When do you do it and how?

[rancher hicks]

I was wondering when and how do you cull your flock?

Suppose you have a bird get sick? Do you diagnose and treat or just cull? Now I realize that there are those who have pet birds but I'm talking about keepers of flocks for eggs or meat or breeding or what ever.

Is it worth the expense and time to treat, when you consider the time lost in egg or meat production?

And if you cull how do you do it?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The answers you get will be as diverse as the members in this group. There is a very wide spectrum of attitudes towards chickens, even back yard chickens, from pure profit-making livestock to pure indoor-living diaper-wearing pets, and everything in-between.

But you raise an essential question every single chicken owner should consider, and find the right answer for themself. And not wait until you have an ailing or unthrifty chicken and try to decide then.

There are some illnesses that are fairly easy to remedy, and worth taking the time to do. There are other conditions that may make the bird unthrifty, but not a health risk to the others, and may still be kept for sentimental reasons. And still other things for which it's in the best interest of the flock, the flock-owner's wallet, and the bird itself, to dispatch it immediately.

As flock owner, it behooves you to familiarize yourself with chicken ailments and the treatments they require. Most folks treat their birds themselves, although some can both access & afford professional veterinarian care. You should also research the variety of humane euthanization techniques, and decide on the method that is best for you.

When I process birds for meat I slice their neck arteries and let them bleed out. But when I have to cull an ailing layer, whom I am more fond of, I hold them under one arm, pet them for a few minutes, and then quickly yank their head to break their neck.

I hope this info helps you.

 

[katkat92]

If I cant treat the bird on my own, I cull it. I will not pay a vet to look at a chicken. Just my own personal opinion. I slice the neck and let them bleed out, same as I would to butcher. Just with a sick bird it goes into the bonfire and not my freezer.

 

[rancher hicks]

do you use a cone for this? I don't own one that's why I ask. No one likes to talk about it but it's necessary I guess.

 

[OccamsTazer]

I read this in Gail Damerow's chicken book:
She says that for some it can be a bit difficult to just wring a neck, so she uses a broomstick. I use bamboo because I have tons, but I like the method. I grab bird by the legs, place its head under the stick, and step on the stick at both ends while yanking upwards.
I like this method because I nearly died of guilt on my first slaughter. I couldn't break the neck cleanly with my bare hands and it took two tries. Guilt :-(

 

[twentynine]

Pretty much any severe injury or illness is a cull in my book.

Severe injury= broken legs, lacerated throat, any puncture wound to the abdomen.

Illness= not eating for few days, unconcious, any discharge from mouth or throat that persist for a couple days. If they are up and eating I will give them a chance.

I may be a little more severe than other members, but I take my responsibility to my chickens seriously, and part of that responsibility is to insure they do not needlessly suffer.

To nurse a chicken with compound fractures, torn off wings or bleeding severely, is to subject that chicken to needless pain. You may actually nurse them back to some semblance of health, but at what cost to the chicken.

No I do not have a cone, I use a onion sack with one corner cut out.

 

[MIKE555444]

As young chicks I will cull if they are slightly unhealthy simply because I have not invested much in them and the danger of keeping a sick chick is not worth damaging the whole flock.

As they get older I try harder but nevr to the point of a vet

Just MHO

 

[cmom]

Interesting question. I have not had to cull. Years ago when I had meat birds someone else did the butchering for me.