first rat kill

[instar]

Bought two live rats yesterday, bout 300grs+ each, because i had no frozen, decided to try freshkill. It was my first foray into euthanasia. After reading some older forums, i decided to go with the "flick-on-a-brick" method. I have never killed anything and wanted it to be instant.
It went HORRIBLY wrong. First flick saw it bleeding from the nose, but still writhing weakly {shivers at the image} second whack finished him off. I tried to do it hard enough first shot, but i was thinking if i swung to hard the poor things tail would come off. 2nd rat was worse. all nerves from the first botched attempt, i missed the brick with the head and i think i broke its back? it was trying to crawl away. 2nd whack was really hard and finished it but i made a mess of his head, (poss crushed skull) blood poured out. Never again, I just cant do it. Had rough night last night couldnt sleep. Will be sticking to frozen from here on in. Thankgod theres enough of us nowdays, that you can nearly always find a frozen supplier. :cry:

 

[Farkurnell]

You need to hold the tail right at the base. It won't come off if held there.
Honestly. give it a couple more tries, it is really easy. Don't be nervous about it. Detach yourself from it, think of it as what it is 'Snake Food'.




Gregory.

 

[instar]

Actually I was a bit afraid to hold it by the base of the tail because it (first one) was a biter. Thanks for the encouragement mate, but i just felt callous afterwards, never felt like that before. I know that I should be detached about what my snake eats, if i want to own a snake, Feeding prekilled frozen dont bother me at all, but I cant bring myself to kill again. Happily, Its not nessesary with readily avail frozen, so I can still keep my snake, even if im a half baked herper :lol:

 

[Farkurnell]

Next time I've got a hundred or so to do I'll give ya a yell and you can come round and help. At the end of it you'll be an expert.

 

[spottedpython]

i breed my own mice when i kill the young ones i grab them and cut there throats there dead straight away

 

[instar]

OH Yuck, YOU monster!!!! :shock: You are kidding? please tell me you are. Blood would be part of the nutritional value anyway, less in a bloodless mouse/rat? how messy!

 

[moosenoose]

Yep I had the 'tail' disaster 2 weeks ago! Damn things really do come off! Not fun when it goes wrong! I sympathize with you on your attempts. Feed day for my python tomorrow, and even though I've had plenty of success with the tail & flick method, the one bad experience adds quite a bit of anxiety to the whole process next time.

 

[spottedpython]

no blood really comes out i normally chock them with the knife but some i might put to much pressure on them i know i'm mean but there dead within a few seconds

 

[Farkurnell]

They're only Rats.




ignite here ......>

 

[instar]

Why not apply pressure to the back of the neck, rather than the front, and with a blunt object, then pull on the base of the tail. That dislocates the cervical and kills instantly, or very close, and no trauma and no blood. (not something i wanted to try, due to the tail fear thing)

Definatley wont be next time moosenoose. I just cant. Think it stems from childhood trauma of being forced to watch a sheep having its throat cut and beheaded and eviscerated and cut up in front of me when i was 9. They thought it would "Toughen me up". Never forgiven them either.

 

[moosenoose]

UURgghh the poppy neck thingy gives me the creeps! I think I'll stick to the front stairs LOL Better still I could just pop it in a bucket with a rat trap loaded with a pumpkin seed for 5 mins. I'll just go outside and rack up some leaves or pull out a few weeds for a little while LOL

 

[instar]

LOL Greg :lol: Yeah moose any method creeps me really. The rat trap method might be something! Still creepy but a concience releiver (no direct "action")

 

[Bryony]

if your stuck in that situation again you could always contact your local vet and see if they still use CO2 and if so could you 'borrow' it, some vets don't use it any more but its worth a shot

 

[Bryony]

or just get the local crazy guy to bite its head off

 

[instar]

Thanks byrony, but it was really one off. Think next time ill just let snakey wait a while for frozen. I think i read somewhere you can make your own c02 with vinegar and baking soda? Dont think i want to try though, thanks all the same. :wink:

 

[instar]

or just get the local crazy guy to bite its head off

Insert green "vomit" smiley here :arrow: { }

 

[Bryony]

hay i'm just giving you options

 

[moosenoose]

I might have a few Ozbourne Cd's but not his stomach (snort!)

 

[instar]

" What the BEEP BEEP BEEP in BEEP fBEEP is it BEEPINg BEEP" ~ Ozzy :lol:

 

[africancichlidau]

Persevere with it mate, it really is worth it in the long run. I had a rough time leading up to my first kills too but I went and got shown how to do it properly and now everything is fine.