Would appreciate input on killing a baby - legs don't work

[BennieAnTheJets]

Yeah, that is an option. I was hoping he would show me how to do the cut correctly to be most quick and effective. Maybe it is not such a big deal. I guess I remember him showing me things like injections and going down the throat without filling meds into the air sacks, even though I still worry about that one.

 

[Duckymark]

I don't have anything to cull or I would invite you here to show you. I'm just one state south. If you were in the western part of your state it wouldn't be that far. My chukar aren't old enough to know their sex yet. I only keep one male. My girlfriend has problems eating chicken eggs but not when eating gamebird eggs. My chukars are a little laying flock or will be when they are old enough.

 

[PouleChick]

Sounds like a good plan, it is never easy. Sounds like you have a great vet that would be more than happy to show you how.
When I had to put Edward Scissorbeak down I just couldn't stomach the scissor thing (I was even newer to chickens than now!) and my son was horrified. I ended up buying a bottle of ether. Was very very quick and easy and my son got to hold him while I did it (his choice).

 

[WVduckchick]

I’m glad you have a vet to handle this for you. So sorry it has come to putting it down, but unfortunately it happens.

Here’s a thread with some good reference material
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/euthanasia-information.1195265/#post-18905291

 

[Mosey2003]

That sounds like a good plan. The way to do it with scissors is as close to the skull as you can get. I usually hold the body of the bird in my left hand (with it facing away from me) and then open the scissors a bit and run them up under the head from the back until they've got a little purchase, then gently stretch the neck a bit with them, then swiftly close.

 

[aart]

Yeah, that is an option. I was hoping he would show me how to do the cut correctly to be most quick and effective. Maybe it is not such a big deal. I guess I remember him showing me things like injections and going down the throat without filling meds into the air sacks, even though I still worry about that one.

Sounds like a great vet!

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Yah, it is.

So the baby is dead. After a ride to the vet that could not have been fun for it - I put a mirror and a warm water bottle in the box but no other keets since I did not want to stress them - they'll have their trip to their new home this weekend - the euthanasia was the best I could have expected.

The vet was in surgery so we had to wait a bit, then he used an anesthetic and the baby did not seem distressed at all in the clear Tupper box with a cotton ball with the stuff on it. In fact the keet went to sleep with its little head on the cotton ball and seemed peaceful for the first time in days.

The vet did talk to me about culling/killing/butchering/euthanasia and I got to try my poultry scissors on the carcass once we were sure it was dead. He did like the notch my scissors have, so that the neck can't slide off the blade when you push down. He did think it would be best to have two people, one to hold the bird and one to do the exact cut.

this is what my scissors look like - the notch in the blade is close to the center screw of the scissors before the serrated part starts:
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-K...539277224&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1

The thing that bothered me is that the head did not come off - I felt the neck bones cracking from the cut but the skin did not get cut through by the scissors and the bird was stuck in the blades after the "cut" - apparently that is enough to do a humane kill? is it called a 'cervical separation'? Is that what you all talk about when you describe the bucket method, etc.?

The charge for the euthanasia was only $15 since the keet was so small, I guess, and I if I have another case that is suffering like this, I will try to bring it to this vet again because it was a really peaceful death and seemed not to suffer one bit, other than the trip there.

I also did appreciate him taking a look and saying that, yes, there was nothing you can do with those legs. It makes me feel better to get another opinion and possibly give the baby a chance, if there is one. If there had been a chance to save it, I would have happily paid for more vet care and they were very nice about that to help make that decision.

I have brought other birds there for exams and medications, etc. so they do know we have a flock and come in with other birds, when needed.

RIP little one

 

[aart]

apparently that is enough to do a humane kill? is it called a 'cervical separation'? Is that what you all talk about when you describe the bucket method, etc.?

Yes.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Thanks, aart.

 

[Kiki]

I am glad that is over with for you and him.


I did not like how the cut didn't take the head completely off either, I've been told you have to basically cut and pull it off at the same time but there really is no need to take the head all the way off.