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DIY CO2 Chambers

Carbon dioxide or CO2 chambers are used to kill rodents, birds and small mammals. An animal is placed in a small space and carbon dioxide is added to the space at a controlled rate. CO2 affects the nervous system, lungs and heart. As the animal breathes in the gas, it loses consciousness and dies. The entire process takes about five minutes. Some use a CO2 chamber to kill small animals that are sick and might have rabies. Others kill small animals to use them to feed snakes or other larger pets. A cooler or garbage can can be converted into a CO2 chamber.

Things You'll Need

Commercial cooler
Tank of carbon dioxide gas
Hose or rubber tubing
Drill
Flow regulator
Jigsaw
Epoxy
Piece of plexiglass

Instructions

- 1
  Attach one end of the hose to the cooler's drain hole and the other end to the flow regulator that is connected to the carbon dioxide tank. If your cooler doesn't have a drain hole, drill out a hole and stick the hose in it.
- 2
  Add a window to your chamber. Use a jigsaw to drill through the cooler. Make an opening for a window. Cut a piece of plexiglass to fit. Attach it to the opening with epoxy.
- 3
  Drill a vent hole near the top of the chamber to allow some of the CO2 to escape. The chamber should not be airtight. A vent hole will let the air out, but not the CO2.
- 4
  Work in a well-ventilated area to prevent your exposure to the gas. Place a small cage containing the animal in the CO2 chamber. Close the chamber. Set the flow rate so that it displaces 20 percent of the oxygen each minute.

Animals & Science