On-Farm Poultry Euthanasia

Poultry producers and caretakers are required to euthanize animals in their care from time to time in order to end animal suffering and distress. Euthanasia may be required due to animal health concerns, monetary concerns or an inability to properly care for the animals in question. A properly designed and implemented on-farm euthanasia program demonstrates compassion for the animals and will help to address public expectations for enhancing poultry welfare.

On-Farm Euthanasia Considerations:

When deciding what euthanasia technique to use on your farm there are several main points to think about, they are summarized below:

  • Animal welfare
    • Process should cause minimal pain and distress before loss of consciousness
    • Ability to induce loss of consciousness
    • Time to result in loss of consciousness
    • Irreversibility
  • Practicality
    • Easy to learn
    • Repeatable
  • Emotional effect on operators and observers
  • Worker safety

For any euthanasia technique there are pros and cons, and the ultimate decision about what is the right technique for any farm lies with the producer/ caretaker in consultation their veterinarian.

On-Farm Euthanasia Plans:

Comprehensive on-farm euthanasia plans provide consistent guidance to stockpersons about when euthanasia should be applied, by whom, and the methods that should be used. It is important that responsible personnel be made aware of and be trained in following the plan.

A euthanasia plan should include:

  • specific aspects of the skills and knowledge required to correctly euthanize an animal including:
    • the appropriate euthanasia method depending on the age and/or size of the bird
    • methods of restraint
    • how to use and maintain the equipment
    • operator safety considerations
  • selection and identification of primary and secondary flock caretakers who are trained in the various methods of euthanasia
  • euthanasia equipment maintenance protocols
  • criteria to guide decisions on when to euthanize an animal, including when to euthanize, taking the following into account:
    • likelihood of recovery
    • pain and distress of the animal
    • ability to get to feed and water
    • disease risks to other animals
    • ability to walk
    • diagnostic information
    • productivity
  • appropriate euthanasia methods based on the weight of birds, taking into account:
    • risks to other animals
    • animal handling and restraint
    • impact on stockpersons performing the procedure
    • carcass disposal
  • see references 5 and 6 for more information

On-Farm Poultry Euthanasia Options for Producers

The categories of current euthanasia technique options for Canadian poultry producers include: cervical dislocation, blunt force trauma, non-penetrating captive bolt, electrocution, gas based euthanasia (such as CO2 gas) and decapitation.

Recognizing the Signs of Death:

It is important to verify death after performing euthanasia on any animal. Indicators of death include the complete absence of reflexes, the cessation of breathing, the absence of a pulse or heart beat and complete muscle relaxation. If using a physical method or rapid induction of anoxia irreversible brain failure can be concluded to occur at the time when convulsions cease. Death will also occur from the destruction of the brain itself (Ref. 2).

Prepared as information for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, funding for this project was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial- territorial initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

gf2 abgov canada

Euthanasia Handling and Restraint

Regardless of the euthanasia technique employed on a poultry farm gentle handling and restraint of birds is required to accomplish humane euthanasia. Handling and restraint for manual cervical dislocation of broiler chickens is described in the Chicken Farmer’s of Canada On Farm Chicken Euthanasia Guidelines Version 1.0. More research, development and commercial availability of appropriate poultry euthanasia restraint devices and techniques is needed. Examples with pictures of easily implementable euthanasia restraint devices and techniques are given below.

A method that is compatible for use with manual cervical dislocation, mechanical cervical dislocation, blunt force trauma and captive bolt guns is the use of a fabric sleeve. A picture of a fabric sleeve appropriate for poultry euthanasia produced by Poultry Health Services is shown below. Fabric sleeves can be sized for different sizes of poultry.

PHS BB sleeve

 PHS BB sleeve with laying hen

A method of euthanasia restraint compatible with blunt force trauma and captive bolt gun use is the use of a portable restraint box. The method as applied to turkeys is pictured below. Construction of such a box is simple, with plastic containers big enough to contain a bird modified to allow access to the head of the bird. The box is held down by the knee or by a helper and the neck is stabilized with one hand while the euthanasia is performed by the other.

 Turkey Restraint Box  Turkey Restraint Box 3

Euthanasia Techniques

Captive Bolt

What is it?
This procedure involves using a captive bolt gun to irreversibly damage or destroy the brain of the bird to be euthanized.
How does it work?
Kinetic energy damages/destroys the brain, rendering the bird instantly insensible. Captive bolt guns powered by charges, pressurized air or cartridges are available.
What can I use it on?
Captive bolt guns are an acceptable euthanasia method for large poultry. Captive bolt guns may too powerful for use on certain types of poultry such as chicks or poults.
Where to get it?
Commercially available devices are described in the Euthanasia Devices section.

Decapitation

What is it?
This procedure involves severing the head of the bird from the body.

How does it work?  

Decapitation should be executed with a sharp instrument, ensuring rapid and unobstructed severing of the head from the neck. Use of a bleeding cone may facilitate restraint.
What can I use it on?
Decapitation is an acceptable euthanasia method for poultry of all types when performed by competent personnel.
How much?
There is no nominal cost associated with decapitation.

Electrocution

What is it?
This procedure involves providing electric current through the body of the bird to either stun the bird (head stunning) which is followed up by a secondary method to kill the bird or to directly kill the bird (head to heart stunning).
How does it work?
Electricity passes through the head and heart of the bird causing stunning (by disrupting the cerebral cortex) and rendering the bird dead by disrupting normal body functioning.
What can I use it on?
Electrocution is an acceptable euthanasia method for poultry of all types.
Where to get it?
Devices for on-farm euthanasia by electrocution are in development. Home-made solutions may be ineffective or unsafe, so be cautious in their use.

Carbon Dioxide Gas (CO2 gas)

What is it?
This procedure involves controlled changes in the gaseous atmosphere surrounding an animal such that the animal loses consciousness due to lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide, depending on the atmosphere.
How does it work?
Hypercapnic hypoxia is induced in birds exposed to an environment with a high concentration of CO2. Birds may be sedated at lower levels of CO2 and killed at higher levels in a multi-stage approach. Unconsciousness can be achieved before the threshold for carbon dioxide-induced nociception (pain perception) is reached. (Ref. 7)
What can I use it on?
Purpose built CO2 euthanasia equipment is an effective method for euthanasia of poultry of all types and sizes.
Where to get it?
Devices for on-farm euthanasia by CO2 gas are available and designed for use in the swine industry for euthanasia of piglets. An example of such a device is the EUTHANEX AgPro, and more information can be found at: http://www.v-ast.com/euthanex.aspx

Blunt Force Trauma

What is it?
This procedure involves striking the animal on the top of its head with a heavy, blunt object, such as a hammer.
How does it work?
The blow must be administered swiftly, with determination and firmly enough to ensure quick, humane euthanasia on the first attempt, rendering the bird dead.
What can I use it on?
Blunt force trauma is an acceptable method for chickens and turkeys.
Equipment needed?
It is acceptable to use any heavy blunt instrument, such as a large hammer or heavy pipe to perform blunt force trauma.
How much?
There is no nominal cost associated with blunt force trauma.

Cervical Dislocation

What is it?
Cervical dislocation involves stretching and separating the vertebrae in the bird’s neck rendering it insensible followed by death. Cervical dislocation can be applied manually or mechanically. Manual cervical dislocation of broiler chickens is described in the Chicken Farmer’s of Canada On Farm Chicken Euthanasia Guidelines Version 1.0.
What can I use it on?
Cervical dislocation is an acceptable method for chickens and turkeys.
How much?
There is no nominal cost associated with manual cervical dislocation.

What to Expect With Different Types of Euthanasia:

Neuromuscular spasms, convulsions and seizures occur with physical methods of euthanasia and during abrupt hypoxia. Generally these reactions are not associated with consciousness, and can be an unconscious process. The phases of a bird’s response to physical methods of euthanasia include the clonic phase and tonic phase. During the reaction of a bird to physical euthanasia methods the order of phases may differ across species and method. The clonic phase involves uncoordinated (sometimes violent) wing-flapping, kicking, flopping and paddling motions of the limbs. The tonic phase involves rigid extension of the limbs and wings. Electrical stunning causes grand mal seizure characterized by tonic then clonic phases. Blunt force trauma, non-penetrating captive bolt and cervical dislocation immediately result in a clonic phase followed by tonic muscle spasms. Clonic phase reactions often include violent wing-flapping, followed by a tonic phase including rigidity, stretching of legs, opening of wings, feather erection, and cloacal relaxation.

Prepared as information for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, funding for this project was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial- territorial initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

gf2 abgov canada

Technique Pros Cons
Non-penetrating captive bolt

(examples include CPK, Tomahawk, TED and Zephyr)
  1. Loss of consciousness/death without pain, distress, anxiety or apprehension (with purpose designed equipment)
  2. Short time required to induce loss of consciousness
  3. Safety of personnel
  4. Irreversibility
  5. Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue (except for brain)
  6. No human drug abuse potential
  7. Compatibility with species, age and health status (except for chicks and poults)
  8. Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed
  1. Emotional effect on observers and operators.
  2. Potential for human injury if captive bolt is misused
  3. Reliability (some birds may require a second shot)
  4. Equipment must be maintained in proper working order
CO2 Gas
  1. Safety of personnel
  2. Irreversibility (when heart is stopped)
  3. Emotional effect on observers and operators.
  4. Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue.
  5. No human drug abuse potential
  6. Compatibility with species, age and health status (works for ALL sizes of poultry).
  7. Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed
  1. CO2 in high concentrations can be an irritant to poultry.
  2. Short time required to induce loss of consciousness
  3. Need to keep adequate amounts of CO2 on hand and equipment in proper working order
Electrocution
  1. Loss of consciousness/death without pain, distress, anxiety or apprehension (with purpose designed equipment)
  2. Short time required to induce loss of consciousness
  3. Reliability
  4. Safety of personnel (good with purpose designed equipment)
  5. Irreversibility (when heart is stopped)
  6. Emotional effect on observers or operators (More acceptable to farm staff and observers)
  7. Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue
  8. No human drug abuse potential
  9. Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed.
  1. Compatibility with species, age and health status (equipment may not fit all sizes of poultry)
  2. Safety of personnel (may be poor without purpose designed equipment)
  3. Requirement to keep equipment in good working order at all times
  4. Portable equipment may require frequent charging
Blunt Force Trauma
  1. Loss of consciousness/death without pain, distress, anxiety or apprehension (when performed correctly)
  2. Short time required to induce loss of consciousness (immediate when performed correctly)
  3. Safety of personnel
  4. Irreversibility
  5. No human drug abuse potential
  6. Compatibility with species, age and health status (not appropriate for chicks or poults)
  7. No maintenance requirement for equipment
  8. Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed.
  9. Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue (except for brain)
  1. Reliability (may take more than one blow to induce unconsciousness)
  2. Emotional effect on observers or operators
Cervical Dislocation (both manual and mechanical)
  1. Short time required to induce loss of consciousness
  2. Safety of personnel
  3. Irreversibility
  4. No human drug abuse potential
  5. Compatibility with species, age and health status (can be used on most sizes of poultry)
  6. No maintenance requirement for equipment (manual)
  7. Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed.
  8. Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue
  1. Loss of consciousness/death may not be immediate
  2. Emotional effect on observers or operators
  3. mechanical cervical dislocation may be restricted for use in certain jurisdictions
Decapitation
  1. Short time required to induce loss of consciousness
  2. Safety of personnel
  3. Irreversibility
  4. No human drug abuse potential
  5. Compatibility with species, age and health status
  6. Limited maintenance requirement for equipment
  7. Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed.
  8. Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue
  1. Loss of consciousness/death may not be immediate
  2. Emotional effect on observers or operators
  3. Cleanliness/ biosecurity (blood, etc.)

Prepared as information for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, funding for this project was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial- territorial initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

gf2 abgov canada

***This list of devices is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any given device or technique for poultry euthanasia***

TED (Turkey Euthanasia Device)Ted

What is it?
The TED is a re-engineered nail gun designed as a one-step non-penetrating captive bolt gun. TED stands for “Turkey Euthanasia Device”, but can be used on a variety of other species.
How does it work?
The TED is powered by a butane fuel canister that will provide 1,000 shots/canister. It is completely portable, light weight and easy to handle.
What can I use it on?
The TED can be used to euthanize full grown turkeys, ducks, chickens and pigs up to and including 9 kg (20 lbs).
Where can I get it?
To purchase a TED please contact Bock Industries www.bock-industries.com

TomahawkTomahawk

What is it?
The Tomahawk is a re-engineered paint ball gun designed as a one-step non-penetrating captive bolt gun.
How does it work?
The Tomahawk is powered by a CO2 fuel canister that will provide several shots/canister. It is completely portable, light weight and easy to handle.
What can I use it on?
The Tomahawk can be used to euthanize chickens and full grown turkeys up to 50 lbs.
Where can I get it?
To purchase a Tomahawk please contact Nova Pneumatics http://stunnergun.com/tomahawk.html

Euthanex BoxEuthanex box.Blue Camera

What is it?
The EuthaneX Box causes controlled changes in the gaseous atmosphere surrounding an animal such that the animal loses consciousness due to lack of oxygen and/or excess of carbon dioxide.
How does it work?
Hypercapnic hypoxia is induced in birds exposed to an environment with a high concentration of CO2. Birds may be sedated at lower levels of CO2 and killed at higher levels in a multi-stage approach.Unconsciousness can be achieved before the threshold for carbon dioxide-induced nociception (pain perception) is reached. (SPSS, 2007)
What can I use it on?
Purpose built CO2 euthanasia equipment is an effective method for euthanasia of poultry of all types and sizes.
Where to get it?
EUTHANEX AgPro, more information can be found at: http://www.v-ast.com/euthanex.aspx

CPK (Cash Poultry Killer)CPK2

What is it?
The CPK is a cartridge powered non-penetrating captive bolt gun that is designed to euthanize poultry in one step.
How does it work?
The CPK2 is powered by a .22 calibre 1 grain cartridges that will provide one shot/cartridge. It is completely portable, light weight and easy to handle.
What can I use it on?
The CPK can be used to euthanize chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese.

Where can I get it?
To purchase a CPK please contact Jarvis Industries Canada http://www.jarviscanada.com/index.php

More Information:
Accles & Shelvoke (Manufacturer) Website: http://www.acclesandshelvoke.co.uk/product/30/22-poultry-killer-small-animal-tool

Zephyr (non-penetrating)Zephyr XLS

What is it?
The Zephyr is a re-engineered nail gun that was developed for use in rabbit abattoirs. Further research has been conducted to validate the Zephyr for use on turkeys and piglets.
How does it work?
When fired, a nylon bolt head is ejected from the barrel. Through concussive force the Zephyr causes brain damage and immediate insensibility followed shortly by death. The Zephyr is powered by connecting to a standard air compressor charged to 120 PSI.
What can I use it on?
The gun has been proven effective for the euthanasia of poultry.
Where can I get it?
To purchase a Zephyr please contact Bock Industries (www.bock-industries.com)
Other considerations to consider are that the Zephyr requires an air compressor hook up, hoses and restraints (not included in purchase price).

Koechner Euthanasia DeviceKoechner.Upright

What is it?
The Koechner Euthanasia device is a mechanical device to assist in performing cervical dislocation.
How does it work?
The device is placed around the neck of the bird. When the hammer is directly upon the base of the top of the neck and perpendicular to the head, the handles are brought quickly together until a “pop” is felt; meaning that the neck has been dislocated.

Where can I get it?
To purchase the Koechner euthanasia device please contact Clear View Enterprises http://www.cvear.com/

Prepared as information for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, funding for this project was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial- territorial initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

gf2 abgov canada

logo
1) Lab-Based Euthanasia Research Presentation (PDF)

2) Applicability of Commercial Euthanasia Technologies to Alberta’s Poultry Industry (PDF)

Prepared as information for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, funding for this project was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial- territorial initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

gf2 abgov canada

Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals – National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC):

Livestockwelfare.com: Canadian Farm Animal Welfare Resource Centre.
http://www.livestockwelfare.com/

Poultry Euthanasia On-Farm Options. Farm & Food Care Ontario:
http://www.livestockwelfare.com/wp-content/uploads/poultry-euthanasia.pdf

Canadian Virtual Centre for Poultry Welfare.
http://poultrywelfarecentre.ca/

Bock Industries Animal Welfare Division (Zephyr-EXL and TED devices – includes videos showing how to use non-penetrating captive bolts for poultry euthanasia).
http://www.tedstunner.com/

Koechner Industries (Manufacturers of Koechner Euthanasia Device)
http://www.turkeycoops.com/euthanizingdevice.html

Nova Pneumatics (Manufacturers of Tomahawk Captive Bolt Gun)
http://stunnergun.com/captive-bolt-stunner.html

Accles & Shelvoke (Manufacturers of Cash Poultry Killer (CPK) Captive Bolt Gun)
http://www.acclesandshelvoke.co.uk/

Effective On-Farm Methods For Culling Turkeys. Written by Nancy Roulston. https://poultrywelfarecentre.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/effective-on-farm-methods-for-culling-turkeys.pdf

Determining Insensibility for Accurate Stunning and On-Farm Euthanasia (In Poultry). Researched & Written by Marisa Erasmus, Dr. Patricia Turner, and Dr. Tina Widowski. Abridged by Nancy Roulston
https://poultrywelfarecentre.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/determining-insensibility-for-accurate-stunning-and-on-farm-euthanasia.pdf

Should This Bird Be Loaded (decision tree):
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7PZ_dY93U2sY2QtZi1HWk5UR3FxWE15ZE9kSG9OZw/edit

Guide to on-farm stunning and euthanasia of specialty poultry and barnyard fowl. Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation. 2008.
http://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/bs1762576

AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition.https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Documents/euthanasia.pdf

National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs. 2014 edition. See on-farm euthanasia plans section: https://www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/pigs

Prepared as information for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, funding for this project was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial- territorial initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

gf2 abgov canada

  1. AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition. https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Documents/euthanasia.pdf
  2. Erasmus, M.A., Turner, P.V., and Widowski, T.M. 2010. Measures of insensibility used to determine effective stunning and killing of poultry. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 19: 288- 298
  3. Erasmus, M.A., Lawlis, P., Duncan, I.J.H, and Widowski, T.M. 2010. Using time to insensibility and estimated time of death to evaluate a non-penetrating captive bolt, cervical dislocation, and blunt trauma for on – farm killing of turkeys. Poultry Science 89:1345-1354
  4. Mason C et al. 2009. Methods for dispatching backyard poultry. Veterinary Record. 164: 220.
  5. National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs. 2014 edition. https://www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/pigs
  6. Turner, PV and Doonan G. Developing on-farm euthanasia plans. Canadian Veterinary Journal. 51: 1031 – 1034.
  7. Southern Poultry Science Society (SPSS) and USDA, 2007. Bioethics Symposium: Proactive Approaches to Controversial Welfare and Ethical Concerns in Poultry Science.

Prepared as information for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, funding for this project was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial- territorial initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

gf2 abgov canada