Quote Originally Posted by Kibbleswhites View Post
Hatchlings are pretty simple. Put baby in a folded paper towel then into a sandwich bag, note where head is. It will be still and calm because it is dark and safe in there. Completely smash head with any tool or your thumb. It does not take much to do and the towel should be wet when the job is done well. It is very fast and the hatchlings that I have done this way due to severe kinking and jaw deformaties have gone very fast with nearly no twitching afterwards. Since it is already in a bag, there is no mess or gore to see. It happens, even when you have done everything right.
How much pressure does it take with your thumb? This is something I hope I don't have to do ever, but I realize I'll probably do it at least once in my life. I even felt a little bad killing some rats with co2 even though the alternative would be feeding them live to a snake (which is a much worse way to go imo). I've read about a hammer and everything but I've hit a few nails before and my aim is not something to brag about. While I'd hate to feel the squish I'd feel better knowing it was done right and done quickly with the animal feeling as little pain as possible.