One hen died overnight...bury it or wrap and trash it?

[Sleepy71]

Hi all:

Yesterday, while letting my bigger girls free range a little before dusk, I noticed one of them wasn't acting right. Just kinda standing there, glassy-eyed and non-responsive. I picked her up to check her out and the only thing I noticed was her butt area was pretty nasty. At one point, she squirted out some very wet/clear poop. I decided to separate her from the other 5 hens, just in case she died, as I didn't want the others to peck/eat her. Well, I just came home for lunch, and she did pass. The others seem to be acting OK. So, my question: Can I just wrap her up and put her out with the trash? I'm not sentimental enough to want to bury a bird, and I figure it's more sanitary to get this off my property. Thoughts?

 

[aubreynoramarie]

you can absolutely trash her.

Im very sentimental and have buried all of my birds, but i see nothing wrong if you want to put her in the garbage. In fact, in winter i will probably have to do the same when the ground freezes.

 

[cjsgrlsx3]

I am not sure that is legal. You can't do that with cats and dogs so.....honestly save yourself any legal problems and bury it.

 

[kari_dawn]

I would check your local laws first...our city doesn't allow you to put dead animals in the normal trash...they require our citizens to request a sanitation pickup. As a wildlife rehabber, we see lots of animals come in too sick or injured to help. When those die, they go into the burn can so as not to spread disease.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I trash mine - I can't keep them in the freezer during winter when the ground is too cold to bury, truthfully

 

[tinychicky]

bury it or, if you want, put it in the woods and feed some other animal. i do that if i loose one in freezing temps and can't bury it. that way her life won't be wasted. just be sure to walk/drive it far enough away not to attract animals or spread contagion to your coop and make sure it's far from other peoples houses. if you don't live in a rural area, that could be more difficult

 

[gryeyes]

I bury named birds, in a little cemetary section of my property and with some small ceremony and words said to honor them. Well, except for a mean bantam Cochin (go figure, huh? Mean Cochin!?!?) which was sent on his way by shovel, but wrapped and put in the trash.

 

[Sleepy71]

Thanks for the input, all. She was double-bagged this evening, ready for Fri morning trash. Whew, that STUNK!!