What do you do with your dead (chickens, ducks, quail, etc...)

[perchie.girl]

I chose “bury them”. I am disabled and don’t have money to send off a chicken to be autopsied. The cost in our area to send it off is too high and our local small town vet is awesome, but doesn’t see chickens.

I’ve kept chickens almost 10 years and have only lost 5 girls. Two died due to a dog attack. Two showed multiple symptoms of being egg-bound, despite care one died itself and the other I culled. One laid a lash egg so had an infection inside and started looking poorly enough despite care that I culled her. The attacked ones were too torn up to eat and the others I felt should probably not be eaten, especially as I have an autoimmune disease called Lupus.

I felt the best option in any case was to bury them deep.

Pretty much the same here... Arthritis... Though If I suspected some pathogen... I am fortunate in that in California I can send off to UC Davis for necropsy... ONly costs postage.

deb

 

[NinjaChicken617]

Any that get names get buried... I have never lost to illness. Though predators where I am do get more than their share.

But showing respect and dignaty is part of good husbandry... My grandpa was a share cropper pets werent allowed... Rules for the kids... Chickens got fed cows got milked on time and every single animal on that farm were cared for not abused ever. Dad said he forgot to give the cow a tub of water when he put her out in the front yard to eat the grass.... and He got a whoop-pin...

deb

That sounds a lot like how my grandfather managed his small family poultry farm. He would think I'm crazy for giving my girls names and "treating them like pets" but I also know that he took pains to ensure that the birds he raised and sold for eggs and meat were cared for and treated with love and respect. I think it's also important for my human kiddos to understand that what ends up on their plate came from a living, breathing animal and that it's important to respect and appreciate the animals that feed us.

 

[perchie.girl]

I want to say this... to add to the thread.... There are two things I am going to learn once I get back to raising poultry... or any animal really.

First and foremost is how to do a fecal test.... sounds yukky but if you understand the process its straight forward... I have had horses now for more than fifty years. All you need is a clean container and a Microscope....
I have know people who started doing this and only wormed their animals When they needed it...

The second is to practice Good biosecurity... Visitors sanitize their hands before and after.... visiting... Quarantine new animals and sick animals...

it can be as simple or complex as you want to make it....

I personally will close my flock once i get a self sustaining routine going.

deb

 

[MissChick@dee]

I bury mine and plant perennials on top. They become apart of my garden.

 

[room onthebroom]

We have a little cemetery in our back yard. Some get their own stones, some who were really close friends will share a stone. If you look closely at the photo, you'll see four stones in the background besides the new one for Buffy.View attachment 1538785

Can I go off topic for a second to say, I love your username, I love your avatar, & I love your little cemetery. Don't worry, I'm not a stalker. Just, BRAVO!

 

[room onthebroom]

That sounds a lot like how my grandfather managed his small family poultry farm. He would think I'm crazy for giving my girls names and "treating them like pets" but I also know that he took pains to ensure that the birds he raised and sold for eggs and meat were cared for and treated with love and respect. I think it's also important for my human kiddos to understand that what ends up on their plate came from a living, breathing animal and that it's important to respect and appreciate the animals that feed us.

 

[chikiada]

Perchie Girl...Thanks for your helpful hint...we are neighbors as our place is in El Hongo at the racetrack. We came to get some mixed hay in your town a
few months back and glad to know that there people that enjoy their chickens,turkeys and guineas and peacocks as much as we do. We have been given animals that were going to be killed due to injuries but bring them here as our worker/friend (for 15 years) is amazing with all of these animals. He puts eggs from peacocks or whatever species under a good laying hen and she
raises them and they stay together as a group until they are large enough to be on there own. It is amazing how the animals seem to be better at accepting differences in each other than human beings. I of course have my favorites that come to the front and or back door to receive little treats first thing in the morning. They are all free range on 2 1/2 acres or one hecterea. If you come this way please stop by and visit La Gringa at the racetrack in El Hongo. We have a special breed that are interesting. LOL

 

[RyRe2010]

We burn ours and/or take them in the back woods and let the wildlife have them. Circle of life. Buried/burned/in the woods, it all feeds something in the end.

 

[Molpet]

Visitors sanitize their hands before and after.... visiting..

don't forget the shoes... http://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/biosecurity-basics-make-your-own-footbath-2/
I wear different shoes to town so I don't bring back any poultry diseases .

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

We bury ours if we were really close to them. If we werent we would thow them in the field and let something eat them. We had a turkey with a gimp leg not to long ago that died and we were all very attached to her so we buried her next to all our cats that have also passed. We loved her.