Humane dispatch of ducks.

Really sorry I can't advise you on the how. I do know that dispatching a duck is different to a chicken so you do need to get some real advice. Good luck not a nice task

I know that Kate (and her ducks) has dispatched by hand and I'm sure when she is next on will give you some advice. I was too much of a softie to do my drakes and they are very lucky to have found a new home, but it is such luck with male offspring. I have success keeping two drakes together - but that could be because they are brothers and were hand raised together - but maybe your drake will get on with your existing if you have enough space? x

Grannie keeps telling me that too - she even got Brian to agree to do the boys from this year and I still couldn't do it 

Good luck Orchardlady

it is humane kathie, and with the air gun i dont shoot them from range, i hold their head down and shoot them point blank in the top of the head

Please use a proper air rifle to do this an air pistol does not have enough energy at 6 ft lbs maximum, a rifle non firearm has double that which ensures penetration through the skull and shock to the brain.

I have sucessfully dispatched small ducks by hand ie using cervical dislocation but with the big ducks they are just too strong for me so I decapitate them with a sharp cleaver on a wood block and it is over with one blow. I have to say I don't like this method as it makes them messier to pluck. I find it hard to really believe the Humane Slaughter advise that this is cruel as they still have the potential to feel things before the lack of blood to the brain renders them unconscious. The air rifle method sounds pretty humane too.

Interestingly the Humane Slaughter Society (think that's their official title, been a while since I read the guidelines) also doesn't recommend the plier type dispatchers but I think that any method you can uses quickly and efficiently is fair enough. Cervical dislocation is recommended such as with the broomstick but I think if I tried it I would not be either quick or efficient struggling to get a protesting duck under a broom. Between Nick and I and a cleaver it is over in seconds for them.