FINCHforum

I have a friend with an old, sick Gouldian.
The hen has been progressively losing motor control, has been in a hospital cage for several days, and is now rolling onto her back.

All measures have been done to treat and save her. The poor bird just is getting progressively worse by the day. (she is not egg-bound).

Does anyone have any idea how to gently, humanely euthanize a bird at home?
My friend does not have an Avian vet anywhere near.

Lauren

So sorry your friend is going through this. Here is a thread that talks about how:
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9197

Lauren, I am sorry to hear about your friend's bird....some people use helium, they fill a baggie with it and let the bird go off to sleep.

ACK. Any kind of suffocation, including using helium would be tortuous to bird and human, imo. Can't recommend that to her in good conscious.

In reality, probably snapping and breaking the neck would be instant and painless - but WHO could do that? I sure couldn't. Perhaps someone who hunts birds, and does that to 'finish off' birds could do it...

Why can't they just die peacefully in their sleep?

Having read all I could find on the subject, beginning with the thread mentioned above, I decided some time ago helium will be the method of choice when/if it becomes necessary.
Helium isn't painful or "tortuous", and is in fact a method often used by people opting to choose their own end in the the event of terminal or incurable painful illness.
Carbon monoxide is an alternative, as explained here:
http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/index.php
Helium is readily available at any party supply store, and apparently carbon monoxide can be created with vinegar and baking soda. Neither will cause pain or distress to the animal.

I've been told breaking the neck is the fastest, least painful way to euthanize, but I can't bring myself to do it. I have used helium, the bird will struggle for just a second or two, but the bird may very well be struggling because it is in a strange place, not because it is in pain. I use a plastic container that cakes come in. I think I would be tempted to use an opaque container, because then the bird would not be able to see and might be calmer.

Apologies for using the word "tortuous" regarding the helium suffocation.
They still really *do* suffocate, but if done properly, have lost awareness and consciousness beforehand, and do not suffer.
The brain and body still respond and have reflexes due to the lack of oxygen, so I would imagine it's harder on the owner than the bird.

The Gouldian hen in question has passed on her own. But her last 24 hours sounded miserable.
She was one of mine that I gave to my friend over a year ago.

Thanks all, here's to never having to deal with this subject.

Lauren

Bless you both Lauren. May you find Peace knowing that the sweet girl is whole again in Gods hands.

So sorry to hear what your friend has to go through and how she was one of yours.

My husband... Isn't heartless but he said if need it e he would snap the necks of mine. Not sure if I was too happy to hear this but I also don't want to pick up a bird put him in a container which they'd probably freak out in just because it was moved hen to use helium. I think in the end its all to "save" the bird and we all mean well. It's never easy. My friend froze her lizard... Cause she was dying slowly.
When my cockatiel was very sick and I told him that I thin she was going tonight. He asked to take her when he left for work. Not sure what he was going to do...
But I asked him to let her go at home.

Its a very sad topic. I've never had to face this option. I have access to an emergency vet, and I've had to use them at least once (my canary, TB (Tennis Ball) got eggbound, and I had to have her put down as she was suffering.

Regular vets can put birds down, but they may not have the experience to do so. I know one time with my last sick bird, Fruit, I had to wait two hours until my partner came home with the car before I could get him to the local vet. I held him for the two hours, crying until my partner got home. Its awful seeing them suffering.

I'm sorry for the owner of the bird you mentioned.

Best luck in the future.


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 6 months
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years