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

[Shadrach]

We do something similar, but after 20yrs at this house & a million animals, I'm starting to run out of room. Plus I'm getting tired in my old age & the clay/soil in my area is hard digging. I buried my latest bird yesterday (RIP Hey Hey.) Fighting the soil in sweltering heat I just kept thinking, "theres got to be a better way." It gets too hot here to have anything in the trashcan, but after an hour I seriously started to consider it. (I hope my DD isn't reading this. )

I can't do much else. Like you, it gets far too hot for digging in the day so I often do it at night. The sheep call me the grave digger!
I can't put them in the compost because everything is pretty much free range here and of course the compost heap is on everyone visit list.
I suppose there will come a time when I do what I do with eggs that have been sat on but not hatched which I take further up the mountain, brak open and leave for whatever finds them.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

DH had an aunt that would double bag all dirty diapers because she didn't want to upset the garbage man.

I like my garbage picker uppers (waste management people?). But, yeah, I doubt they get offended by trash unless it's something that is not supposed to be in the trash bin.

 

[room onthebroom]

[QUOTE="Shadrach, post: 20454280, member: 521413" The sheep call me the grave digger!
[/QUOTE]


We lost a baby chick to cocci a couple years ago. It's the only time I've ever lost a chick & I took it pretty hard. It was after dark & DH was outside digging the hole while I stood next to him holding the flashlight & bawling my eyes out. We had a new neighbor that had just moved in next door & I caught her standing on her deck watching us. When I looked up at her, she disappeared quickly into the house. I bet she was terrified.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

We lost a baby chick to cocci a couple years ago. It's the only time I've ever lost a chick & I took it pretty hard. It was after dark & DH was outside digging the hole while I stood next to him holding the flashlight & bawling my eyes out. We had a new neighbor that had just moved in next door & I caught her standing on her deck watching us. When I looked up at her, she disappeared quickly into the house. I bet she was terrified.

I can only imagine.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We process out older birds. Those are purposefully done so go in the freezer as intended.

Ones that keel over end up in the trash. Our yard is far to small to bury pets in.

If they pass and trash day is a long way out I tripple bag and freeze. Yes I set a reminder on my phone for the evening before trash day.

I am lucky enough to have a spare freezer. I just move all food to the other freezer before putting the poor deceased bird in.

 

[Misterpigeon124]

I bury them under my garden, or cremate them. I would only send them to be inspected if more than one died.

 

[room onthebroom]

Cremation is an interesting idea. I wonder if I could get my kids on board with that?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I have buried all of my beloved chickens and horses. Let me restate that....my Husband buries them. I say my goodbyes and let him take care of them. I’m a super softie!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Incineration, lots of dead pine trees to get rid of here. Not wanting to attack predators by feeding them.

 

[Misterpigeon124]

Cremation is an interesting idea. I wonder if I could get my kids on board with that?

You could always do a viking funeral sort of thing