oh dear first dispatch

[mrsbusy]

Just had to dispatch one of our old hens. Something - I know not what - happened to her and I found her in the garden unable to stand up - no sign of injury or illness. She has spent the last week in a box not moving. Twice a day I gave her a couple teaspoons water with critical care powder which she supped up to some extent. Everyday I did not expect her to be still alive in the morning - but she was. So I decided this could not go on and that we would dispatch her here. Our previous hen with a broken leg went to the lady who put on my beginners poultry course. But that involves a bit of a journey and last time had to go back to get the hen as don't feel it is fair to expect her to dispose as well - her husband does it so have to wait until he is home etc. Anyway the deed was done with help of mrbusy.

[Bigmallly]

Oh dear, that is something I could not do MrsBusy. Also, I definitely could not eat it although I love chicken.

[Nicos]

Never easy. Sounds like you did everything you could for her- right to the end.

I seem to recall OH and I had 2 or 3 or 4 double whiskys after dispatching our first chook.
OH did it and I hid indoors crying
Nothing like having a supportive wife eh??

And nope, doing it never becomes easier- but you feel more comfortable with knowing it was the best thing to do.

[mrsbusy]

Hi - thanks all. I think I am just slightly shocked that on the u tube clips etc it looks quite easy and I felt confident - but it was much harder. But I won't eat her! Think she would be as tough as. Having a look for a dispatch course next perhaps!!

[Mrs Bee]

I got the lady who sold us our chickens and runs chicken keeping courses to teach me how to dispatch ailing chooks.

I waited until every one else had gone, including my husband, and she showed me how to do the broomstick two step, on a very large cockerel she was planning to have for Sunday lunch. She was very thorough and I felt more confident and in control after I had done it.

If you have live stock at some point you will have dead stock and it is important to be able to be able to dispatch a sick chicken as quickly as possible and not to see them suffer.

I have had to do several since keeping chickens. The other half always finds that he has something vital to do at the allotment when I get the broomstick. I get all the good jobs. But someone has to do it.

I thought I would feel horrid doing it but I was remarkably calm. There is obviously a lot of my great grandmother's genes in me. She kept chickens and would wring their necks ready for the pot.

[veggiechicken]

I take mine to the Vet.

[Baldy]

^^^^^^^
How much does that cost then?
Just curious - Mrs Balders is a vegetarian going on vegan and really would like to keep rescue chickens and so forth.
know I would end up with all the carp jobs.
Whilst I'm a meat eater and therefore, apparently, morally bankrupt I have had to put an animal or two out of misery its not something I would look forward toO.OOOO

[veggiechicken]

I've only had to do it once and its a few years ago - about £5 IIRC.
There is no way that I could kill an animal myself.

[Guest]

Sorry to hear of your loss, it is never an easy thing

[Potstubsdustbins]

I was taught by a farmer in Lambley aged about 10 using a brush handle like you say it never gets easier.

[Mrs Bee]

In our area it is £25 which is more than I pay for a point of lay chicken.

And I don't look forward to doing the deed but if it needs doing then I can.

[Scarlet]

I think it gets easier with time - the first one of ours to go was a baby chick. It took the OH 4hours to do it and I couldn't even bring myself to do it. I still feel awful for the day butI don't put it off now. Just get it done If you hatch chickens you need to kill the boys so after the first few hatches in the early days where some hatches were 8 boys to 2 girls we got much better at it. If it's quick with little stress I'm happy.

Mrs Bee, you've had two with leg problems, have you got any trees, or fence etc that they are flying down from? They don't land well. How high is your perch?

[ESBkevin]

I've had one or two that go silent and sit just like you describe. You try everything but it's not fair to prolong thier agony. I've decided my next hens will have chemical worming because I've not been successful using 'alternative' methods to date. Even a sick hen takes some effort to dispatch, it's just better done quickly for both of you.

[Mrs Bee]

[QUOTE=Scarlet;1512463]I think it gets easier with time

I don't think I said that I had 2 with leg problems.
Unless you saw a post on another site. But the very first poorly one did have a dislocated leg and that was when I took it to the lady who sold them and she then showed me how to do it. That was very many years ago.

We don't have anything very high, I think she just landed badly coming down the ladder from the coop.

I have had a few get old and poorly and put them out of their misery.

Just wish there was the same option for me if I get that way!

[Scarlet]

I don't think I said that I had 2 with leg problems.
Unless you saw a post on another site.
We don't have anything very high, I think she just landed badly coming down the ladder from the coop.

It's written in your post#1. Of this thread. It's unusal to get two hens out of a small flock to get damaged legs. Personally I would relook at your "ladder" if that's the only thing you have that they use that is high.