What happens if a bird dies in the coop....

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I read about chickens being found dead in the coop all the time and it got me thinking...will they will start eating a dead chicken? I haven't had one die on me yet, but I will be horrified if I find one being eaten by it's cage mates. Please tell me it isn't so so that I can continue pretending that chickens are fluffy, entertaining pets that pay their way and nothing more

 

[Amyh]

I've had a few die on me and they never ate it. However, I did remove it within hours of it's death. Not sure what would happen if you left it there for a long time...

 

[mulewagon]

If it died without bleeding, the others probably wouldn't notice it for a while. They'll go for blood, though, even if the one bleeding is alive.

But they are cute and fluffy! Immensely cute! Just like tiny, toothless dinosaurs...

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
......with sharp beaks....

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Sometimes they pick at 'em and sometimes they don't. I've come across dead birds where the rest have plucked a lot of feathers off, but they generally don't "eat" the carcass.

 

[donrae]

I've had a few deaths and the corpse was never disturbed. Could have been there up to 24 hours in one case.