Did my first euthanizing today. Up till now wasnt really sure I wanted to do the actually killing and wasnt really thrilled with bonking on the head or breaking necks. After reseaching more I went with co2. This is how I did it. I contacted a welding supply company and got a 100 lb tank of co2. I didnt really need that much but was all they had. Anyway, I ran a tube from the tank to a rubbermaid container. Placed newspaper in the bottom and put rabbits in. The container held 10 rabbits at a time. They were between 1 and 3 lbs.I closed lid, turned on co2 very lightly and waited. Heard a little bit of thumping but it was quiet after a couple minutes. I waited for 10 more minutes and it was done. Rabbits were peacefully and permanatley asleep. Super easy. The tank was $18.00 and will last a long time.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), March 09, 2002

Answers

Tracy- were you "euthenizing" rabbits that you intended to butcher?

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), March 09, 2002.

These rabbits are being sent out on Monday, frozen to a reptile supply company. They were euthanized and immediatley packaged individualy and frozen. There is not suppose to be any harmful residue this way. It is approved from vetrenarians as a humane method.

-- tracy (murfete@stargate.net), March 09, 2002.

Stupid question here, skin them or whole? Sorry, I HATE snakes and am a vegetarian so I am really dumb about some things.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.

Doreen, the only stupid ? is the one not asked. They are frozen whole, everyhting including fur. I am not a big snake than either but I guess they have to eat too.

-- tracy (murfete@stargate.net), March 10, 2002.

Tracy, I have a question about your contraption. Did you put any sort of hole in the top of the rubbermaid container for the oxygen to escape, leaving the CO2 in it's place? I'm looking into building a contraption like that myself, and the plans I've seen on the internet are pretty complex! I was sure hoping there was an easier way, and your's sounds pretty good!

Another way I've heard of is to use dry ice in the bottom of a rubbermaid container, with a grate covering it. Then put the bunnies in a cage on top of the grate - you don't want them actually coming in physical contact with the dry ice! Then add a little water to get the CO2 going and cover the rubbermaid container. But again, I think there was a small hole in the top of the container to let the oxygen escape.

I raise mice, rats and bunnies for snake feeders. So far, they've all been buying them live, but I will be needing to begin freezing them in the near future, so I'm looking for the easiest, most cost efficient, and most humane way to euthanize them.

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), March 19, 2002.

I looked into dry ice also, I think it would be a pain. I took a rubbermaid box probably 2ft long by 3 ft high. Took duck tape and covered the holes on the sides. Ran the co2 line in the side of the box near the top.[I used a drill to make a pilot hole.] Nothing else. Place newspaper in the bottom place rabbits in, close top, turn on gas slowly, wait 5 minutes, done. Did 15 today.Hope that helps

-- tracy (murfete@stargate.net), March 19, 2002.