Originally Posted by dreambird

I was once told to place a rag soaked with automotive starter fluid on the bottom of a juice can and wrap the bird in a washcloth to hold it well, then place its head inside the can - supposedly one whiff would immediately & painlessly put the bird to sleep. In desperation, I went to the all night grocery store and bought a can. I used a kiddie cup and a kleenex and followed the instructions. As I sobbed, my hen shook her head, but her heart kept beating . . . I could not go on. After failing to euthanize her properly, then posting my urgent request, I dozed with the hen wrapped in the cloth, draped on top of my neck. When I felt her struggling to move I decided I had to take more decisive action.

I clamped the strand holding her foot on, then did the surgery necessary to remove the foot. After applying cornstarch to stave thr bleeding, and wrapping her to apply pressure on her stump, I elected to place her in a hospital cage with a soft cotton liner on the bottom, add seed & water, and hope for the best, let nature take its course and go to bed. As soon as she was in the cage, she 'got the news' about her new peg-leg condition. I set 2 perches very low and lo and behold, she perched briefly, them proceeded to eat. Provided that she doesn't bleed further (and it seems to be cauterized) I think this pearl of a girl will survive. I have a super small hen population (3) so I think it may be possible for her to adjust. She is an '04 hen, and I took her out of breeding last season. Fingers crossed. I tend lame and rescues, so maybe this will have a happy ending.

I would still like to know a (true!) way to put a suffering bird down. Sometimes accidents happen. Were I a more serious breeder, she would no longer be a be able to breed and would be pecked for her weakness. If she lives, she will live out her life.