I put my rooster down with nitrous oxide. It worked well.

[orinator]

I had an unruly, violent roo that had to go, but I wanted to do it in a humane manner. I took a clear plastic storage container with a snap-on lid (15"w x 12"d x 12" high) and drilled one 1/4" hole near the bottom on one end and another near the top at the other end.

I bought a box of whippets from the local smoke shop and a large punching balloon. I put the roo into the container. He wasn't thrilled but he wasn't traumatized. I used an N2O "cracker" to fill the balloon with a couple of canisters worth of gas and then pressed it against the lower hole. Because N2O is heavier than regular air, it slowly displaced the air, which exited thru the top hole. I repeated the process with several more cartridges, sealing the lower hole with tape while refilling the balloon. After about 5 minutes the roo sagged to the bottom and began to lose consciousness. I kept adding more gas because I didn't really know what amount would be lethal (if at all). After the roo had been out for several minutes it began it's death thrashing and then it was over.

I found this to be a very simple and kindly way to put it down and I'm curious what others think. There doesn't seem to be a lot of research on this technique. The humane society doesn't consider N2O to be an acceptable euthanasia technique because it doesn't always cause 100% loss of consciousness (same reason it's not used alone for surgery) but it certainly killed my roo off and there didn't appear to be any stress beyond not wanting to be put into the container. The only relevant research I found was from studies done on using it to kill piglets and it was found to be effective and not distressing.

Any thoughts?

 

[orinator]

He was a beautiful lavender ameraucana, btw, and he lived his best life right up until the end. For 2 years he owned 2 1/2 acres of bug-infested chicken heaven, eating spiders and having sex every day. But then he started punching large holes in anyone who walked by. I loved him but when you have 2 little kids, that's a deal-breaker.

 

[aart]

'Distress' is subjective and hard to quantify....
....often the 'distress' to alleviate is the keepers more than the birds.

I would have either 'harvested' him for meat, using a cone and carotid/jugular slit.
Or used a broomstick to preform cervical dislocation for a quick clean kill,
then bury or toss in woods for wildlife feeding.
I have used vinegar/baking soda in a 'gassing chamber' to euthanize 4 day old male chicks for raptor rescue feeding.

This thread will go all over the place....especially the NO as a controlled substance issue.

 

[paneubert]

This thread will go all over the place....especially the NO as a controlled substance issue.

Probably true.

My method. Makes them pass out and then stop breathing.

You buy "starter" fluid from an auto parts store (or Amazon, like this one.... http://a.co/1MTpAzv ). It is used for spraying into engines/carburetors to "start" them if they are old. It is NOT the stuff you use to start fires or BBQ grills. The stuff you want has a high percentage of "ether", the stuff they used to knock people out for surgery in the "olden days". You put a paper towel or rag in a bucket or other container you can seal. Spray some spray on the towel/rag. Use a liberal amount. Put the bird in and close it. They will take a few breath and then pass out. Leave them in there for a few minutes. They will stop breathing. It is the most painless way I know (without physical violence/cutting/slicing/blood).

Most starter fluids with higher ether are marketed as such. Like "high performance". So splurge on the more expensive can if there are multiple options. Or even see if you can find that it says it has “ether” in it. But it should no matter what since ether is a standard ingredient in starter fluid.

 

[Galeann]

Probably true.

My method. Makes them pass out and then stop breathing.

You buy "starter" fluid from an auto parts store (or Amazon, like this one.... http://a.co/1MTpAzv ). It is used for spraying into engines/carburetors to "start" them if they are old. It is NOT the stuff you use to start fires or BBQ grills. The stuff you want has a high percentage of "ether", the stuff they used to knock people out for surgery in the "olden days". You put a paper towel or rag in a bucket or other container you can seal. Spray some spray on the towel/rag. Use a liberal amount. Put the bird in and close it. They will take a few breath and then pass out. Leave them in there for a few minutes. They will stop breathing. It is the most painless way I know (without physical violence/cutting/slicing/blood).

Most starter fluids with higher ether are marketed as such. Like "high performance". So splurge on the more expensive can if there are multiple options. Or even see if you can find that it says it has “ether” in it. But it should no matter what since ether is a standard ingredient in starter fluid.

Thanks for the education. I may need it to handle a rude rooster.

 

[slbenter]

I have no clue what a "cracker" n2o is.
I commend you for wanting to be kind, and couldn't care less about the controlled substance issue.
I do like the starter method, we've always just called it either.

 

[Folly's place]

Do remember that ether burns/ explodes! Handle it with respect!
I found that cervical dislocation is more difficult (at least for me!) for an adult rooster, than for hens. Not a good experience, for me, or for that nasty rooster! The broomstick method would work, or that very sharp knife.
Mary

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

How long did it take from the time you added the nitrous oxide to the container until the bird lost consciousness?

 

[Folly's place]

NO is not fast, and wouldn't be my first or best choice for this.
Mary

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

NO is not fast, and wouldn't be my first or best choice for this.
Mary

Doesn’t sound like it would be a humane death for the bird.