Euthanasia.....a "forbidden" Topic

[**KAZ** 0]

Euthanasia.............a topic never spoken about on forum in case we cop some abusive or volatile comments. We speak about it behind scenes if we have to. We all face it and we never put it on forum due to possible upsets we may cause.

 

So, why NOW ?

 

I just found a hen in the aviary injured badly. She needed putting down immediately.

 

So I did what had to be done and I put her out of her pain and misery and I took photos. I used to be a vet nurse so I do what has to be done one way or another. She was a beautiful hen and I would have done anything to save her, but she was beyond help.

In this case, I decided also to make it an educational topic and I stand here ready to cop any flak from members. I try my best to make this forum educational and being a practical down to earth kind of person I feel we need to be able to know the options.

 

She had a gaping hole in her mid torso/chest region. Upon investigation the hole was full depth revealing her organs and infection would have set in as the blood was dark so it had been some time. I felt she may have met another hen bickering over a favoured perching spot last night in the aviary.

 

Here she is ( one of my best hen Omelette's chicks )

 

 

 

 

 

I feel very sad that she had to go. She was a beautiful hen. The thing seems to be that if anything wants to kill itself in any stupid way its usually a hen and a good one that does it. Only the other day I found a hen who wanting to nest had squeezed herself into a crevice between aviary and birdroom door. Squashed an dead when I found her. Another example of a stupid brainless hen.

 

In this case I will say how I euthanase my birds now as I have tried various methods over the years and have arrived at a way that works, works relatively quickly and is less violent than some methods I have been told about.

I take the bird in my left hand .............with my right hand I use the thumb and first three fingers. I cover the nostrils of the bird with my first two fingers and the thumb and third finger I hold the birds beak shut. The bird dies within 6-10 seconds. Peaceful and done.

 

I apologise in advance for anyone this upsets, but if you knew how many behind scenes messages I have received asking how to euthanase a bird by desperate BBC members you will understand why it needs to be available as an option when things get really bad and there are no other choices to be made.

Edited August 13, 2010 by KAZ

[libby66 0]

I'm sorry you lost a beautiful hen Kaz,and thanks for letting us know of a humane way to euthenase a

 

bird for just in case.I for one never could understand why this subject was taboo i think it's

 

something we as lovers of Budgie's need to know.

 

Libby

[**KAZ** 0]

Thankyou Libby I felt it was time to share, as I have had many a late night call from others needing to euthenase a bird when there was no other options. Most people would have to know that if there was another way or a better way we would choose it.

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

I am glad you posted this Kaz, and I am sorry about the hen.

It is a very touchy topic, and I hope no one gets angry or annoyed, as with any animal hobby, animals will need to be Euthenised for different issues.

I have never done it myself (my father did it), but I have had a clutch of 5 chicks with such horrible splayed legs, they were vertical, that needed to be euthenised.

My dad found, that because the chicks couldnt fly (didnt have feathers) that it was easier enough just to give a quick clip with the shovel between the head and body.

 

It is sad, anytime an animal dies. Cheers to Kaz for posting this, and I hope that is will help some people when they are in trouble

Edited August 13, 2010 by Squeak_Crumble

[splat 0]

I am really sorry you lost that beautiful but at The same time thankyou as I need a hen to go to heaven to and she is suffering in the hospital cage for a while now. NO meds will fix her so tomorrow if I have the courage I will try that. My hen is waisting away and all the meds the vet put her on and still no better so I think it is time. she is the full sister to my yellow DF spangle cock and I really thought she was worth saving but I can't any more.

[Dean_NZ 0]

Wow Kaz. I've actually never heard of that method. It is very rare that I have had to euthanize a bird but it does happen from time to time. Last time was a young cock who got his leg caught by the ring - must have been early in the day. By the time I came home from work he had worked himself up into a terrible state, his leg was mangled and it was obvious he had tried to chew himself free. It was clear that the best thing to do would be to put him out of his misery so I went with the quickest option I know - a quick hand axe to the neck on a chopping block.

 

Im not a fan of the blood or anything else that comes with the job (not squeamish or anything but would prefer a 'clean' method). I think i'll give your method a try if I should ever need to do something similar (heaven forbid).

 

Thanks for the thread.

Edited August 13, 2010 by Dean_NZ

[**KAZ** 0]

I tried other methods but this is by far the most peaceful way for a bird to go to heaven :angel:

[GenericBlue 0]

omg axes and shovels :angel:

 

kaz about time someone stated the obvious method

although i myself use another way

as i cant stand thought of suffocating anything but then again what i do is not really any different just more drawn out i suppose if i think about it

:doh:

only reason i choose my way was as my vet told me its quick in painless they dont even know whats happened

but yours still seems better

im not sure im allowed to say what i do but it doesnt matter as if your way actually works i think its a pretty quick easy way

better than as some people say ...

bounce the bird that is the cruelest way by far in my opinion

[brumbyracer 0]

Thankfully i don't have to put them down to often but i will be giving Kazs way ago as it sounds so more peaceful and i think i will find it easier to do. It is a hard thing to do even when you know it the best thing to do.

[Dean_NZ 0]

Oh gosh I've never even heard of bouncing the bird. I can imagine it as having been done but... I could never ever do that @_@

[splat 0]

I hear people say bounce them all the time but I I don't think they actually bounce them as that is horriable. I think it is an expression.

[Amy S 0]

If this topic had a like button (just like facebook) I'd hit it many many times. I can't thank you enough, Kaz, for being brave enough to discuss such a touchy subject. I for one am all ears when it comes to things like this. I am lucky enough to not have had to do this, but now I know if I ever need to in an emergency I am able to do so. Some of us can't afford vets bills, or meds etc and instead of letting a bird suffer - we now know a way to help them. I for one am very grateful and believe it's something we have a right to know about - regardless of the "Oh my gosh that's so wrong and inhumane" type comments. Sure someone (or two or three) may give negative remarks - but I honestly believe most people here would be thankful that this subject has finally been brought up and the secretiveness broken.*Hi 5 Kaz* :doh: :angel:

 

OH and I'm very sorry for the loss of your hen - she looked a beauty from what I can see in the photos

Edited August 13, 2010 by Amy S

[**KAZ** 0]

She was a beauty that hen. She was one that came to me in the aviary all the time and gently nibbled at my fingers or tried sitting on the lens of the camera and peering into the lens. She made me laugh all the time. She was very sweet and mostly tame. :angel:

 

The thing about euthanasia is.................I heard many stories about how others do it and could never reconcile the more violent ways nor the other ways that involved preparation and thinking over how to go about it for very long. This way is quick, with little struggle, and the bird dies being held ( not alone ) and not violently.

I dont really wish to discuss personally the other ways others euthanase their birds, but I believe this method to be better than most. You can see how peaceful the hen looks in death and not messed up like she would be dispatched in other ways.

She went because it had to be done, and not because I wanted to do it. Its always a hard choice to make and you think over it the whole day long. :doh:

Edited August 13, 2010 by KAZ

[rachelm 0]

Its very sad that you lost your beautiful hen Kaz :angel: Your method is quick and humane and no-one should give you a hard time for that. Thank you for sharing.

[SL26 0]

I'm so sorry about your hen KAZ, she looked and sounded lovely :sad:

 

While this can be a difficult topic for some, it should be one that all pet owners need to be aware of and fully understand. It's alway difficult to decide to end the life of an animal, but if it's in the best interests of the animal then there is really no other option. Whether we do it ourselves is a very personal choice, but it's good to know what to do in case of an emergency.

 

Thank you for sharing this, by all the responses so far, its really appreciated

[**KAZ** 0]

Another choice to make. I came home from a budgie show yesterday to find a hen had been attacked in a holding cage for the cull birds. She has been scalped and has a bad eye injury as well. I believe the eye has lost its sight.

 

 

She has made it through the night.

 

 

 

[Ratzy 0]

Ouch! I had a baby crow with this ( scalped ). It survived then it got something down it's windpipe and died. I'm sorry you had to make that choice Kaz, but it was peaceful.

Edited August 16, 2010 by Ratzy

[**KAZ** 0]

Ouch! I had a baby crow with this ( scalped ). It survived then it got something down it's windpipe and died. I'm sorry you had to make that choice Kaz, but it was peaceful.

The scalped hen is still alive. I havent euthanased her...............yet

[GenericBlue 0]

Another choice to make. I came home from a budgie show yesterday to find a hen had been attacked in a holding cage for the cull birds. She has been scalped and has a bad eye injury as well. I believe the eye has lost its sight.

 

 

She has made it through the night.

 

 

 

 

 

well is she in good health bar the injery is she eatting or not

how old and is it one eye or both

these are all things i would consider

if eatting and only one eye i would bath head with benidine and keep her inside for few months id bring in a friend for her also while she recovered

 

i know you will decide whats right kaz i have no doubt about that

good luck with her

[**KAZ** 0]

well is she in good health bar the injery is she eatting or not

how old and is it one eye or both

these are all things i would consider

if eatting and only one eye i would bath head with benidine and keep her inside for few months id bring in a friend for her also while she recovered

 

i know you will decide whats right kaz i have no doubt about that

good luck with her

 

 

She is eating, and she is a red ringer. Hasnt been bred with and she is one of Omelette's babies.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Did you catch the culprit?

 

You are culling Ommie's offsrping?

[**KAZ** 0]

Did you catch the culprit?

 

You are culling Ommie's offsrping?

 

I dont know who did it. I have culled only her from Omelette's babies.

[splat 0]

From my experience the culprit should have blood on them, but I am guessing there is no bird there with blood on them so I guess he or she is real little villen

[**KAZ** 0]

Well, I discovered her at dusk last night after arriving home from a budgie show, so I couldnt see who did the dirty deed

[Dave_McMinn 0]

I have seen my birds pick at a dead bird, but never a live one.