culling- first time

[Suechooks]

Just been reading the above and have been thinking of keeping hens as pets. I would not be able to do the deed i am afraid, to me it would be like seeing off my cat or dog. I know it is just me and I know these things have to be done, but just wondered if you are keeping them as pets and if you do have the occasion when you have to do this for the sake of the animal can you take them to the vets and have them put to sleep like I would do with other pets? I know I am a big softie

I always take my ex-batts to the vet if they are sick and if necessary they are PTS by him. I would do the same for cats and dogs or any other pet.
I did have to get one culled by a kind neighbour as the vet was shut and it needed doing immediately. The same neighbour has agreed to cull any cockerels I get if I ever get round to hatching anything. It is this very reason that has put me off so far. However I am fast convincing myself that it is the way I would lke to go and as I eat chicken I know I am being hypocritical. My birds would have as good a life as my hens do now. Bring it on!

[Nicos]

The other thing I liked about dunking in boiling water was that any 'wildlife' in the feathers would also be seen off

I just had a bowl of water nearby to swill my fingers in when the feathers stuck to them!
( my lads were tiny though- I can imagine with a big bird it might be different??)

These lads weren't pets- yup they did get given names of Bitbot and Turkey- but we never tried to pet them- just the gals and the 2 cockerels we have.

Ah well- 2 down , 3 to go in about another month.
Have to say though that the boys and gals seem a lot happier today without those two causing trouble. Even the cockerels have been dust bathing- so they must feel more relaxed!

[lesleygl]

Thank you Suechook a woman after my own heart. I don't eat meat but I do like eggs, but I would like to think that I would look after them the same way as I would any other pet. As I said I know I am a softie but I love my animals

[Eco-Chic]

Lesley,

There's a world of difference pyschologically between keeping chickens as livestock or as pets.

My girls were intended to be pets who provide me with eggs, manure and snail and slug control. So far my pets are providing plenty of manure and if they never gift me eggs or clear the slugs, it'll be a shame but as long as they aren't ill I shan't mind at all.

[Hilary B]

Nope- they had a full crop( just a normal day in the life of a chook)- but you just have to be careful when removing it.
Mine fly out of their door in the morning- I'd find it really difficult to get in the room with them to sort them out
The less anxiety the better apparently- it's kinder- but also toughens up the meat if any adrenalin rush gets to the muscles. ( bit like Aberdeen Angus Cattle)

ANY livestock that are stressed before killing it leads to tough meat.
We always removed them from their living quarters in the evening, placed in a confined space with water but no food, and killed in the morning.
Because we always preferred to hang the birds (very strongly advised with anything old enough to have any flavour) we HAD to starve them. A full crop plus hanging = very odd coloured skin in that area!

[Eco-Chic]

Is hanging the meat to tenderise it?

[Hilary B]

Is hanging the meat to tenderise it?

Yes, plus it develops the flavour a bit more.

[its hilly]

Well done Nicos and OH. I'm not looking forward to this part, but I'm a firm believer that its quality of life and a qiuck painless death that count, weather its a meat animal or a pet.
Dont get me wrong, there is absoloutly nowt wrong in my eyes in keeping any form of livestock as a pet if you want, and if that means it goes to the vet to be pts then fine. And while I agree with Suechooks that as a meat eater Id feel a bit hypocritical passing them on for someone else to kill and eat I dont think anyone who doesnt feel like that should be worried by what others think or say. We're not all alike thank goodness. Some of my first hatch (boys) will be with me until old age unless they turn nasty..but I cant keep all of them.

[lesleygl]

Thank you for all your replies - my question seems to have provoked a interesting and good debate and I have certainly learned lots , all your views and information will help me make my decision - don't want to go into anything half a......d!

Kind regards
Lesley

[Sue]

Hi
If you have cock birds and think getting them put to sleep is an option, you might have to think again. I rang my Vet (def not an avian specialist) explained the situation, had been given two young "hens" who turned out to not to be and wasn't allowed to keep them etc. Said they don't put healthy animals to sleep. So as wasn't up to doing the deed myself had to get in touch with the local abbatoir which cost £40 for two birds.
Feel rather annoyed with the Vet though, a quiet walk down the road and a quick injection was surely better than being hauled off in a big van and I don't know what happening at the other end.

Feel very guilty at this so as soon as I have some money will be going on a course so I can do it myself in future.
I just couldn't face the nightmare of not doing it properly as have only read about doing it - very different in practice.

Sue

[Bephlam]

I can't stand the thought of taking a life full stop. It's not about them being culled for meat, I eat meat and fully understand the process, but morally I can't cope with taking a life. Yet...I contradict all this by the number of animals I've PTS in my job.

I have boys at the moment, 4 of...I've found homes for two of them, but if I can't secure homes for the other 2 I'll have to face facts and cull them.

I don't believe anyone likes doing it...but, it is all part of the process. I do think it's kinder to do it quickly, in their own environment, then ship them off to the vets or an abattoir (sorry Sue)...as this causes inevitable stress!

Happier threads for me next!...

[Eco-Chic]

Sue,

I've seen devices which look like pliers/nut crackers which break the birds neck. Some are hand held and some can be fixed to a wall. Have you looked at them?

[Sue]

Hi
Bephlam, Ecochick
I know the theory, just have never done it and couldn't face doing it. It would have been far better to have done it myself but I wimped out. Just had the horrors of what if I didn't do it right and had no-one to help me either.

Have never killed anything directly apart from insects and two slugs.

As I said, if I ever get a job will then have the money to go on a course to learn to do it properly and have the confidence for any future emergencies.

Sue

[Eco-Chic]

I've drowned 3 broken fledglings over the years.

I also know theoretically how to kill a chook but I'm not sure I could bring myself up to scratch if it wasn't a mercy killing.

[RichmondHens]

Sue,

I've seen devices which look like pliers/nut crackers which break the birds neck. Some are hand held and some can be fixed to a wall. Have you looked at them?

They are frowned on by a lot of professional poultry keepers, and I believe the Humane Society, as not being as effective as neck dislocation by hand. The plier thingies kill by crushing the vertebrae, rather than separating them, and this means not quite so instananeous death.

When in doubt, get an experienced "neck puller" to do the job for you. It takes more strength and effort than you imagine, and the most important thing is that the bird does not suffer so the kill has to be quick and clean. I have never felt up to killing an adult bird, and leave that job to my OH, although I can kill chicks. Don't like doing it though.