I personally prefer spinal dislocation for pre-killing rodents. Gassing seems nicer, because we've been taught all our lives to abhor physical trauma, but really killing is killing, and quicker/more painless the better. Nothing is faster, easier, or more kind to the feeder than spinal dislocation.
Yes baking soda+white vinegar will work to produce CO2 and let you suffocate your rodents.. but it's not the method I would use.