Harvest Day, cooler issues

[StarryNights]

Yesterday was harvest day, we had 62 birds. We were tired by the end, and the kid's last day of school was yesterday as well.
We have a line of coolers in the carport, adding ice to them as they needed. Unfortunately, one cooler was forgotten about, and this morning we found the ice melted and the water temp at 57F.
Are the birds in that cooler trash? We have no idea how long they were at that temperature - this has never happened before. There are only 8 in that ice chest, but that's 8 birds I really don't want to give to the vultures.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Yesterday was harvest day, we had 62 birds. We were tired by the end, and the kid's last day of school was yesterday as well.
We have a line of coolers in the carport, adding ice to them as they needed. Unfortunately, one cooler was forgotten about, and this morning we found the ice melted and the water temp at 57F.
Are the birds in that cooler trash? We have no idea how long they were at that temperature - this has never happened before. There are only 8 in that ice chest, but that's 8 birds I really don't want to give to the vultures.

@StarryNights is the chicken cold to the touch?

 

[StarryNights]

@StarryNights is the chicken cold to the touch?

Yes, definitely. It was completely submerged in the water overnight. They were at 57F before we added more ice as soon as we noticed.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Yes, definitely. It was completely submerged in the water overnight. They were at 57F before we added more ice as soon as we noticed.

@StarryNights should be fine then! If you have any doubts, open one and sniff it. If it smells like nothing, it's all good!

 

[FunClucks]

Was there still partially melted ice in the water? That would reassure me.

Either way, cook those first.

 

[Molpet]

Sorta like hanging gamebirds
https://honest-food.net/on-hanging-pheasants-2/
Heat kills germs anyway