- Check that appropriate facilities and equipment are available, including
protective clothing and other means of reducing the risk of spread of infec-
tious disease (see later). - Be sure that the person carrying out the postmortemexamination is suffi-
ciently knowledgeable about the techniques. - Do whatever “homework” is possible beforehand—for example, by obtain-
ing relevant information about the normal anatomy of the species (Harcourt-
Brown 2000: King and McLelland 1984) or its biology and natural history
(Cooper 2003b). Seek advice if necessary.
184 |Information from dead and dying birds
Table 8.2Methods of euthanasia of birds
Method CommentPhysicala Dislocation of neck Generally for larger birds (waterfowl,
herons, etc.) of up to 3 kg only
Needs training or experience
Pressure on sternum For small birds (less than 100 g in
weight) only
Striking the cranium on a hard Must be immediate. For small birds
surface (up to 23 g)
Other Large birds can be killed by
striking on the head with a suitable
heavy instrument but skill
is needed
Chemicalb Overdose of injectable anesthetic For best results a barbiturate
agent such as sodium should be given intravenously
pentobarbitone but this requires skill.
Intraperitoneal (intracoelomic)
administration is easier but
death is not instantaneous and
internal organs may be
damaged
Overdose of an inhalation Requires the use of an anesthetic
anesthetic agent, for example, chamber for small birds or a mask
halothane, isoflurane for larger birds
Exposure to 100% carbon dioxide As above (chamber). Suitable
for large numbers of small
birds
aAll physical methods cause damage, which may hamper postmortemexamination, and may prove
aesthetically unacceptable.
bThe majority of chemical methods require the possession of potent anesthetic agents, most of
which can only be obtained on veterinary prescription. Argon gas is now being used instead of carbon
dioxide in UK poultry hatcheries for reasons of human health.