When chicken dies of unknown causes

[Kiki]

I learned a few thing too.

 

[FrankHomestead]

I learned a few thing too.

Yay I'm glad!

 

[FrankHomestead]

I have another question my friends. If you needed to cull, for any reason other than behavioral problems or over crowding, would you eat/feed or bury? let's say limping...perhaps broken leg, or something's just not right and you want to put the bird down. Probably still wouldn't feed right?

 

[GardenTillers44]

If I didn't know exactly what was causing the problem, like I saw it fall off a perch (and then I would wonder why it fell off the perch) no I would not eat it or feed it to my pets. Too much at stake. The bird I submitted for testing was limping and turned out it was from a disease, probably Marek's...still waiting on last test results. Looks like upper GI Cocci was cause of death but Marek's the trigger. I have learned a lot about my flock the last couple months after cruising along for over 2 years without incident.

 

[FrankHomestead]

If I didn't know exactly what was causing the problem, like I saw it fall off a perch (and then I would wonder why it fell off the perch) no I would not eat it or feed it to my pets. Too much at stake. The bird I submitted for testing was limping and turned out it was from a disease, probably Marek's...still waiting on last test results. Looks like upper GI Cocci was cause of death but Marek's the trigger. I have learned a lot about my flock the last couple months after cruising along for over 2 years without incident.

So how do you know that every seemingly healthy bird you slaughter is in fact healthy? I'm learning a lot here, really appreciate all your replies

 

[robert thailand]

So how do you know that every seemingly healthy bird you slaughter is in fact healthy? I'm learning a lot here, really appreciate all your replies

 

[GardenTillers44]

Most animals, us included, live a normal life in balance with various bacteria, parasites etc. and would be deemed "healthy". The trouble starts when something triggers a change in the balance. In the wild, this balance has evolved so that most animals can survive with a modicum of potential disease organisms/parasites, but in a closed system like most of our domestic animals live in, that balance is up to us to help maintain through our husbandry. Birds mask their illnesses very well and by the time they show symptoms, can be acting as an infective agent. If you harvest a bird that you deem healthy, cook it well and enjoy! If there is any doubt, as others as said, use it as fertilizer.

 

[robert thailand]

that is a very good answer makes a person think

 

[FrankHomestead]

You all help me so much on this forum, I am very grateful
I love to read and research before taking a plunge, and this place is an ocean of knowledge. I'm sure I will learn more as I go and "just do it" as well.

 

[GardenTillers44]

Not sure where we would be in our chicken adventure without the BYC community. I'm a research hound myself and have spent many evenings pouring through the archives and watching live chats on this site. Such a wealth of information and ideas.