Benadryl to Euthanize Chicken?

[DawnLee]

Anyone use Benadryl to euthanize their chicken? If so, how much?

 

[fowltemptress]

Benadryl and any other types of over the counter drugs people like to muck about with for this purpose are neither humane nor effective ways of culling a bird. Cervical dislocation is the most humane route to go.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I euthanize chickens by Cervical Dislocation, or slicing the jugular veins.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The broomstick method is our go-to method, it's by far the easiest, fastest, surest method we've found. Highly recommend.

 

[21hens-incharge]

For those unable to "do the deed" Themselves some small animal vets will euthanize.

 

[nuthatched]

Get a hatchet or find someone to do it. Being poisoned is a bad way to go.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Benadryl has an incredibly large safety margin, I do not think you're going to successfully kill a bird with it.

Symptoms of benadryl overdose include:

• Inability to urinate (this is in mammals but I'm sure it also affects bird's kidneys (
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• Enlarged pupils
• Very dry eyes
• Ringing in the ears
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Delirium
• Depression
• Drowsiness
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there)
• Increased sleepiness
• Nervousness
• Tremor
• Unsteadiness
• Dry, red skin
• Nausea
• Vomiting

None of those would be a humane thing to cause an animal to experience at the end of life. Not only that, but in the unlikely event that you did manage to give a lethal dose it would take a long time to work. Please do not do this. It would not be a humane death.

 

[DawnLee]

Benadryl and any other types of over the counter drugs people like to muck about with for this purpose are neither humane nor effective ways of culling a bird. Cervical dislocation is the most humane route to go.

That is if I don't mess it up.

 

[DawnLee]

I euthanize chickens by Cervical Dislocation, or slicing the jugular veins.

I don't like the jugular method as it does take more time to bleed out. I am afraid that I might mess up the CD.

 

[DemeterAD9]

As someone who hunts and fishes for all of my meat, the fastest way is the best way IMO. I don't like to watch animals suffer so I try to make it fast. The 2 cockerels I butchered (very first time I've raised my own meat) were dispatched with the broom stick method and it was indeed very fast. For some reason birds really flop around more than other animals do so don't be alarmed by that, it's just their nerves firing. The fastest way IMO will always be to destroy the brain, I could of just as easily held them to the ground and bopped them on the head with a solid branch like I do with small game animals. It's a good idea to double or even triple tap to make sure when doing this.

I would never use a chemical to kill an animal, I'll let the vets do that but only for poorly beloved pets. It can be hard if not impossible to find a local vet who will treat a chicken but you may get lucky enough to find one who will euthanize one.

Talk to a family member or neighbor and see if they will do it for you. But I will also note, I feel killing chickens is just part of keeping them so it is good to know how and be confident in being able to dispatch them yourself. No, it isn't fun but even if you do not intend to eat them it simply must be done if they are in poor health.