Culling chicks - how do you do it?

[Agathe]

I have 8 chicks but the roosters need to go as soon as possible. I have no one to give or sell them to and no place to raise them for meat (I did that last year but now I have a grown rooster in the flock). So I need to cull. I have culled roosters previously using a cone. I've asked here before about culling chicks without getting very precise answers. I already feel terrible culling babies and I also have arthritis so I don't always trust my strength. I really would like some detailed guidance in how to cull a chick as quickly and painlessly and as fail proof as possible. They'll be 3 weeks, maybe 4 when I cull. My plan was to use an axe (I don't own a hatchet), but I worry that I'll cut myself seeing they are so small and my arthritis can sometimes make me a little clumsy. An alternative is scissors, but I worry it will take too long and more than one try. I just don't know how much strength it will take with a chick. It's been suggested me to knock the head against something hard before culling it, but I worry that I'll only make matters worse if I don't get it right. It might all come natural to me once I do it, I haven't had much of an issue with the roosters, but I feel I owe the chicks to have a clear idea what to do before I do it. I had to cull a day old chick after hatching and then I pulled its head off (it wouldn't have been able to sustain life on its own), but I assume that by now that may be too difficult.

 

[Mdrook]

Broomstick method look for video on YouTube. Its easy if your not sure about cervical separation

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Perhaps garden shears?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I've asked here before about culling chicks without getting very precise answers.

I'll try to help some..

Broomstick method is easy to do at that age.. it does sometimes pop the head off.. but you know it's done and quickly. There are likely videos available.

Pruning shears or loppers also work well described int he following link.. I agree kitchen scissors are only usable when very young.

https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/the-easiest-way-to-cull-chicken.html

https://the-chicken-chick.com/how-to-humanely-euthanize-chicken-by-dr/

I will note that stretching the neck taught makes for easier cutting if that method is being used.

 

[Agathe]

Perhaps garden shears?

I recently got some new garden shears, I hadn't thought of that! Should work better than scissors at least.

Broomstick method look for video on YouTube. Its easy if your not sure about cervical separation

I hadn't thought of that option as I guess I assumed they'd be too small! Thanks!

I'll try to help some..

Broomstick method is easy to do at that age.. it does sometimes pop the head off.. but you know it's done and quickly. There are likely videos available.

Pruning shears or loppers also work well described int he following link.. I agree kitchen scissors are only usable when very young.

https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/the-easiest-way-to-cull-chicken.html

https://the-chicken-chick.com/how-to-humanely-euthanize-chicken-by-dr/

I will note that stretching the neck taught makes for easier cutting if that method is being used.

I don't mind if the head pops off or if its messy as long as it's quick and effective! Thank you for the links! Reading the first one had me think of a third option... The killing cone I have would be way too large for the chicks, but I could maybe ask my son to hold the chick and then I would have both hands free to use pruning shears. He wouldn't even have to look (I would prefer him not to). I'll give it some thought. At least now I have two options where I don't risk cutting off my own fingers while hopefully not making the birds suffer any more than necessary.

 

[raingarden]

For chicks I hold the bird like a hammer and whack it's head against a post or table or something. It's quick, it's easy and there's no mess.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The killing cone I have would be way too large for the chicks,

I made one out of a 2 liter bottle. Cutting the top just wide enough and the bottom completely then screwed to the wall in the proper orientation.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I came here to say... what @EggSighted4Life has already said. So imagine I said it too, only less effectively, and lengthier.

 

[Kiki]

We kill quail by cutting their heads off.
I bought a few different pair of garden shears. They all sucked.
Regular scissors like these two work better.

These SUCK.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

"OXO Good Grip" poultry shears. Also good for spatchcocking. Better still, they come apart for cleaning. Oh, and they are cheap.

/edit I use a SHARP! knife. But as with so much else I do, my methods are not for most.