Testimonials
12th Mar 2010
Hi Alison
I just wanted to say thanks for the course last week – I really enjoyed it, and thought it was very well put together. I can’t wait to put chickens in the garden now!
Thanks again.
Louise.
Home > Support and Advice > How to Humanely Cull a Chick
Humane Culling for a chick
There are occasions when it is necessary to cull a chick.
The principle with chicks is the same as with chickens in that the quickest and most humane way to dispatch a chick is to sever the head from the neck. The best thing to use is the thin edge of a cup or mug.

Holding the chick in your main hand hook the chick’s head over the cup, press the top of its neck down with your thumb and you will feel the neck give way as your thumb suddenly feels the lip of the cup. You should hold the cup with your other hand to prevent the cup from falling over and not killing the chick cleanly.
Once you have hold of the chick and have the head over the edge of the mug you should press down immediately to cull the chick as quickly as possible and minimise any distress.
As soon as the spinal chord is severed by the edge of the mug, the chick is brain dead. This will have the effect of making the chick flap its wings, run with its legs, open and close its beak etc. This is just the result of the brain no longer controlling the actions of the chick and is not the chick consciously struggling. The movements will last up to a minute or so and can be a bit disconcerting if you are not expecting them.


