Managing Livestock Responsiblities
If you find that your chick hatched with abnormalities, it will require culling. Chicks that hatch out with abnormalities can occur, as life is perfectly imperfect in all areas of experience. Whether the malformed chick is due to malposition in the egg, high humidity or assisted hatching, etc, here are some steps to help you through the next part of your journey into raising your own poultry. Not everything you will encounter owning livestock will be rainbows and unicorns.
CERVICAL DISLOCATION
Cervical dislocation is a method of euthanasia that involves quickly and humanely breaking the neck of the animal. For those hatching, it is important to equip yourself with the required skills in this method, as some chicks may not be able to thrive and we should reduce the pain and suffering. If the chick is going to die due to it's injuries, cervical dislocation is the ethical method used.
Here's a general outline of the procedure for poultry:
1. Preparation: - Ensure you are in a quiet and calm environment to minimize stress for the bird. - Gather necessary materials, such as gloves, if preferred for hygiene.
2. Hold the Chick: - Gently but securely hold the chick in one hand, with its body resting against your palm and your fingers gripping its legs to prevent movement. - The head should be facing away from you.
3. Positioning: - With your other hand, grasp the head of the chick firmly, just behind the skull where the neck meets the head.
4. Perform the Dislocation: - Quickly and firmly pull the head away from the body while simultaneously pushing the body down. The motion should be swift and decisive to ensure a quick and humane outcome. - It is important to apply enough force to dislocate the cervical vertebrae.
5. Check for Confirmation: - After performing the procedure, check to ensure the chick is not exhibiting any signs of life or distress.
6. Dispose of the Body: - Follow local guidelines for the humane disposal of the animal or as many farms practice; zero waste , feeding the remains to the farm animals such as cats may be preffered depedning on the condition of the carcass.
If you find it difficult to humanely euthanize chicks that are in need, you might want to reconsider poultry ownership. While it may sound harsh, this is an essential aspect of raising livestock.