We all love our chickens ! This include backyard farmers , master gardener and chicken - keepers who consider their chick more pets than stock .
Our domestic fowl bring home the bacon us with endless amusement , emotional comfortableness and intellectual nourishment . These shuttlecock are in truth wonderful animate being .
However , like all ducky , we need to be aware of their calibre of biography and plan appropriately for the eventual end of that living . With dogs , cats , horses , etc . , we typically get advice from our vet on when we need to take euthanasia . This is often not the case with respect to our pet chickens .
This clause addresses some of those issues and provide useful information about euthanasia for your backyard birds .
When to Say Goodbye
As veterinarians and pet possessor , we apply several criteria when consider mercy killing in our favourite , include :
With solid food animals such as fowl , an additional consideration is the power — or deficiency thereof — to farm food , such as eggs .
As noted , these type of conversations are vernacular when deal with frump , cats , buck , pouch pets , etc . , but this is n’t a normal conversation when dealing with chickens . With the overall prevalence of backyard poultry , though , it ’s important to have an honest discussion about :
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The Flock vs. The Bird
For many domestic fowl disease , cures or in force treatment live . In addition , necropsy ( aka an fauna autopsy / euthanasia ) present the good prospect for diagnosing . The idea here is that if we do a necropsy of one volaille , we can identify the disease present and better understand how to treat the remainder of the batch .
This is based on the reality that when one wimp in a sight has a disease , it ’s very potential that the entire tidy sum has the same problem . They ’re all eating and fuddle the same nutrient and water and divulge to the same environment .
For example , if one of your chicken has a vitamin deficiency or an infectious disease or is egg - leap , as diagnosed by necropsy , then it ’s good to assume that your total flock has or will soon have that same job .
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So how do you make the best decisiveness for single birds and/or your flock ?
Read more : Here ’s what you need to know when bet for an avian veterinarian .
Methods
This section will leave you with some background on how mercy killing of chickens is done with a focussing on processes that your veterinarian or diagnostic lab may offer .
It ’s important to jazz that euthanasia is different than process a chicken to be turned into food . The end result ( aka end ) is , of course , the same , but the methods are dissimilar .
This article focuses on euthanasia and not process . The two should not be conflated .
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Here are three humane methods of euthanasia for backyard chickens .
Cervical Dislocation
If done by rights , this form of chicken euthanasia is humane . However , this is often not done properly .
Cervical disruption involves stretching the neck opening and dislocating the joint at the base of the skull . It get the spinal cord and consort origin vessel to soften .
This is carry through by holding the chicken ’s feet in one hand in a unbowed production line from the head , which is held in the other hand . The brain is advanced abruptly , swimmingly and confidently forward . Part of the scholarship bender here involves using the appropriate strong suit so that the head does n’t come clean off . Alla – Din / Shutterstock
Carbon Dioxide
The use of carbon dioxide or another like gas — such as argon — in a little space in the authors ’ opinion is the most humanistic and pragmatic way for backyard poultry enthusiasts to utilize . It ’s technically easy to accomplish and also cost effective .
Ideally you would go to your veterinarian or to a diagnostic lab . ( Often , this is done for liberal or for a nominal fee . ) However , you may do this by yourself , if necessary .
First , buy a pencil eraser trashcan ( ~32 gallons ) , a arctic hose and a canister of C dioxide . Place the shuttle gently inside the trashcan ( you could place two to three bird in a 32 - gallon trashcan ) , and attach the carbon dioxide tank to the trashcan via a rubber hosiery . ( Create a good seal at the adhesion site between the trashcan and hose . )
ferment the C dioxide on , and wait approximately five minutes .
observe : You could practice cervical disruption at this point to hone this method without the wellbeing complication of practicing on a witting wimp . There is a bit of a learning curve associated with cervical disruption , so this would be an effective and humane approach toward perfecting this technique .
Read more : This serial of article explains rough-cut malady that could affect your flock .
IV Injection of Euthanasia Solution
This has to be done by a veterinarian because the medication is considered a controlled drug by the Food and Drug Administration . The vet often uses a pinkish solution that is throw in intravenously that basically stops the crybaby ’s spirit .
It ’s not advisable to be present for bird mercy killing because , unlike dog or cat euthanasia , a catheter is not usually grade . This has the potential for a dense end result .
What is n’t considered humane / secure ? Other method including gunshot , beheading , thoracic densification and blunt force psychic trauma are not considered humanist and/or secure for pet birds .
Other Information
When deciding whether or not to euthanize your favorite poulet , the heavy thing that you direct to invalidate is waiting too long and , by doing this , prolonging excruciation . While there is not a right or a wrong clip to do this — take over that production and economics is not your primary focus — a uncouth fault is keeping our pets around for our benefit instead of theirs .
The other determination is what to do with the clay . Most veterinary hospitals would be capable to cremate your chicken . You would have to determine whether or not you would care the ash back .
These selection carry different cost .
Many veterinary wo n’t be conversant with crybaby mercy killing . So it would make sentiency to go to a vet who has experience with birds and/or backyard poultry . Another option is to take your poulet home for burial after the function .
Each metropolis and commonwealth can have its own laws regarding whether or not this is legal and how deep the sepulture must be . So check your local regulation .
The Respectful Choice
The finish of volaille euthanasia is for you to be able-bodied to find solacement in the fact that you did the right thing for your feather friend . There are always honourable business organization relate with mercy killing , but the goal is to utilize a humanistic and legal method to help your chicken on its path out .
disregarding of whatever you do , in our opinions , treating your animal with respect in the decision - making and euthanasia process should be based on gain as much information from expert as possible . Among other expert , attain out to your veterinary surgeon and even local university to gather the well information possible .
Evan Adler , D.V.M , and Maurice Pitesky , D.V.M. , are staff and staff at theUC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine - Cooperative Extension . This clause originally appeared in the November / December 2020 issue ofChickensmagazine .
