4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[mnwickens]

I know this is not a very pleasant topic but it does seem to be a required part of keeping chickens and hatching eggs.

 

What are the best methods for culling chickens? As in what is the most effective and causes least suffering for the bird?

 

Some mentioned taking courses and I wondered if that was through Omlet or was it somewhere else?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[The Dogmother]

I'd recommend that you learn how to despatch birds correctly to avoid any suffering on their part. There are a few providers of despatch and dress type courses if you look online.

 

For meat birds I prefer to use a broom handle as it causes minimum fuss and ensures a clean break if done correctly. If I need to despatch my own wee bantams then I use a hatchet as taught by my grandfather; much easier with smaller birds.

 

With either technique you should be prepared for quite a lot of reflex flapping afterwards as the electric impulses in their bodies last longer.

[mnwickens]

What is the broom handle method? I was looking for a description online but didn't come up with much.

 

Thanks.

 

Martin

[The Dogmother]

Without going into too much detail, you position the broom handle behind the back of the bird's skull while its head is laid on the ground, back upwards. I shan't post any further details for fear of upsetting any delicate readers, but I do suggest that you go on a course to ensure that you are despatching quickly and cleanly. I applaud your honesty; I feel that it's important to know how to do this in case the need arises.

[WitchHazel]

Re - broomhandle - It's much easier to learn from seeing it done than reading about it, so I would echo the recommendation on going on a course to learn how to do it properly.

 

Don't, whatever you do, buy one of those widely available so-called "humane" dispatchers,as they are anything but humane.

 

Alison, from Hook Farm http://www.hookfarm.net/courses/kill-pluck-gut-and-bone.php does courses, usually from her home in Hook, but she also travels and does courses in other parts of the country. Practical Poultry forum amy also provide info on other courses available.

 

It's an excellent skill to learn, even if you don't plan to raise your own chooks. The fact that you are able to put a sick chook out of its misery, without the delay and stress-to-her of getting her to the vet, is invaluable.

[mnwickens]

Thank you to whoever added the warning about the content of this thread. I thought twice about asking in the first place because I didn't want to upset anyone. But anyway, thanks.

 

It looks like the broom handle method will be the best. I don't anticipate needing to use it for several months. But I feel better knowing how just in case.

 

And thank you for telling me about Hook Farm. I looked it up and it is only 30 minutes from where I live. Quite soon I'll try to book a course there.

 

I know of a butchers that will take care of it for £4, not sure if that includes plucking, and another I spoke to today said he would do it for £2 but I would definitely need to pluck it myself. From what I can tell killing and plucking are the hardest parts so I may as well learn how to do it myself. Sorry, going off topic I know...

 

Thanks for the advice.

[Chucky Mama]

Thank you to whoever added the warning about the content of this thread. I thought twice about asking in the first place because I didn't want to upset anyone. But anyway, thanks.

 

 

'twas me - no problem It is a very valid query and certainly for those that don't like using vets it is something that you should be both prepared and capable of doing.

[WitchHazel]

That's great that you live so close to Alison.

 

If the price you've been quoted doesn't include the plucking, then it seems quite a lot to ask for what will be a couple of seconds work. Plus you'll have to box up and take the birds over, so it's potentially more stress for you (and the birds) than doing it yourself.

If the price includes plucking, then it might be worth paying.

 

A bit of detail below, hopefully in white text - highlight it if you want to read it

A lot of butchers who deal with their own birds will have a plucking machine. It would take you 30 mins to an hour to pluck a bird by hand, so it might be a price worth paying.

 

Personally, I think the gutting is the worst part of all

 

BTW, for anyone else who is interested and who doesn't live near Hampshire, Jude at Cotswold Chickens (which is near Banbury) also runs despatching courses.

[crazy kc]

I was wondering the same thing a while ago and found this ,

http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=30066

Hope it helps

[The Dogmother]

I was wondering the same thing a while ago and found this ,

http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=30066

Hope it helps

 

*ummm* you have to be registered to read that forum.

[mnwickens]

Thanks for that link. I also received it as a private message and registered to read the post. It links to a Youtube video demonstrating the broom handle method.

[tippy1969]

Surely the most humane method is to take your chicken to your local vet where it can be injected and sleep away peacefully causing no unnecessary suffering.

 

We owe it to the birds we keep to have this unpleasant job done by a professional when their time has come. They will have given us lots of beautiful eggs and pleasure in keeping them during their relatively short life. Do the decent thing and take them to the vet!

[mnwickens]

I understand some people look upon chickens in different ways, and I absolutely believe animals should be treated properly, but I think there are times when the vet is not an option.

 

Unfortunately some may not be able to afford it. And for those raising chickens for meat then I don't think the option of the vet would allow the meat to be consumed afterwards. As well, if the chicken is injured or ill when the vet is closed then surely the more humane option is dispatch the chicken yourself rather than make it wait?

[Chucky Mama]

I agree with all that you have said mrwickens. I would also add that there is a degree of stress involved when bundling a sick bird into a box, bumping it around in the back of the car, sitting in the waiting room with all the strange smells and barking dogs to be injected by a vet. It is not necessarily any more or less humane that being culled in the 'traditional' way - by someone with experience. Often the gift of time is not a luxury we have when coming across a chicken badly injured as a result of a fox attack or a nasty prolapse. Learning how to humanely cull a chicken for me is the caring responsible thing to do. Many who learn keep the skill 'in their back pockets' for emergencies and still visit the vet to have chickens put to sleep. I know how to cull a chicken but choose not to and visit the vet instead. If however it was more humane to do so in an emergency I would be thankful that I knew what to do to prevent suffering. Also, many can't afford vet (or choose not to go to a vet) and I would rather see them cull a bird than watch them die when they know they are very ill.

[The Dogmother]

^ ^ ^ wot CM said.

 

I can't emphasise enough how important it is to take responsibility for your animals, especially poultry which have a lighter hold on life. I totally understand that some folk might not be comfortable despatching their own birds, and in that case, they need to know that they have someone to call on who could do the deed for them should the need arise in an emergency.

 

While I can despatch meat birds without much fuss, doing the same for my own pet birds when the time comes still involves much heartache and tears, even after all these years. We take the time to ensure that they have a peaceful passing and do it out of the sight of the other girls, and as quickly as possible. My 13 year old has been able to despatch a chicken since she was 11yo and we felt that she was old enough to understand what she was doing.

 

One thing that really rankles with me is when people post about a bird which is obviously suffering and they are advised to take it to the vet, then two days later that bird is still at home.... not seen a vet and in an even worse state. In my mind that is tantamount to cruelty and if it was a dog, they would surely face a fine or jail sentence. There is absolutely no need to see an animal suffer.

 

Sorry, I'll get off me soapbox now.

[Tweety]

I agree absolutely that there is no need to see an animal suffer, but I could not despatch one of my hens and have always taken my sick animals to the vet to be PTS. I don't think that means that I am not taking responsibility for my animals - I wouldn't be expected to despatch one of my cats if it was ill and I can't see why it should be any different with my hens.

I know that the stress of taking a sick animal out of it's comfort zone, putting it in a carrier and taking it to the vet is something that has to be considered but I believe that getting a professional to treat/despatch my pets is every bit as responsible as doing it myself.

The welfare of all my animals is very important to me and I would always seek professional help if necessary.

[Chucky Mama]

Tweety, I agree with what you are saying and I am not about to knock anyone that does not want to learn how to cull - I totally understand and would not dream of saying that you were less caring - far from it I personally would avoid it at all costs as it is just not something I would be happy doing in all but an emergency What I am trying to say is that it is not cruel and uncaring to want to know how to. There are forum members that often post 'vet is not an option' - for these people I think that knowing how to cull is the caring a responsible thing to learn. It is not fair to have a bird clearly very ill and to just wait for it to die because you cannot for whatever reason get professional help. Above all we need to carry out our duty of care and prevent suffering.

[chicken bark]

I have taken a chicken to be PTS by a vet, I have seen one die before I could get it to the vet (died about 2 hours before its appointment). I have also started hatching my own and with that comes the responsibility of culling any unwanted males. It is not something I want to do it is just something I will need to do as a caring breeder. LF males will be treated as table birds.

[Tweety]

Chucky Mama, I understand what you are saying and agree with you. I did not mean to imply that it was in any way wrong to want to know how to cull, and apologise if that was the impression given. I admire those who can deal with culling, I just cannot do it myself but don't think that fact precludes me from being a responsible poultry keeper.

 

I do appreciate that the vet is not an option for everyone and that I am very lucky that I can afford to take my sick animals to the vet, but those of us who for whatever reason feel that they are unable to despatch a sick hen themselves are no less caring or mindful of our duty than those who can. That's all I meant to say!

Edited May 7, 2011 by Guest

[Chucky Mama]

@ Tweety

[Griffin]

When one of my girls prolapsed and was literally running around the garden screaming in pain (a sound I guarantee none of you want to hear!) I despatched her in seconds. There's no way on earth I would've considered myself a responsible owner if I'd bundled her into a box, into the car and made her endure a 30 minute journey to the vets. I do use a brilliant avian vet for my girls when the need arises, I even spent £80 on a meat boy at the vets when he was ill, but there are some instances, like the one above, where a visit to the vets to be euthanased isn't in the best interests of that animal.

[migsy]

I was faced with a gruesome fox injury yesterday. I keep writing about it, as it has really disturbed me, so sorry if you have read about it in other posts. Luckily, the vet was still open and I made it on time to get her pts. However, I had to hastily bundle her into the car with 3 kids in toe who were distressed about the situation. Then I had to wait for about 20 minutes with dogs in the waiting room. Poor chicken. I feel so awful about it that I think I should learn how to cull. If I had discovered her 15 minutes later the vets would have been closed. I would only cull myself in a desperate situation. Yesterday's events would have been one of them.

[Guest]

.... It is not fair to have a bird clearly very ill and to just wait for it to die because you cannot for whatever reason get professional help. Above all we need to carry out our duty of care and prevent suffering.

 

 

[Mollie333]

I agree with Chucky Mama.

[moochoo]

Having learnt the broomstick method of dispatch when I was growing some birds for the table. It has come in useful with my layers on two occasions, neither would have benefitted from a trip to the vets (although I would have been there like a shot if I thought it was beneficial).

One was after my dog had grabbed and shook a hen causing a lot of damage but not quite killing her, she was put out of her pain quickly and efficiently.

The other was one of my very old ladies who had peritonitis for about 18 months and several vet visits took a steep turn for the worst over a bank holiday. I wasn't willing to take her to the emergency vet who'd not known her history. I knew she was struggling for her breath and probably would not have made the journey.

I don't take dispatching lightly but to have the knowledge and confidence to do it can be very helpful.