Cost of vet for euthanasia

Marigold

Marigold

Moderator
PKF Supporter
Joined
Apr 30, 2011
Messages
8,130
Reaction score
192
Location
Hampshire, U.K.
Yesterday I took two elderly hybrids to the vet to be put to sleep. I was pleasantly surprised that the bill only came to £23 for both of them, including disposal of their bodies at no extra charge, well worth it to me, to have the vet give them a peaceful end. Previously I have paid about that for just one. Does this vary a lot between vet practices and area of the country? I should add that I'm lucky enough to have a specialist avian vet for my birds.
 
That sounds similar to the price I paid last time I had a chicken euthanised - well, about £15 for the consult and about £5 for the drugs. The difference was the disposal. Luckily my bins were going to be collected the next day, so I took the carcasse home - but if I'd left it it would have been another £20 or so...
Of course, disposing of the carcasses of the two suspected cocks that hatched out of the eggs my broody hen sat on will be free - unless you count the cost of the roast potatoes and paxo!!

Nick
 
I prefer to leave my birds die at home. If a bird is poorly it usually dies within a day or two, and I prefer to leave them sitting on their own run/coop until the moment comes and avoid the stress of the vet. And the expense! But recently I reluctantly took one of my old ex-battery ladies to be put down. She was clearly dying, but taking a long time to go. In the end I was afraid she would die of thirst, I was feeding her grapes and moist bread to keep her comfortable, and she didnt appear to be in pain, but it was all just taking too long. My grandmother was able to wring a birds neck, but I just couldnt do it while she was conscious - my birds are half pets and very tame - I think if she had lost consciousness I could have done it. In the end I took her to the vet, in a cardboard box, by taxi. She was so woozy she didnt really notice much by then. I live in London. They havnt invoiced me yet but I believe the charge will be £25. They kept the body for a post mortem as it is a teaching veterinary hospital, which saved me burying her. Poor old girl.
 
The two I had euthanased were only two years old, but one of them hadn't laid an egg for nearly a year, and the other one was at the stage of laying wind eggs, membrane only, weird shaped eggs etc. They sat quietly in their carrying boxes in the car, and showed no signs of stress on the journey or in the vets surgery. I had kept on the non-laying bird for a year because the two of them were best friends, but once the other one had clearly reached the end of her lay I decided it was best for them both to go together so I can now revitalise my little flock with some new birds. I've found that, once hybrids get the stage of laying peculiar eggs, they will only go on and become increasingly at risk of degenerative diseases, probably painful, such as prolapse, so I call time whilst they are still on their feet and enjoying life reasonably well, (which is what i would hope for myself.) With room to keep only 4-5 chickens, eggs are important to me, and although they are much-loved pets the hybrids have to earn their keep. I give them very good lives whilst they are productive, and a peaceful end in return for all those lovely eggs.
Mind you, I'm sure I shall make an exception for Marigold and Nutmeg when they're older, having raised them from chicks. More personality there somehow!
 
It's really tough to read these stories. When I first decided to raise chickens I thought, piece of cake, I'll have some great tasting eggs and fresh chicken for the table, now I don't know how I'll be able to "take care" of a chicken in the end. I hunt and I have no problem shooting a deer and being shoulder deep in guts, I love it and I can't wait for Deer Season to open. I talk a big game when it comes to these girls, I tell Terri all the time, I'll bet Elvira would be wonderful roasted with some sage and fresh vegatables......but I couldn't do it, not even at gun point. Besides she would kill me first. Terri has really never had any kind of pet, so when one of them goes or has to go she will be a complete mess. NOT something I'm looking foward to.
 
Wrigley, don't tell me you're more scared of Elriva than a deer...
I know what you mean Marigold, I have a small garden too. And the hybrids were bought for egg production. I've now got bantams too but I knew from the start they wouldn't lay like a hybrid, so I rely on the layers more.
 
No Chestnutmare I'm not afraid of either one, I have no connection or close feelings to deer other than I really enjoy hunting them. It's my wife Terri that I'm afraid of :shock: She scares me (sometimes) ;)
 
Marigold said:
The two I had euthanased were only two years old, but one of them hadn't laid an egg for nearly a year, and the other one was at the stage of laying wind eggs, membrane only, weird shaped eggs etc. They sat quietly in their carrying boxes in the car, and showed no signs of stress on the journey or in the vets surgery. I had kept on the non-laying bird for a year because the two of them were best friends, but once the other one had clearly reached the end of her lay I decided it was best for them both to go together so I can now revitalise my little flock with some new birds. I've found that, once hybrids get the stage of laying peculiar eggs, they will only go on and become increasingly at risk of degenerative diseases, probably painful, such as prolapse, so I call time whilst they are still on their feet and enjoying life reasonably well, (which is what i would hope for myself.) With room to keep only 4-5 chickens, eggs are important to me, and although they are much-loved pets the hybrids have to earn their keep. I give them very good lives whilst they are productive, and a peaceful end in return for all those lovely eggs.
Mind you, I'm sure I shall make an exception for Marigold and Nutmeg when they're older, having raised them from chicks. More personality there somehow!
Click to expand...


I no you mean well on how you believe but why should it be your choice too end the poor things life, I agree on allowing them to decide on when they give uo
 
I prefer to let nature take its course. But if prolonged suffering is involved its the vet. Like Wrigley, I can hunt, shoot, skin etc. Still have very strict rules about an animal must die as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary suffering. I think the reason I cant kill my own girls when the time comes is because I have built up a very trusting relationship with them, and I just cant break that. I would be very relieved though, if there was something I could legally give a hen, to quickly and painlessley put it out of its misery.
 
Wrigley62 said:
No Chestnutmare I'm not afraid of either one, I have no connection or close feelings to deer other than I really enjoy hunting them. It's my wife Terri that I'm afraid of :shock: She scares me (sometimes) ;)
Click to expand...
:lol: :lol:
 
Wrigley62 said:
No Chestnutmare I'm not afraid of either one, I have no connection or close feelings to deer other than I really enjoy hunting them. It's my wife Terri that I'm afraid of :shock: She scares me (sometimes) ;)
Click to expand...
I hate people like you, but you will have your comupence, use always do .
 
I know how upsetting it can be to have to make the decision to end the life of a bird, especially a much loved pet, however, one has to consider whether it's fair to subject the bird to the added stresses of a journey to the vets, to be boxed, and transported to strange surroundings, to be handled by a stranger before the end comes, and all of this on top of it's existing state of suffering? not to mention the added expense of euthanasia by a vet?
Dispatching a sick and dying bird at home, when done correctly, is swift and painless, and is surely kinder to the bird and to your pocket? I fully understand that many owners cannot bring themselves to do it, but there are many sympathetic and helpful fanciers out there who would perform the task for you?
I have culled many hundreds, if not thousands of birds over the years, both my own and for others. It isnt a pleasant job, but part and parcel of the poultry keeping experience in my view.
 
It's the same with any pet except that generally one cannot despatch a dog or cat. My greatest fear is that being small and with small hands I wouldn't have the necessary strength to do it cleanly and quickly. Does it rely on strength or is there a knack to it Lordcluck? I've heard poor reports of the wall mounted depatchers so might have to find another method - I think there's an air pistol called a "Ratter" which is recommended.

OH has the strength but I know he wouldn't do it so it will be down to me. I think if it were euthanasia for a sick bird it would have to be the vet at the moment as even the farmer next door can't do it!
 
Margaid said:
It's the same with any pet except that generally one cannot despatch a dog or cat. My greatest fear is that being small and with small hands I wouldn't have the necessary strength to do it cleanly and quickly. Does it rely on strength or is there a knack to it Lordcluck? I've heard poor reports of the wall mounted depatchers so might have to find another method - I think there's an air pistol called a "Ratter" which is recommended.

OH has the strength but I know he wouldn't do it so it will be down to me. I think if it were euthanasia for a sick bird it would have to be the vet at the moment as even the farmer next door can't do it!
Click to expand...

Unless you are dealing with heavy breed Ducks, Geese, Turkeys or giant breeds of Fowl, neck dislocation by hand ( erroneously called 'wringing' ) brings Immediate death, and doesnt require a great deal of strength. There is a knack to it, but once mastered it is quick, effective, humane and free.
Many poultry books and Poultry keeping Magazines provide quite detailed and sometimes illustrated step-by-step guides on how to accomplish it.
 
Thanks for the info - trouble is I have read that if you pull too hard you decapitate the hen. I'm concerned that in my anxiety to do it efficiently I'll try too hard. I've seen it suggested thst you practice on a dead hen - maybe I'll have to find a butcher to sell me one with the head still on like they used to be when I was a child!!
 
Margaid said:
Thanks for the info - trouble is I have read that if you pull too hard you decapitate the hen. I'm concerned that in my anxiety to do it efficiently I'll try too hard. I've seen it suggested thst you practice on a dead hen - maybe I'll have to find a butcher to sell me one with the head still on like they used to be when I was a child!!
Click to expand...

Yes, there is a chance of Decapitation occurring as a result of too much force being exerted, horrible though this maybe if it happens, it is relatively bloodless, and the same result is achieved, death is Instantaneous!. This is more likely to occur in Juvenile birds. Your suggestion to practice on a dead bird is a good one.
 
This month there is a very good article in "Practical Poultry" which addresses this subject. The other option is to look in the poultry press for a course on humane culling, it is important however to check the credentials of whoever is running the session to ensure they are in line with current guidelines.

We use the broomstick method, although my husband does most of these only because I emotionally a bit closer to them and find it hard. I will however cull a poorly bird to end its suffering if hubby is not around. Usually results in a stiff G&T and a few tears afterwards though (for both of us....)

If anyone near Bristol needs a hand or wants any advice or a demonstration we are always happy to help.
 
This is all very useful advice. I too am very reluctant to put the bird through the stress of being put in a box, then a car, then handled by strangers. That said, my old hen was so poorly by the time I took her to the vet I dont think she noticed much. Re euthanasia methods, an air rifle sound good. I have used one when I was younger in the country. But I live in central London now, and am pretty sure I'd get arrested! Seriously though, with air rifles, easy to use and death would be pretty quick..
 
i am lucky now as i have a guy that lives down my road who does my culling all i need to do is text him :D but tonight was a false alarm thought i had to let my cockeral and his sister go but it wasnt to be for now anyway ,lols .

i have paid £22.50 at the vets and depending who i get all depends on the charge the main boss doesnt charge me but the temp vets do 1 went to charge me £55 once i nearly died of shock myself , i cant end my girls lives at all and i dont think i ever will be able to do it as i know only to well i am to weak in mind and strength to do it right although i did only god knows how manage to end the lives of my baby quails { very bad hatching } they were only 24 hrs old but they were not right so maybe that made it easier i dont know but the tears streamed down my face for about 30 mins after and i kicked myself for days after i can kill spiders easily but anything esle its a case of pretty much forget it .
 
Nobody is suggesting you should cull your birds yourself, and you are right to get an experienced person to help you, or to take them to the vet, if for whatever reason you are unable to give them a humane and painless end yourself. My original query wasn't about the ethics of ending an animals life, though that is something we all have to decide about sooner or later. Instead, I was asking how much your vet would charge for this service. It just struck me afterwards that £23.50 or thereabouts was about what I'd paid previously for one old hen, and I now wonder whether the inexperienced student on the computer (the vet's student daughter on work experience) had actually only charged me for one, rather than two birds. From what you said, Karminski, it sounds as if that could have been the case.
)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top