Question...

[Kilala]

Ok, something in another thread alarmed me. I realized i may be doing something wrong with my mouse killing. What is the proper technique for neck snapping? Circumstances with the move have made it difficult to buy CO2, so i'm back to neck-snapping. Besides, i won't be killing more than 1 at a time usually, so it's a lot less trouble anyhow.

This is what happens when i kill:

1. lay fuzzie on hard surface

2. position pen directly behind fuzzie head on neck

3. press down HARD. blood may come out of nose. uke01:

4. fuzzie twitches like mad.

5. fuzzie stops twitching and goes limp.

now, i assumed that step 4 occurred after death. like, when chickens flap around after they get their heads cut off. I thought the mouse was doing something similiar. please respond, i want to kill them as humanely as i can.

 

[Kilala]

please, i'm worried that the twitching may mean that they're still alive!

 

[starsevol]

Hi Kilala,

I saw this post this morning but I can't help you. I am a soft-hearted idiot who keeps rats as pets. I buy all my snake food already frozen. I just can't euthanize anything.

That said, I think the twitching is just nerves firing off. I'm not sure but I think the fuzzies feel no pain by that point.

I applaud your intentions

 

[tricksterpup]

Kilala, I would buy frozen if you can and not really worry about live feeds. But personally when I would feed fuzzies to my snakes, i just toss them in and not worry about the snake or the rodent. Now hoppers, weans and adults, I grab them by the tail and smack them against the tank. It either kills them or stuns them to the point where the snake can grab them.
But I have finally converted all but one snake to frozen.

 

[snakeboy24]

you done everything right apart from step 4. instead of pressing down i would put the pencil on the neck witha bit of pressure so it stays on the desk and then pull the tail up quickly. i am also worried that the twitching may be still alive. i have to say the easieat way is a plastic bag and a desk.

lee

 

[Kilala]

Kilala, I would buy frozen if you can and not really worry about live feeds.

well, i always end up freezing them in the end. sometimes it's not possible to carry dry ice with me. plus i'll be breeding soon, so i'll be running slaughter lines.

That said, I think the twitching is just nerves firing off. I'm not sure but I think the fuzzies feel no pain by that point.

thank you, that's exactly what i needed to hear! thank you all very much!

 

[Flagg]

Google "cervical dislocation"

As for CO2, dry ice is inconvenient and expensive. Get a 20 oz or even 9 oz refillable CO2 tank used for paintball. Refills are usually very cheap, and last for quite a few uses before you need to refill again.

I have 2 20 oz tanks, they cost $1 per refill and I have to refill both maybe every 6 months.

 

[jaxom1957]

Ok, something in another thread alarmed me. I realized i may be doing something wrong with my mouse killing. What is the proper technique for neck snapping?

I do this quite differently than most. I use a pair of hotdog tongs, the kind that are basically heavy wire with the ends bent into boxes. I pick the mouse up around the head so the end wires of the tongs are around the neck and the head is inside the box. I then grab the shoulders between the index and middle fingers of my other hand and POP, I pull the body and the neck breaks.

Note: No mice or teddy bears were harmed in the making of this post.

 

[Kilala]

Thanks jaxom. and nice one about the teddy bear, lol.

 

[Velvet]

Personally, I don't bother with breaking necks with fuzzies, a good bang on the head usually does the trick perfectly. With older mice and rat fuzzies I break their necks, same as you but whip the tail up.

 

[Velvet]

PS: Jaxom, I always enjoy your posts so much! lol

 

[Hawkin']

Personally, I don't bother with breaking necks with fuzzies, a good bang on the head usually does the trick perfectly. With older mice and rat fuzzies I break their necks, same as you but whip the tail up.

Step one= :smash: I hold a screw driver backwards and hit them on the head with the handle,works one shot from fuzzies to adults.I hold them in my other hand with just their head sticking out.I sometimes get live rats to feed my bird.to kill them I hold them by the tail and swing them over hand onto something hard,it puts the out instantly.