Sick cull...can it be used for dog food?

[Tiegrsi]

We butchered two cockerels this morning. Just before butchering, we noticed that one had a little discharge in his eyes. He hadn't been sneezing or showing any other signs of illness. The conditions here have been muggy and wet for weeks, but the flock he came from is healthy (I went back and double checked the others for illness symptoms of any kind and found none).

The first bird was fine. After butchering all the internal structures looked healthy.

The second bird...smelled when I started processing. There were no lesions anywhere on the skin, but as soon as I cut into the chest cavity there was an odor. Not terribly off-putting smell, but, not a "good" smell, either. When I pulled out the internal organs, the liver was enlarged and the oddly colored. The lungs were a sickly purple/grey and mushy.

What could cause this? The meat seem ok, could I cook it and feed it to the dog? Or should I just scrap it? I hate to have butchered him for nothing, but I don't want to risk sickness spreading to anyone else, either.

Any ideas?

 

[MyISAbrownhens]

If something was wrong with the chicken I definitely wouldn't give it to the dog. You have no idea what disease it could give the dog and it's better to be safe then sorry

 

[peeper89]

The second bird...smelled when I started processing. There were no lesions anywhere on the skin, but as soon as I cut into the chest cavity there was an odor. Not terribly off-putting smell, but, not a "good" smell, either. When I pulled out the internal organs, the liver was enlarged and the oddly colored. The lungs were a sickly purple/grey and mushy.

i not give somthin like that to my dog

 

[SOHC-FTW]

What are you using for bedding in your coops or runs?

What feed are you using?

 

[Tiegrsi]

Thanks. We decided to hurry it deep instead of feeding it to anyone.

What are you using for bedding in your coops or runs?

What feed are you using?

I use pine saw dust in one coop that's on the ground, and pine shavings in the coops that are off the ground. The runs are just the regular ground, which I muck out and fill back in with dead leaves and some saw dust. Its basically dirt.

They get conventional flock grower mixed with scratch grains and black oil sunflower seeds, and free choice grit and oyster shell.

Perhaps this bird was just not as healthy as the others to start. We had hatched him here from a roo and hen with unknown backgrounds. Our other chicks and birds have parents we know the backgrounds of. Maybe just bad genetics?

 

[annageckos]

It would probably be ok, dogs can eat days old or even older meat without getting sick. They have a very quick digestion system with strong stomach acids. That said I probably wouldn't feed it to my guys. If you do decide to feed the meat, I'd toss the organs.

 

[Maeschak]

Personally, I would give it to my dog but if I was worried about the meat too much I would freeze or cook it before giving it to her.
Dogs are much closer to 'wild' than we humans are... They have incredible digestive systems suitable to eating many things they try to eat out in the wild. (Meaning long dead animals, moulding compost material, feces, etc.) Unless there is some sort of issue such as contracting worms or botulism, I wouldnt worry too much. If it doesn't suit your dog, they either: won't eat it, puke it up, or get loose stool. Not the best thing ever, but it might rejuvenate your dogs intestinal bacteria to a level more like when they lived a more wild lifestyle.
Plus, it's just a shame to chuck a chicken that was able to live with the infirmary but not allow your dog to eat it... Not mentioning the fact that your dog might dig it up in a few weeks when it is truly rancid and still devour the thing!
There is no wrong decision here- just use your best judgement. Dogs are not subject to the same eating conditions as humans.​