Kind method of euthanaisia

frazzles · **Posted:** Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:12 am

Honestly,using the axe creeps me out,and I'm not convinced that the chicken doesn't suffer. My husband is the one who does it at the moment , but it still gives me the shakes when he takes them away, and one day he may not be here or sick,and I will have to, I would prefer for a chicken to be stunned first, but how does one do that efficiently? Has anyone got another method which is more humane? I don't have very strong hands so that is another flaw. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks.

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

The sharp axe is actually the quickest and most humane way. The reason why they stun cattle first is because of the difficulty of quickly killing them any other way.

Alternately, take them to the Vet and have them given a lethal injection. Although then there is all the stress of catching them, putting in a box, taking them out in a new and strainge environment and having a needle shoved in.

frazzles · **Posted:** Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:21 am

There is also the stress of paying the vets' bill! Although it is probably a method that I would use for the pet chooks I have!

henlover · **Joined:** Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:56 pm **Posts:** 37

It is called :shock:

THE VETS! How could you KILL a hen yourself?!?!?!?!?!? :shock:

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

Euthanasia; gentle and easy death. The axe or the stretching of neck nor even an injection comes under the said description of euthanasia, possibly the only one that fits the description is gassing.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Euthanasia is the act of assisting death – not necessarily in an easy manner – the ‘gentlest’ methods atm are a needle referred to as The Green Dream only administered by a Vet or gassing using an odourless tasteless gas such as carbon monoxide
all other forms of ‘assisted death’ are considered killing - if you want to eat the bird after the fact I don’t recommend you uethanase them as the injection/gas may be lethal not only to the bird. [you would have to check with a Vet first tho as I am not sure on this point]

amazingly in most states it is illegal to use an axe on any poultry as it is considered the cruellest way to kill them as it does take between 30seconds and 2mins for the chooks brain to actually die and for it to stop registering anything

The recommended, 'most humane' way to kill a bird is to severe its jugular or to ‘de-brain’ it.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:48 pm

I fail to see how severing the jugular is any different to using an axe. :-?

Surely the blood vessel is severed and the brain gets starved of oxygen, regardless whether the head is still attached or rolling on the grass.

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

Soozorps,the ozzie pocket oxford dictionary - gentle & easy death; bringing about of this,esp.in case of incurable & painful disease.
Wickedwings, I stopped using the axe because it became apparent that I wasn't a great marksman with said tool of destruction, so I taught myself to dispatch poultry by stretching their necks. I have to say that it is the most disgusting way of killing my birds but it is the quickest and surest way . So what I'm trying to say is that it is the quickest and less stressful way for the birds to be culled. Less mess as well until you start to dress your carcass.

Rhode Red · **Posted:** Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:46 am

I agree the two cheapest options you have is an axe or stretch the neck (sad as it is). I have used both, the axe has the same effect an poultry of any age. I have found that if that disposing of older birds generally +2 years particulary males (large breeds) are fairly tough and it takes a bit more effort that other birds. Unless you have good strong arms and a tight grip, the axe is the best method for the roosters. It is also takes technique and sadly pratice to master the art. I agree with purefeather stretching has a lot less mess.

Rhode Red

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:14 am

I personally could not chop off my chook's head or dislocate it's neck, as I still have vivid childhood memories of my grandfather killing the Christmas goose...

They are courses in the UK on "despatching and dressing" poultry. Do they have similar ones here?

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