I have never processed a chicken before. Warning: graphic

[PotterWatch]

I would not eat a bird that had been sitting in that kind of heat for that long. Even if it weren't that hot, I would probably toss it.

 

[Gypsi]

OK - I won't eat it. The waste not want not in me plucked the hen, the gee is this safe in me posted on this site. And got tons of good advice, I came to the right place.

The only visible odd area, which I forgot to mention earlier, was the vulva, which was flared outward and the interior is visible. Should I do an autopsy or put it out for the coyotes? I am exhausted, I have been working in 100 plus degrees all day. So if I do an autopsy, it will be tomorrow after I pick up the bees. (I lost a beehive about 2 weeks ago, to wax moth and a very few prolific small hive beetles - hasn't been a good drought...) I live in Texas, land of the record-breaking drought PLUS heat wave.

 

[GhostRider65]

OMG Gypsi, you poor thing so sorry you lost your hen, I feel bad for your loss,

I would also not eat it, had it died in the winter up here outside I would because it would be flash frozen in 10 minutes, LOL -50 below will freeze em up real quick.
I would do the autopsy, I think she was internally laying or something like that. but I would check things out to see what might have been going on, and see if you can see anything that looks abnormal with flesh, or organs that could give you a clue, and maybe help next time you need to butcher a dead or live chicken.

 

[SallyF]

If I were in your shoes, I probably would not eat her, but you could view this as an educational opportunity to practice processing a chicken. Sorry you lost your hen, though.

 

[Gypsi]

I heard coyotes a minute ago, but if I were going to put her out for coyote or vultures I want her a mile away from my yard, and I'm too tired. I guess she will be ok in the frig tonight and I'll do the autopsy / processing when I get home tomorrow. I think it was a "feminine" problem. They have all been molting. 3 production reds and the other bard rock sporting bright red comb all of a sudden. The 4th red doesn't look good. When I bring the dogs in tomorrow around 11 or 12 I'll set a sprinkler in the yard to cool it off for the hens. The new projected low for tonight: 86. It is just HOT.

It will be a learning experience. Very sad, they had done so well with the heat. I'm thinking about sterilizing the fountain. The only potential problem thing in the yard that is new is the mosquito dunk in the fountain. The walls are inconveniently high for chickens to poop in it, but they do drink from it. Well, that's why I run the fountain, so they have cool water, even though it does go green. Too many gallons for the vinegar cure.

Thank you again. And goodnight. 3 am is going to be awful.

 

[Gypsi]

Quote:
Is that pic a skunk in an elizabethan collar?

 

[bogwitch]

I don't know, I've been reading a lot lately about people who scavenge for roadkill. If you would have eaten it if you had killed and processed it immediately, just because it has been dead for a couple hours shouldn't change that:

http://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Roadkill

It is just a matter of squeamishness.

 

[peepblessed]

Well, the thing about road kill is at least the animal might have bled. When the blood stays in the animal the meat is totally different in taste and appearance. I would not eat it. I am so sorry, though, for the terrible heat problem you are suffering through. We have been seeing that on the news. It sounds like such a night mare. I pray the cool rains will come!

 

[Gypsi]

I did not manage to open her up. I tried. Between bee emergencies, the garden in the heat, the fact that I have almost no counter in my kitchen available, and didn't want more bad bacteria in it, and a knife that didn't really want to make an incision. and exhaustion. I did all the dishes, took her to my makeshift table out front, and just wussed out.

She is gone. I put her in the trash, rather than out for the coyotes (who I would like to stay as far from my house as possible). Hawks don't eat carrion, there aren't many vultures hereabout. Maybe I'll have had more than 3 hours sleep the next time a hen dies, but I have to save the lesson for then. And maybe look at a file or a video on how to...

Thank you all.

Gypsi

 

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
Is that pic a skunk in an elizabethan collar?

Ha! It's one of my precious baby goats. Isn't he cute?