what to do with deceased birds in winter?

[dragonshiner]

Okay, we had a wave of some sort of respiratory virus sweep through our birds this past month. We medicated them and managed to save a majority of our flocks. But now I'm presented with a different dilemma. What to do with the dead birds?
Normally we bury them so as not to attract any wild critters towards our property but it's the middle of winter here so the ground is frozen solid. None of my books cover this particular situation and I'm out of ideas. Anyone else have an answer for me?

 

[Wildsky]

I'm sorry.

Can you perhaps burn them?

 

[tygab]

Interesting, and definitely something that could happen here that I've never thought about... Could you maybe call your nearby vet and ask if they could arrange for a cremation, or what they suggest?

 

[speckledhen]

With respiratory illness, especially if you do not know what they had, I would burn the bodies.

 

[redhen]

..i would throw them in the woods far from your house(the whole nature cycle thing..)....but...if they had something contagious..i would probably burn them...good luck!, Wendy

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Some people on BYC will add the bodies to their compost heap.

 

[dragonshiner]

I actually heard of the composting of bird bodies before and might actually start that next year. Right now though my compost heap is trenched in snow. Same with my fire pit so burning them would be difficult.
Perhaps if I layered them underneath enough snow that might deter attracting any, or at least any MORE, predators to the property?

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have always burned the bodies (of chickens) of any "unknown reasons of death". After examining their body and if I cannot identify that the reason of death was predator related or any other wounds, I automatically assume that the reason of death may be contagious and can spread to the other animals on my farm. I do not take any chances. I do not bury the bodies because I have a lot of stray cats and I would not want them to dig up the body, eat it and get sick and die. I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[deenamr]

Put them in the freezer in a bag/box and bury them in the spring. At the vet clinic where I work we sometimes offer storage for people who can't bury their pets due to weather conditions or wanting to wait for family to have service for the pet. We have stored for up to 6 months with no problems.

 

[digitS']

This brings back memories - not very pleasant ones.

I took a job changing sprinkler pipe during my 1st year of college. The farm had a few hundred acres but the farmer made most of his money from his laying hens. I didn't do "chicken chores" but was in and out of the farmyard. This was back when an egg ranch didn't need to be an industrial thing.

I imagine that they now have on-site gas incinerators. This place had a burn-barrel.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. . . . pile in good firewood - metal barrel with holes punched in the sides with a pick . . .

Steve