Humane Euthanasia

[Jacktar]

Other than swinging by the tail and whacking a rat on the edge of a table, what humane methods are practiced for pre-killing rodents?

[Cmwells90]

I've heard of putting them in a tub with dry ice, the CO2 causes them to to pass out and die.

[fishingfool]

That don't sound like a humane way to prekill lol kinda violent but co2 is.good

[Jacktar]

Originally Posted by fishingfool

That don't sound like a humane way to prekill lol kinda violent but co2 is.good

I've heard something about Co2. Something like a gas chamber

[fishingfool]

Exsactly they sell pre maid ones that i think use thos paintball gun disposabil co2 cartridges

[Akuma223]

I break the necks of the mice I breed for my snakes. Really hard to do at first, but the more you do it the more used to it you get. When you break their necks they tend to twitch quite a bit be warned. I do it by taking my thumb and forefinger and squeezing between the head and shoulders until you feel the neck break and everything internally there is severed. You can feel it when the deed is done, just remember you cant back-out in the middle.

[Jacktar]

Originally Posted by Akuma223

I break the necks of the mice I breed for my snakes. Really hard to do at first, but the more you do it the more used to it you get. When you break their necks they tend to twitch quite a bit be warned. I do it by taking my thumb and forefinger and squeezing between the head and shoulders until you feel the neck break and everything internally there is severed. You can feel it when the deed is done, just remember you cant back-out in the middle.

I like the idea of taking a bunch of them, euthanizing them in a tank with Co2 and putting them in a bag in the freezer. I have no desire to breed my own rats though. I remember the days when pet shops didn't have frozen. I'd use a large heavy spoon or swing them by tail to pre-kill. I'm all about efficiency these days

[shaunyboy]

hold it firmly by it's body,then in one fast hard movement,hit where the neck joins the back of the head,at the top of the spine,on sharp edge,like the edge of a table,a wooden shelf,heavy solid plank of wood,etc


i'm not a fan of them being frozen to death,the above methods far more humane imo


cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Jacktar

Other than swinging by the tail and whacking a rat on the edge of a table, what humane methods are practiced for pre-killing rodents?

swinging by the tail is a terrible idea,ive seen people do that and they're left with a rats tail in their hand,and the rat scuttles off having just had it's tail ripped off,not a pretty sight and certainly not humane

not having a go mate,merely pointing out the downside of using the tail


cheers shaun

[Jacktar]

no worries, hense buying frozen. It's been a long time since I've killed my own. It's not like doing a Roy Rogers lasso act. I do however remember the skin of a a tail coming off AFTER impact with a table which was pretty gross but the impact killed the rat. I was left with some tail skin and could see the exposed bone of the tail. Sorry for the graphic imagery. I'm glad frozen rats are readily available these days and I'm also glad a humane method for euthanization is being practiced.

[charity]

i always wondered what happened to those rats and mice that i have bought over the years that looked like they had been beaten to death...seriously disturbing.
gassing is still sad but it is more certain and quicker as long as it is done right. but a snakes gotta eat. i love my boy.
i think we should all love the small creatures more, and care more about their quality of life. They live only to be for food for our snakes.
Make it a short happy life.

[Zelg]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

swinging by the tail is a terrible idea,ive seen people do that and they're left with a rats tail in their hand,and the rat scuttles off having just had it's tail ripped off,not a pretty sight and certainly not humane

not having a go mate,merely pointing out the downside of using the tail


cheers shaun

I just wanted to chime in on this post real quick. When I first started trying to go with rats for my BP, I picked up the rat by the tail and it began to spin. Because I wasnt too keen on the idea of having a mouse run around my home, I grabbed the tail tighter. Well wouldnt you know it, the little guy spun himself so hard and fast that he twisted the tip of his tail right off in my hand, fell to the ground and ran under my hockey equipment bag lol.

Most that I've handled have been fine but a mouse bit me once, drawing blood. I flicked my hand and almost threw him to the street (i peeked inside the box while getting outta my car. stupid stupid stupid.

Anyhow...yea rats do not care if they have their tails anymore apparently.

Another thing, I've killed rats by putting him in a bag and swinging it against something solid. Not a good idea as its messy and you have to get a good hit to kill them on hte first try. I also swung the bag once (ziplock gallon bag) and the bottom ripped and the rat went flying into my bathtub.


And now I feel like a dummy so Im going to bounce back out.

[Kuamata]

To be honest, I stuck 'em in a pillow case and whacked 'em really hard on the wall, back when I bred them. Effectively killed a group, but I did it -really- hard to be sure nobody lived. :/

[Kuamata]

Eh.. I understand the sentiment and all, but little short lived critters like mice, at least, I've lost that kind of sensitivity to. IE, I only think they're good pets for little kids, teaches the lesson of death and responsibility of owning a pet. If I had a mouse as a pet, and I cared for it and spoiled it like my others, when it's all said and done I wouldn't be heartbroken, because I knew it would only last a year. Rats, on the other hand, I do love me some rats. I usually get 3 - 5 years out of 'em, and that's a good run for a lil' creature. I've had a few rats, but only one that really stood out, and her name was Daisy. She was a great rat, very loving pet. We recently had some more, Shirley and... whatever my fiance named his, but Shirley ate the other and then Shirley later passed. They were adopted, both were patchwork mutations, so... I find that the mutations don't live as long, sadly... Real shame, I'm particularly fond of the hairless variety.

[millertime89]

CO2 is the most humane way to do it.