[grinling]

I have a broody sitting on autosex eggs at the mo and know of someone who would take a cockerel, but if I have more than one what would be the best way of culling the chick?

[joyfull]

I crush their necks on a sharp edge (the edge of a wrought iron gate or fence is fine), it is quick and at that age it is better than waiting until they grow.

[GrannieAnnie]

I second that!

[joyfull]

it's the way you taught me GA 

[GrannieAnnie]

I know, but I wasn't going to say hey, I thought of it first was I??   

[nuzuki]

I managed to use the broomstick technique on a 3 week old chick a couple of months back. I prefer this method as you dont feel like a baby murderer  I guess it detaches you from the "feel" of things. I have recently made a chicken dispatching device out of some old angle iron I had lying about. When it is finished and mounted I shall post up a pic incase it helps others. Its based on the design found on ebay.

Do people gas chicks also? I did wonder whether you could rig up some kind of gas chamber if you had a few to cull at once.

[GrannieAnnie]

Nuzuki, sorry, but the best and most humane way to cull a small chick is by the method Joyfull and I said about.  Using a broomstick on a chick?  You can use a broomstick to cull an adult bird, and in the old days we've used it to cull geese!  I'm surprised you didn't pull its head off!

And as to gassing them!  I think you will find it is illegal to cull this way unless you are a professional. (At least I hope it is!) I hope the Humane Slaughterers association doesn't read this, they'd be up in arms!

Why don't you just let professionals who know what they are talking about give this sort of advice!

(Sorry, but this has annoyed me!)

[grinling]

Thank you for this, she has about another 10 days to go and hoping for hens, but need to be prepared. I will use the quick method if need be.

[GrannieAnnie]

Hope you get lots of females Grinling!   

[ANHBUC]

What breed are they grinling? 

[nuzuki]

Sorry I think I have been watching one too many commercial chicken farm documentaries. The broomstick method worked well for the chick, better than expected and the head didnt fall off. I guess its all depends on the size of your broom stick and how you use it 

The sad reality is gassing isn't illegal and still continues on chicken farms across the UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1326168/Secret-footage-shows-millions-British-chicks-killed-year.html

[grinling]

Cream legbars.

[nuzuki]

Also I found this which may be of use...

http://www.hsa.org.uk/Resources/Publications/Technical%20Notes/TN14.pdf

[Beetroot queen]

Sorry I think I have been watching one too many commercial chicken farm documentaries. The broomstick method worked well for the chick, better than expected and the head didnt fall off. I guess its all depends on the size of your broom stick and how you use it 

The sad reality is gassing isn't illegal and still continues on chicken farms across the UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1326168/Secret-footage-shows-millions-British-chicks-killed-year.html

Grannie Annie did say gassing was illegal unless you were a professional.  See post below.

[ANHBUC]

Cream legbars.

That should make sexing them easier than some other breeds like Welsummer where you would be a little unsure one way or the other.  Good luck with your hatch.