Instruction needed please

[MaureenHall]

Unfortunately I'm going to have to cull one of my (nearly) 5 week old chicks. He's very crippled and really hobbling about now. His feet don't look right either! Now the problem I've got is that I've never had to do this before and I'd like to know the best way to do it. I've read on some American site that they put the chicks in a box and put them in the freezer I can't do that, to me that seems really horrible and callous, the poor thing won't die immediately will it?

Mike or Jennie, if you happen to be in the area today or tomorrow ..............................?

[Bramble-Poultry]

See you after work Mo - Mike'll do it!!!

[RichmondHens]

Oh dear poor you. I think the freezer method sounds horrific. He's probably big enough to do it by the normal method of separating the vertebrae although I have seen it done by pressing the neck over a sharp metal bar of some sort. I culled a 2 day old with splay leg last year by pushing the sharp edge of a metal container down onto the neck to break it.
Never a nice job though, whichever way you do it.

[di]

Aaaaw,sorry Mo.{{{{{x}}}}}
You definately did all you could to give it a chance at life.

[kirsty b]

Mo, how horrible for you ((hugs))

[Shellintons]

You should have rung P. He'd never leave you stuck, you should know that by now
Having said that if Mike is coming I'll get on with making my pork pies ;p

[Glutton4...]

I'd have suggested a cleaver, or good-sized sharp knife. Horrible to have to do it, I know, but better than letting it suffer. ((((hugs)))) from down here.

[Nicos]

good decision-you gave it a real fighting chance!

....never an easy decision- but how wonderful that fellow Grapes have stepped forwards to offer their help.

x

[minskey]

Aww so sorry Mo. I had to cull an ex-batt last week. I cried buckets, my OH was worse than me. But you gave did all you could. Be brave. Lots of ((((hugs))))

[MaureenHall]

You should have rung P. He'd never leave you stuck, you should know that by now
Having said that if Mike is coming I'll get on with making my pork pies ;p

I know Shelly, it's something I should be brave enough (and kind enough) to do and I was hoping that there'd be a magic wand that I could wave and Wonky would either be better or he'd just go on his own quickly. I couldn't watch, Mike did the deed for me. If he hadn't come over on his way from work (for them all to oooooo and ahhhhhhhh at the new chicks as well ) I'd have brought him round to yours

[Bramble-Poultry]

Maureen - you know we are always here when you need us. didnt like doing it, but didnt like leaving it as it was even more so.

i always find chicks are harder than adults.

cant believe that someone suggested the freezer to you Maureen. that is a horrific way to go. When i used to work in the fish import trade we were instructed by the RSPCA to "humanley" dispatch injured fish that way. Apart from the fact that without water they suffocated slowly, the very act of feezing caused their organs to expand as the ice crystals formed. Not nice at all and i am glad i could have helped you.

sorry we had to leave quickly but the smell of cakes was turning me into a bisto kid! had to get home and cook my dinner!

Had one of maureen's cakes at the weekend at the fair. loveley it was too. Maureen - that "nip" i gave you was this - Scottish Liqueur Centre - Bruadar really nice wasnt it!!

[mr darcy]

I really wish I had a bramble poultry nearby!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

why - for the chicken services or the whiskey??

[petal]

it is useful to know how to do it yourself though, for future reference. Its not nice but part of breeding chickens. If anyone gets into this predicament near to me please feel free to contact and I will assist them.

[Hilary B]

Freezing seems to work for lobsters, because they go into a kind of hibernation, and simply don't wake up from it (in fact if you only freeze a lobster for a day or 2 it MIGHT wake up when defrosted). I would NEVER use the method for anything that wasn't pretty similar to a lobster!