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[KimmyCustard]

Hi Ladies and Gents

 

 

I have just had to ask DH to euthanize Bubbles, one of our Bluebelles

 

This is the first time he has had to do this, to my shame I couldnt bring myself to do it with another sick hen previously and I think she starved to death. I couldnt let that happen again. Bubbles was an old hen and slowly going downhill for a while. Today was the first morning where she didnt even come out of the Cube, didnt run away screaming when I picked her up (this was one dramatic hen) and her crop was completely empty. She wouldnt eat nor even move from the place where I left her. Her poop was greeny and her comb greyish/purple so I knew it was time.

 

My question is: Why is there not any good info on euthanising a chicken anywhere? I have searched everywhere, UK and US sites and there seems to be a lot of discussion on this but no actual trauma and stress free ways to do it? DH did it but he found it emotionally difficult as he wasnt completely confident in what he was doing. He gave a hard pull at the base of her skull, there was some flapping but she died within around 2 minutes.

 

Have I missed an article somewhere that everyone else has read and knows about this? I want to do the best for the girls, even if it means putting them to sleep so they dont suffer. Thanks

[gavclojak]

There are several chicken culling courses around and I would suggest you invest in one of those. I don't think you should cull yourself unless you are confident you are going to kill the hen quickly and effectively.

 

I am really sorry to say this but did you not think of taking your other girl to the vets to have her PTS rather than letting her starve to death?

[Grandmashazzie]

There is something on you tube using a broomstick.I couldn't watch it myself.OH watched it as we had an ailing one.Thankfully she passed during night.OH not sure he could have done it but said it did look quick.Two mins seems a long time.Am sure it was very upsetting for your OH but a long time for your girlie.

[PixieDust]

I have heard of the broomstick method too. There is also a thing you can buy which you attach to a fence which despatches quickly and humanely. Also, instructions in the back of the Haynes Chicken Manual. Luckily my OH has some experience of this, although he hates doing it.

[KimmyCustard]

I didnt know she was starving to death at the time, I thought she would recover so I didnt want to have her PTS. Looking back on it now and knowing what I now know about hens and chicken illness, I'm guessing that she starved to death. Lesson learnt and I wouldnt want to put a hen through that again.

 

As for the 2 minutes, it wasnt that she was flapping or even breathing for that time, I am guessing it was that amount of time but I was more concerned that she had actually died and not suffering than knowing the exact time it took.

 

I have never heard of a culling course, I will definitely look into that as I want to end their suffering as quickly as possible when needed and I dont want to put DH through it again if I can help it, he was as traumatised as me. As for the vet, he doesnt know a thing about chickens and always requires an appointment etc, not useful if you have an ailing hen.

[Olly]

Flapping afterwards is normal, and it probably wasn't two minutes, it just felt like it to you - sounds as if your OH got it about right.

 

Culling is a necessary part of chicken-keeping, unfortunately, but not something to be undertaken lightly. I am not ashamed to admit that I've never done it myself as I'm fortunate in having a friend who can do it. I have watched him do it, and realised that I don't have the physical strength to do it by hand as I have wrist problems. The broomstick method gets good reports on here, and it's something I intend to learn but I have not needed to so far. If my friend wasn't around then I'd ask the vet to PTS.

 

Don't blame yourself for the first hen, we have probably all made the mistake in early days of thinking a hen will recover and letting things go on longer than they should - I applaud you for making the decision this time. In my view once a hen is sick, unless they are young and it's an identifiable and treatable problem, culling is often the best outcome, I wouldn't put an older hen through the stress of repeated veterinary visits and treatment. I think you and your OH have done a good job, it must have been upsetting.

[Minnie&Moose]

Very sorry to hear about your hen. It's always sad when a hen gets to that stage but great that your OH was able to cull her.

 

I thoroughly recommend taking a culling course. I did one last year (with Lewis though I didn't identify myself as a forum member) - it was excellent. The broomstick method is very straightforward, doesn't require too much strength, and I have now used it on one of our own birds, and will be using it to despatch a young cockerel at the weekend. I can't say I like doing it but I feel confident that I can do it and that the bird is treated in a humane and considerate manner.

[Chucky Mama]

Flapping is unfortuantely comment. Even with injections to euthanise and they can flap afterwards. As Olly said, I am sure it wasn't for as long as it seemed. The main thing is that you recongnised that you had to do something and you did something. I never like reading on the forum about hens that are effectively left to die when they go downhill.

[Egluntyne]

Don't worry about the flapping. It perfectly normal. I once went on a course and observed a chicken being dispatched, and as it was done enthusiastically, the chicken's head came off. It was clearly dead, but it still flapped vigorously for a while.

 

It is commendable that you have seen that it would be a good idea to learn how to do this properly. It isn't difficult, although the first couple of times it is hard emotionally.

 

There are some you tube videos available, but I would advise you to go on a course if there is one nearby.

[doctors girls]

I with Minnie & moose I have used the broomstick method but I didn't go on a course I just used u-tube as my teacher and found it very effective and would do it again if I had to like ollie says it is the other side of chicken keeping that we don't like but that's life

[coco]

I too have used the broomstick method, I don't have the wrist strength to do it the other way. At least your OH was able to do it and sounds like he got it spot on. There is always flapping, I tend to put the hen down on the floor somewhere quiet and leave her for a minute or so then go back to her. Its a horrible thing to have to do but unfortunately part of chicken keeping. I always find it upsetting.

[miller30]

I to use the broomstick method I find its the best method for me the first few times is horrible but then you get to a point where you don't think about it and just get on with it as others have said I hate to see people who have a sick bird but cant cull so just watch it waste away which takes quite a while in some cases. I have a few friends that bring me their birds I see nothing wrong with this I don't always think you have to do the deed yourself but know it needs to be done and find help with it leanne

[KimmyCustard]

Phew thank you Olly, Minnie&Moose, Chucky Mama, Egluntyne, doctors girl, Coco and miller30, you've made me feel better!

 

I'm glad the flapping is normal, I will look up the broomstick method in case of emergencies before I can get on a culling course. DH has some hoofing strength on him, thank the Lord as I wouldnt have been strong enough to despatch her myself. Although he did ask me not to ask him to do it again! Poor thing.

 

We love our chooks but this part really does suck.

 

Thanks again for all your help

[sjp]

it's not so much strength as technique when I did the course there were 3 men and 3 ladies. the ladies fair a lot better than the men that was using the hand method

[Beantree]

Our vet told us it was better to despatch/pts/cull/euthanise at home than stress the bird with a trip to the vet and an injection. We bought a wall mounted despatcher, which is very effective if set properly, otherwise it can simply strangle the bird, as can many of the methods. Whatever happens it has to be better than being hung upside down from a conveyor belt, which is the beginning of the Commercial method.

 

I have seen a YouTube video of the broomstick method and in my opinion the bird was suffocated. The flapping about was not right. The muscle spasms are quite violent and are in a set pattern, the last being the feathers on the neck raise and fall. In the case of a sick old hen it may last only 20 seconds, a 6 month old cockerel might be 2 minutes. We find a towel useful to restrain them.

 

Essentially the requirement is to stun effectively and then despatch. Some methods this happens at the same time. So that rules out suffocation (which is commercial practice with chicks and CO2) and throat cutting. Shooting in the head is extremely effective but dangerous. The essential point is that the spasms start immediately the bird is killed. If it just goes limp it has been knocked out (unless drugged).

[The Dogmother]

I always use a broomstick or hatchet, so the neck is either clearly broken or severed, and I always check this.

 

I'm often called upon to despatch chickens for people, and will happily demonstrate/teach if they ask; I am in north Oxon, on the borders or Warks, Northants and not far from north Bucks, so if anyone is interested, I can show them how.

[miller30]

I always use a broomstick or hatchet, so the neck is either clearly broken or severed, and I always check this.

 

I'm often called upon to despatch chickens for people, and will happily demonstrate/teach if they ask; I am in north Oxon, on the borders or Warks, Northants and not far from north Bucks, so if anyone is interested, I can show them how.

 

I agree with Dogmother without being to graphic you can feel the head come away from the neck when you pull and I also always feel and check this I was told the amount of flapping will depend on the health of the bird so if your just culling a healthy cockbird well lets just say if I hadn't had a good strong hold of a couple of big guys they would have took off down the drive ill birds don't tend to flap as bad or as long leanne

[kazmac]

Why can't people take their hens to a vet to be put to sleep? Why are they any different to any other animal? And couldn't you tell that your first hen was starving to death if she wasn't eating??

And I'm quite shocked that people are attempting things such as this whilst admitting that they are not confident in what they're doing.

This is a horrible thread.

[The Dogmother]

Everyone has to learn somehow, and I'm sure that perhaps those attempting it at home for the first time would prefer to seek tuition if they could find it

 

Please excuse me for saying that if you find the subject of culling livestock distressing, then perhaps it's best not to click on the link if 'euthanasing' is in the title

Edited September 19, 2014 by Guest

[kazmac]

I knew that would be the response

[Egluntyne]

Sometimes it is far kinder to deal with a sick hen immediately. Waiting around for a vet's appointment isn't always in the best interest of the hen.

[Daphne]

But think of it from the other way, Kazmac, isn't it much much better than somebody asks how they should be 'euthanising' a chicken because they realise they don't know, rather than keeping quiet and carrying on muddling through? And I'm sure I'm not the only person who had to screw up her courage and slightly hope for the best the first time I did it on my own, even though I'd been brought up around chooks which ended up as dinners so I did know what I was supposed to be doing.

 

KimmyCustard - it might be that you were using an unhelpful search term on the internet, culling or dispatching or even killing will lead you to more information. I'd endorse what the others have said, probably best of all to go on a dispatch course, or get the vet to PTS (but this isn't always possible eg in an emergency), or use the broomstick method. I don't think the latter is a any worse a way to cull a bird than any other. I use it because it does not require strength, just technique and importantly I can do it on my own. Another sure fire method is the axe which I use on chicks or bantams. There will always be flapping, it is entirely normal. I can tell you that when the head is severed from the body, the wings will still move quite a bit as a reflex, which is disconcerting, but entirely normal.

[miller30]

Kazmac I have had somebody bring a bird to me to cull as they said the last bird went to the vets and it was a very traumatic experience for her and the hen she didn't want to pin her bird down while it got an injection its not as fast and stress free as you think leanne

[The Dogmother]

Personally, I'd rather not stress a sick bird with a trip to the vet - any of mine which need a help to go are despatched quickly and quietly, away from the rest of the flock. It's not something I enjoy doing, what does annoy me though is when folks leave it far too long before seeking advice or help with culling... the other week I was called out to look at a hen which had been brought to my friend; it was a fraction of the weight it should have been, virtually bald and with lots of tumours. It had been like that 'for at least two weeks'

[gavclojak]

I was the first to reply to this thread and i just was to clarify something........i have no problem with culling, if you are capable of doing it, again no problem but i would go on a chicken culling course or the like before i tried, it isn't something i personally would feel conformable doing from watching a YouTube clip....but that is me personally. if you are able to do it quickly and efficiently then fair play to you and i applaud you.

 

What i did have a problem with was allowing a hen to be unwell for such a long time that they actually starved to death, i am sure during that period of starvation a vets appointment would have been forthcoming, yes we have all been guilty of keeping an eye on our hens for a day or two to see if they perk but if they don't then as owners, its our responsibility to do something about it....am i wrong??