crisis!!!

[bluegrassmomma]

Just a week ago we were proud new chicken owners!
We inherited 5 laying hens just as the snow, below freezing temperature, and ice settled in over our area.
Needless to say, we didn't have time to set up the dog run for extra predator protection, but their coop was relatively secure, and we took precaution with our dogs who eat raw chicken on a regular basis as part of their diet.
Well, today our system broke down when the coop was left open by one of our children, and our dog was let out by a visitor.
The outcome was devastating!!! My poor husband had to put one of the chickens out of its misery, one doesn't look like it will make it, and the other 3 are missing. We all feel absolutely terrible! But now I'm wondering, can the chickens possibly be cleaned and used for meat?

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So sorry for your loss. Any chicken that you put down I feel can be eaten, unless it was diseased of course. No sense wasting them. I don't think I could eat anything that was killed by another animal. The meat can be tainted from the saliva of it's killer. It is not worth the risk. Sorry you are going through this.

 

[KBChicks]

Hi Blue Grass Momma...Welcome!
I wouldn't take the risk of eating them either....and I'm also very sorry about your loss...

Please don't let this experience deter you from starting again when you're ready...
Wishing you all the best

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Oh, too bad. Sometimes we have to go through a failure to get it right the next time.

Most of us have had problems the first time around and corrected it. Don't be discouraged! Perhaps you could pluck the chicken carcasses and feed them to the dogs if you are giving them a raw diet. I don't think you can ever trust your dogs once they get a taste of that moist meat. Good luck to you and welcome!