My dog just killed my favorite chicken! (Chicken processing vs burial question)

[dutchbunny83]

I am so distraught!
I have chickens with a coop and a big open top run and they can free range in my backyard.
I have a dog and he has never bothered them.
I don't know what came over him today, but he went through the fence, grabbed my favorite chicken by the head and flung her around snapping her neck.
I immediately ran out to her, but it was too late.
I feel like we should eat her since so her death won't be in vain.
However, I can not process her. I've never done it, and I can't stop crying to do it.
Can I put her in a bag in the freezer or does she have to be processed before that step?
My husband is out of town for a week.
Or do I need to just dig a hole and bury her?

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

 

[bargain]

I am sorry for your loss. I really am unable to reply to your question as we have only frozen processed meats.

 

[drumstick diva]

The poor chicken suffered enough please just bury her.

 

[Branumdragon]

I would just bury her. DON'T FEED HER TO THE DOG.

 

[cafarmgirl]

This situation is very distressing to you, this is not the time to try to learn to process a bird if you've never done it before, and I can't imagine you will enjoy eating her later. Bury her and be done with it.

 

[tcmstalcup]

I'm usually really big on not wasting and processing what you can BUT in this particular situation just bury the chicken. It will be the simplest and least distressing option for you right now.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Okay thank you
I buried her.
I just felt like if we did use her for meat then her death wouldn't have be completely in vain my family would have gotten nourishment from it.
But I can't do it. If my husband was here it would be different.
I was a vegetarian for 15 years I thought I'd be able to clean an animal if I wasn't the one killing it, but I can't, I could barely pick her up.
You would think I lost a family member (which it feels like I did), I'm such a mess.

Thank you everyone for your support

 

[Suzie]

My heart goes out to you... any of mine that have died are always buried... the exception being a nasty Rooster that is despatched and put in the freezer... an emotive and premature death deserves burial as has been said.

Please do not blame the dog.... it was an instinctive action.... in future you will be extra vigilant with the dog.

We live and learn.....

 

[bargain]

Okay thank you
I buried her.
I just felt like if we did use her for meat then her death wouldn't have be completely in vain my family would have gotten nourishment from it.
But I can't do it. If my husband was here it would be different.
I was a vegetarian for 15 years I thought I'd be able to clean an animal if I wasn't the one killing it, but I can't, I could barely pick her up.
You would think I lost a family member (which it feels like I did), I'm such a mess.

Thank you everyone for your support

You did the absolute correct thing to do. And your mourning is normal. I would never imagine how hard I could cry when I lost a pet silkie who was beheaded by a predator and I cried solid for hours and then when I saw the rest of her pen so disoriented. They kept looking for her, she was a broody hen, literally scratching around where her nest was as if she would reemerge. well, I spend the better part of that day with them sitting with them and comforting them or were they comforting me? Hugs and prayers surround you. Cry and do what you need to do. I will say that on our farm, I become so attached to our animals. It's who I am and I just cannot change it. I'll be thinking of you and know that you are a special person for you flock and household! They have quite a caregiver in you!