read.

Ok, I have had chickens for about 6 years. Never had to put one down.
I just purchased 6 chicks, 8 weeks ago, and one has what looks like a tumor on her chest. She is weak and not growing.
Recently a wound opened up around the lump. I need to put her down.
I don't own a gun and I don't know if I can kill an animal. Especially since my wife and kids named them all.

Any suggestions. I need to be strong and I know that the bird can infect the rest of them.

I would like for nature to take its course.

Thank you

The bird has probably been culled already, but I was just curious if you were sure that's a tumor and not her crop.

 

[TEWNCfarms]

Didn't read through everything so sorry if someone mentioned this. But what about the old traditional method of Wringing the Neck?! Basically just snapping the birds neck, no mess or fuss. I've heard of all my friends grandparents or my own grandparents etc talk about just simple wringing/breaking their neck to kill them. What do you all think about this? I definitely think that's how I'm going to do it.

 

[BantyChooks]

Didn't read through everything so sorry if someone mentioned this. But what about the old traditional method of Wringing the Neck?! Basically just snapping the birds neck, no mess or fuss. I've heard of all my friends grandparents or my own grandparents etc talk about just simple wringing/breaking their neck to kill them. What do you all think about this? I definitely think that's how I'm going to do it.

Depends on the method. It sounds like cervical dislocation to me---that's a common way of doing it. "Helicopter" method gets the job done, but it breaks the neck farther down and isn't as instantaneous.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Make sure the axe is sharp....try to get a good clean blow to the neck. It helps to have two nails spaced apart just enough to keep the head from moving too much.Stretch the neck enough to get a good clear shot. I would suggest two people. One to hold and one to chop. The body will convulse after for a few minutes but she/he is not in pain. If the head is taken off it is pretty much instantaneous death. I suggest to have a five gallon bucket ready to hold the carcass in while this process is going on.It keeps the flapping more to a minimum and the blood from flying everywhere.

It's not pretty, but neither is watching a bird suffer.

Do remember that once you chop off the head of a rooster that any other rooster in your flock will likely set in on the still struggling bird and take his frustrations out on him. The higher in the pecking order the culled bird is the more likely he has enemies in the flock.