How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Crop Problem

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Crop Problem - advice please

Actually, that sounds better than the other way. I'm just hoping I wake up one morning and find them dead without warning. I haven't had to go through this yet and I know it has to be terrible for everyone involved.

Our local vet will put a chicken down but I don't know what it cost.

Cassandra Maas
Alain Pinel Realtors
Saratoga, CA 95070

On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 3:44 PM, Melissa Rose <langmelissarose@gmail.com> wrote:

Not to offend anyone but there are two more methods that work quickly and pretty painlessly. One is for chicks that need to be culled after hatching.

Take a larger container that a smaller container will fit in that has a lid. You want both to be as small as possible. Place the chick in the smallest of the containers place it into the larger and add about 1/4 cup baking soda and a half cup of vinegar. Place the lid on quickly. The chick passes on in about a minute or less. If your containers are larger you want to add more of the baking soda and vinegar. It produces Carbon Monoxide and they fall asleep and pass on.

The second method I use to dispose of Raccoons but can be used on larger chickens.

Place them in a container that has a tight fitting lid. They make the big plastic bins for storage now and they work great. Put the animal in and add a chunk of dry ice. I place it in a container so the animal doesn't touch it. Place the lid on and they pass on within 5 minutes. It also produces Carbon Monoxide same as the other method. They don't get cold or freeze in any way. With the Raccoons we use a live trap to trap them then just place them in the trap inside the bin with the dry ice. Neither myself nor my husband like to use guns so this works for us.

I usually just decapitate the older birds that need culling since I do butcher some of my birds as a food source but for those that have never done it before it can be extremely traumatic and nerve wracking.

Once again this is not meant to offend any one and all methods work for some but not all so finding one you can live with is up to the individual.

Best Regards Melissa Rose from South Texas