What is the most humane way to "brain" a rat?

[Foolish1]

http://www.extension.umn.edu/food/fo...reezing-foods/
www.gcca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ThawingTempering.pdf


​Cell walls break down and deteriorate after a freezing and thawing. Nutrition is lost. Bacteria levels rise.

First link is how to do it properly. But I doubt this happens. Again methods and practice vs reality.

[John1982]

I usually put the rat in a bag and slam it on the counter or wall or something and it usually takes a few hits to finally finish. And yes I know that this is barbaric so please refrain from bashing me for how I feed my snakes because I am trying to do it better. So how do you guys that feed f/k do it?

Blunt force trauma is probably closest to your current method but it's all about location, location, location if you aim for humane. For smaller rodents, a simple flick of the finger does the trick. For larger rodents, something a bit heavier is best. You can hold them by the tail with one hand and use the other to give a swift blow to the head with your object of choice. Keep in mind that the longer you hold a rodent by the tail the more they are going to struggle making it harder for your aim to be true.

Another method of blunt force trauma involves swinging the rodent into a stationary object. A tabletop corner works well and is my recommendation for beginners as it also give a fair chance at cervical dislocation if their aim isn't the best - just shoot for the head and neck region. You grasp the rodent by the base of the tail and give one steady swing into the object. This doesn't require 360 degrees of fast flying rodent. What matters most is your accuracy and the more swinging around you're doing the less likely you're going to get it right.

I suggest following either with cervical dislocation just in case and it only takes an additional second or two. I'll describe this as if you have just hit the rodent with blunt force trauma and are still holding it by the tail. Keep in mind that a dispatched rodent will often kick those back legs around for a short while but this is no time to get timid. You owe it to the critter to make sure the deed is done.

Continue holding the rat by tail and place it on a table top. Put one finger from your free hand on the neck and firmly pull up on the tail while maintaining pressure with that finger. When pulling the tail you want to go up and slightly towards the head. If you simply pull away you won't have any torque and are likely to just strip the skin off the tail. You can use an object instead of your finger but will feel the dislocation better with both hands on the rodent.

[Foolish1]

I'm sorry but the people who mass produce rodents for reptile consumption could give 2 flying fbombs about the animals. I have visited multiple locations in multiple States. It is a mass production slaughter house with zero animal welfare in mind. Think of the volumes these places produce. They don't care. The food they feed is cheap. It works. The animal grows sure. Is it good food? Does miracle grow make good tomatoes. Please.

[Foolish1]

Blunt force trauma is probably closest to your current method but it's all about location, location, location if you aim for humane. For smaller rodents, a simple flick of the finger does the trick. For larger rodents, something a bit heavier is best. You can hold them by the tail with one hand and use the other to give a swift blow to the head with your object of choice. Keep in mind that the longer you hold a rodent by the tail the more they are going to struggle making it harder for your aim to be true.

Another method of blunt force trauma involves swinging the rodent into a stationary object. A tabletop corner works well and is my recommendation for beginners as it also give a fair chance at cervical dislocation if their aim isn't the best - just shoot for the head and neck region. You grasp the rodent by the base of the tail and give one steady swing into the object. This doesn't require 360 degrees of fast flying rodent. What matters most is your accuracy and the more swinging around you're doing the less likely you're going to get it right.

I suggest following either with cervical dislocation just in case and it only takes an additional second or two. I'll describe this as if you have just hit the rodent with blunt force trauma and are still holding it by the tail. Keep in mind that a dispatched rodent will often kick those back legs around for a short while but this is no time to get timid. You owe it to the critter to make sure the deed is done.

Continue holding the rat by tail and place it on a table top. Put one finger from your free hand on the neck and firmly pull up on the tail while maintaining pressure with that finger. When pulling the tail you want to go up and slightly towards the head. If you simply pull away you won't have any torque and are likely to just strip the skin off the tail. You can use an object instead of your finger but will feel the dislocation better with both hands on the rodent.

Barbarian. Rat murderer. Evil doctor of madness. Jokes. Thank you for this post. Perfect description.

The twitching is electricity being released in nerves. Beheaded turkeys twitch for 2 min usually. From personal experience.

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Blunt force trauma is probably closest to your current method but it's all about location, location, location if you aim for humane. For smaller rodents, a simple flick of the finger does the trick. For larger rodents, something a bit heavier is best. You can hold them by the tail with one hand and use the other to give a swift blow to the head with your object of choice. Keep in mind that the longer you hold a rodent by the tail the more they are going to struggle making it harder for your aim to be true.

Another method of blunt force trauma involves swinging the rodent into a stationary object. A tabletop corner works well and is my recommendation for beginners as it also give a fair chance at cervical dislocation if their aim isn't the best - just shoot for the head and neck region. You grasp the rodent by the base of the tail and give one steady swing into the object. This doesn't require 360 degrees of fast flying rodent. What matters most is your accuracy and the more swinging around you're doing the less likely you're going to get it right.

I suggest following either with cervical dislocation just in case and it only takes an additional second or two. I'll describe this as if you have just hit the rodent with blunt force trauma and are still holding it by the tail. Keep in mind that a dispatched rodent will often kick those back legs around for a short while but this is no time to get timid. You owe it to the critter to make sure the deed is done.

Continue holding the rat by tail and place it on a table top. Put one finger from your free hand on the neck and firmly pull up on the tail while maintaining pressure with that finger. When pulling the tail you want to go up and slightly towards the head. If you simply pull away you won't have any torque and are likely to just strip the skin off the tail. You can use an object instead of your finger but will feel the dislocation better with both hands on the rodent.

Barbarian. Rat murderer. Evil doctor of madness. Jokes. Thank you for this post. Perfect description.

One quick fast motion. I do it like I am throwing a Frisbee. Just don't release. I have done a good few hundred feeders this way. Never seen a mouse suffer. It's instant.

The twitching is electricity being released in nerves. Beheaded turkeys twitch for 2 min usually. From personal experience.

[Jwkempo]

"Saturday night is feeding night. While y'all are arguing about what's humane I'm watching my snakes either eat as nature intended for those that are not YET eating f/t. Or eating f/t that were despatched correctly and professionally by the breeder who is properly trained to humanly kill them. IMO unless you spend some time being taught the correct way to kill your feeders, by a vet or scientist!!!, then let the snake (who is far more educated to kill effectively then the average person) do it or change them to f/t. If they are heated properly and not a soaking wet mess with substrate stuck to them the snake will not know the difference between f/k and f/t."
​
Yep..I agree with the above. You keep your herps your way and I'll do the same...

[Jwkempo]

I'm sorry but the people who mass produce rodents for reptile consumption could give 2 flying fbombs about the animals. I have visited multiple locations in multiple States. It is a mass production slaughter house with zero animal welfare in mind. Think of the volumes these places produce. They don't care. The food they feed is cheap. It works. The animal grows sure. Is it good food? Does miracle grow make good tomatoes. Please.

That being said (my previous reply), I just bought 100 frozen hoppers. I've wondered how they were killed. So I can't argue with the above..
Foolish what were your observations when you went to rodent farms?

[Foolish1]

Nasty. Cheap food in low supply. Scattered bedding and filth. They get steamed before freezing to clean all the poop. Lots of cannibalism from stress and poor husbandry. The rats get fat from not a lot of movement or space. It's a numbers game. They aren't in business because they love mice. They know they can breed 1 thousand lose 400 and maintain profits. I raise my mice and rats organically. My girl loves feeding them. They are happy. We kill them quick. They don't struggle for breath for 2 min while their entire body down to the molecular level gasps and shrivel searching for oxygen.

[Foolish1]

Ever seen a chicken farm? They are atrocious. People eat chicken. Snakes eat mice. Think about how little the factory workers care.

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Ever seen a chicken farm? They are atrocious. People eat chicken. Snakes eat mice. Think about how little the factory workers care.

[mohawk]

Ever seen a chicken farm? They are atrocious. People eat chicken. Snakes eat mice. Think about how little the factory workers care.

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Ever seen a chicken farm? They are atrocious. People eat chicken. Snakes eat mice. Think about how little the factory workers care.

I delivered some egg collecting machines to a chicken farm a long time ago . It was so disgusting !
The flies in the air were so thick, you could hardly breathe.

[dr del]

I already got in trouble for discussing this to the Super moderator.

Actually you got a zero point warning for posting something outside the family friendly guidelines we ask.

I say in trouble because out-of all the moderators who have seen my post. You gave me an infraction. Nobody else did. It's like when you are mean to a cop one night drunk. I am on your list now.

There is no list but your behaviour on this thread does make me suspect there should be.

Who can we message about being attacked by mods? I have seen this for a month now.

That would be any member of the ADMIN team ( our names are in red in the user list ) there are four of us if you would rather not have me being the one looking into it.