How to handle having to cull flock?

[cheepcheepnash]

We have been advised to consider culling our flock. We just have two hens who are 4.5 years old. Our sweet buff silkie Kitka (which means ponytail in Polish) and our salmon faverolles Pancake. They are our sweet little pets. We love their cooing noises and funny antics.

Our cochin recently passed and was found to have avian tuberculosis. It slowly kills hens. Kitka and Pancake just have mild symptoms and seems okay, but we know they can mask the disease. We were told to consider culling our flock because there is no feasible cure, they will slowly waste away, and the disease can spread to humans.

We feel so sad even though this seems the responsible thing to do. I was wondering if anyone has any advice or tips to process having to cull our hens.

We are thinking of having someone come to our home to help us with this.

Thank you all so much.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. Look up the broomstick method. I wonder if anyone who comes to your house might go away contaminated. I don't know how to decontaminate yourselves and your property. These Educators might help.
@Eggcessive
@coach723
@azygous

 

[cheepcheepnash]

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. Look up the broomstick method. I wonder if anyone who comes to your house might go away contaminated. I don't know how to decontaminate yourselves and your property. These Educators might help.
@Eggcessive
@coach723
@azygous

Thank you! That is a good point to consider. There is a local service in our town where a vet can come put your animal down. It’s expensive but we were considering it. I wonder if a vet would be lower risk of spreading contamination. I’m just struggling emotionally with it all.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you! That is a good point to consider. There is a local service in our town where a vet can come put your animal down. It’s expensive but we were considering it. I wonder if a vet would be lower risk of spreading contamination. I’m just struggling emotionally with it all.

Wouldn't hurt to call the vet and ask. Since this is going to be hard on you emotionally, if you can afford it, a veterinary euthanasia may be your best bet. Physically taking your pets' lives with your own hands may be more than you can handle.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

PS - and the vet can wear gloves and paper boots to reduce the risk of contamination, as well as dispose of the bodies for you, so there's that.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am posting a link to another thread about TB, not the OP’s, but where they also posted, since there are some links about avian TB that might be useful to others:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/confirmed-loss-from-tb.1601535/#post-28348447

 

[coach723]

I'm so sorry.
If it comes down to having to do it yourself, this is how I do it.
For many of the same reasons as the article author.
https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/the-easiest-way-to-cull-chicken.html#more

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm so sorry.
If it comes down to having to do it yourself, this is how I do it.
For many of the same reasons as the article author.
https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/the-easiest-way-to-cull-chicken.html#more

Thank you, Coach. I may switch to this as well, instead of the broomstick method. Bookmarking now.

 

[Bawkbok]

I'm sorry you're faced with this decision. It is difficult for sure. Our first experience with culling was to take it to the vet. We paid an exorbitant price but it was mentally easier. We were too new and just couldn't face the challenge at that time. Having to 'kill' our first chicken was traumatic enough.
I warn you that the broomstick method is risky and it is pretty traumatic not only for the one performing the culling but for the bird as well unless the first 'connection' is in the perfect place with the right force to produce an immediate result. We've used this method and will NEVER do it that way again.
Sending you hugs.

 

[cheepcheepnash]

I'm sorry you're faced with this decision. It is difficult for sure. Our first experience with culling was to take it to the vet. We paid an exorbitant price but it was mentally easier. We were too new and just couldn't face the challenge at that time. Having to 'kill' our first chicken was traumatic enough.
I warn you that the broomstick method is risky and it is pretty traumatic not only for the one performing the culling but for the bird as well unless the first 'connection' is in the perfect place with the right force to produce an immediate result. We've used this method and will NEVER do it that way again.
Sending you hugs.

Thank you so much. We ended up having a vet help us. They came to our house and I got to hold and rock our chickens as they passed peacefully. I feel so guilty about putting them down. I hope we did the right thing.