First chicken death - so sad, no warning - what do I do w/ the chicken

[slou]

Beautiful Rhode Island Red, almost 2 years old, healthy looking, good layer - found dead in coop this afternoon. No sign of foul play, looked like it was sitting on egg w/ head tucked. Do I need to do anything to make sure other chickens are healthy? Any recs on what to do to respectfully dispose of our sweet girl? We have 4 and 6 year old, not even sure if/when to tell them.... : (

 

[True Grit]

I'm so sorry. The same thing happened to me today. Perhaps the little girls will want a funeral and burial...

 

[crazeetxn]

Slou -

Sorry about your loss. I just had one of mine die today as well. I buried her next to our dog. Not sure where you are or what you're allowed to do. We live out in the country.

 

[sally4500]

So very sorry. My daughter was 4 when we lost 3 of ours. We had a "funeral", and they are buried in our backyard, with a small stone with their names on it. She was okay with it, and the stone is till there today. We planted a pussywillow tree there, to give it meaning. If you live in the country, you could think about doing something like that.

 

[ZaneyMama]

We just had the same thing happen with one of our hens. My 4 year old son found her at the bottom of the coop sitting there. He laughed at first because he thought she was broody at on the ground of the coop. Then I realized she was dead and I just told him and described it to her. We have dogs and couldn't bury her anywhere they could access, so we just put her in a plastic bag and threw her in the trash bin.

It was not an easy thing to deal with, but it's a part of life, and kids have to learn somehow. He didn't even seem that upset.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

This is always hard even after you've lost a ton and if you raise as many as I do then that is reality.

Chickens aren't as hardy as we may wish. She probably had a heart attack. I had a beautiful Welsummer last year that layed one day and was dead the next. I'm guessing it was a heart attack because everyone was perfectly healthy.

Sure am sorry though.

As far as what to do with her... You can bury her or cremate her or you can just put in the trash bin. It is up to you and what you need to mourn her loss.

Dave

 

[slou]

Thanks everyone, for the kind words and advice. She's in a paper bag w/ some wood shavings right now awaiting burial on our hill. Kids don't seem too phased, but I wish I knew what happened. Will do a little ceremony tomorrow...