Though poultry-keepers are often taught how to ward off predators and how to keep their chickens healthy, end-of-life issues (and options) are often left out of the chicken-care conversations. However, being able to recognize the signs when chickens are ill or close to an end-of-life scenario is of critical importance—especially if other members of the flock may be at risk. How keepers manage end-of-life events and how chickens are handled if they pass is also instrumental to flock biosecurity.
As a chicken owner, dealing with a dead chicken is an unfortunate reality you’ll inevitably face. Knowing how to properly dispose of deceased chickens is important for biosecurity, preventing disease spread, and following regulations. In this guide, we’ll cover the main methods for handling dead chickens and best practices given different causes of death.
Overview of Disposal Methods
You likely want to give your beloved chicken a proper funeral when it dies. But some ways of getting rid of trash are better than others for keeping problems from happening in the future. Here are some of the main choices and important things to think about:
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Burial – Burying chickens at least 2 feet deep can prevent scavenging Avoid burying near water sources and leave a marker to find the spot later, Check local laws first as burial may be prohibited
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Burning – Incinerating dead chickens thoroughly destroys pathogens. But it can create unpleasant odors and smoke. Make sure it’s permitted in your area before burning.
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Landfill – Many landfills accept dead chickens if double-bagged. It’s an easy option though minimal biosecurity. Scavenging birds could still access waste.
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Composting – Composting poultry must be done carefully to kill pathogens. It’s best for large operations with proper protocols, not backyard coops.
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Incineration – Veterinarians and cremation services can incinerate chickens offsite. This ensures pathogens are destroyed but fees add up for large flocks.
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Natural Scavenging – Allowing wildlife to scavenge carcasses is not recommended. It risks spreading disease and violates laws in most areas.
When in doubt on legal disposal methods locally, check with your agricultural extension office, local animal control, or waste management department.
Considerations Based on Cause of Death
To minimize disease transmission risk, the ideal disposal method depends partly on why the chicken died. Here are some best practices given common causes of death:
Natural Causes or Injury: For deaths from natural causes like heart attacks, accidents, or predator attacks, burial or landfilling are typically safe options. Burning offers extra biosecurity.
Parasites: Heavy parasite loads can kill chickens quickly. Burning or offsite incineration is best to destroy eggs and larvae and prevent spread.
Respiratory Illnesses: Mycoplasmosis, avian flu, and infectious bronchitis are just a few of the diseases that can quickly spread through the air and mucus. Burn or incinerate dead chickens immediately before pathogens spread.
When there are fatal contagious diseases like Marek’s disease, necrotic enteritis, or fowl cholera, bodies should be kept separate and burned right away to stop the spread of the disease.
Unknown Causes: If you don’t know what caused the death, it’s best to be safe and burn, incinerate, or carefully compost the chickens until you can figure out what happened. Quickly isolate bodies from healthy birds.
By incinerating in cases of infectious disease, you avoid exposing other wild or domesticated birds. Proper protective equipment like gloves and masks during handling also helps stop disease transfer through you.
Step-By-Step Process for Safe Disposal
Follow these steps for safely disposing of a dead chicken:
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Wear thick rubber gloves, protective outerwear, boots, and a face mask. Prevent bodily contact and pathogen spread.
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Place the deceased chicken in a plastic bag, seal tightly, and double bag. This contains leakages, fluids, and odors.
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Move the bagged chicken out of the coop area immediately to an isolated holding area. Reduces disease exposure to living chickens.
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Clean and disinfect the coop thoroughly before allowing access again. Use products effective against poultry pathogens.
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Select your disposal method based on regulations, biosecurity priorities, and cause of death if known.
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For burial, choose a site far from waterways and other chickens. Dig a hole 2+ feet deep. Cover with soil and rocks.
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For incineration, call your vet, local animal control, or a pet cremation service to arrange offsite disposal.
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For landfilling, place the sealed bag(s) in your household trash receptacle, not with compost. Inform waste collectors if required locally.
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Monitor the rest of the flock closely for signs of illness. Isolate and get veterinary help for sick birds immediately.
Following biosecure practices during handling and disposal can help prevent the spread of contagious poultry diseases to your flock or wildlife.
Special Considerations for Mass Mortalities
Catastrophic events like predator attacks, fast-spreading illness, or natural disasters can cause many chickens to die quickly. Safely disposing of mass casualties takes extra planning and precautions:
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Contact local authorities about proper disposal protocols and assistance options. Regulations may differ for large-scale mortality events.
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On-site incineration or composting may be necessary. Construct an emergency burn site safely away from buildings, trees, etc.
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Rent a dumpster or make arrangements for extra trash collection if allowed to landfill a large number of carcasses.
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Hire a cleaning service with experience in biohazardous waste removal to help clear the area.
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Perform very thorough cleaning and disinfection of the entire coop and surrounding environment afterwards.
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Monitor for disease re-emergence and quarantine new chickens before adding to the flock again.
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Seek out counseling or mental health services to help process the traumatic event if needed. Losing a flock can be emotionally devastating.
While rare, large-scale chicken losses require both practical measures to remove carcasses safely and emotional support in the aftermath. Working with local experts can help develop an appropriate response plan.
Losing a beloved chicken is always hard. But responsibly disposing of the remains helps protect the health of your flock and community. Rule out contagious conditions, choose disposal methods that destroy pathogens, and follow biosecurity practices to prevent further spread. With proper handling, dead chickens need not pose a disease risk. And your healthy flock can carry on living safely in their honor.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy
Though the lifespan of chickens can vary widely by breed and care, a good estimate is that most hens will live between 4 and 8 years. On the other hand, backyard birds that don’t have any genetic problems often live to be 10 to 12 years old.
A healthy bird should be alert, with bright eyes, combs and wattles. Its nostrils should be clean and feathers should be smooth. The bird should stand upright and be interested in its surroundings, as well as eat, drink and produce waste regularly.
It follows, then, that an unhealthy bird would be the opposite of those listed previously. It may cough or sneeze, or you might be able to hear it breathing or gasping. The bird might shake its head and have tears in its eyes or nose. Its wings might also look dirty. Sick chickens tend to wipe their nostrils on their wings. Its face or wattles may be swollen, or it may have a bluish cast to its face.
Any of these can indicate that the bird has a respiratory infection.
Though most of these signs are obvious, a sick chicken may offer only subtle—if any—clues that it isn’t feeling well. It may hide, not eat well, have lower egg production, stand oddly, have unusual droppings or be lethargic. Any of these symptoms warrant a closer look at your chicken.
It can be a challenge for a backyard bird owner to recognize signs of disease as chickens are quite good at hiding when they’re ill, especially during an end-of-life issue. “Unless the chicken is outwardly sick, you may not know they are dying,” says Jacquie Jacob, poultry extension associate in the department of animal and food sciences at University of Kentucky.
“Chickens can take a lot of pain without showing signs. The outward symptoms [the chicken is showing] will depend on the cause of the heath problem. For example, if they have a reproductive blockage or some cause of abdominal fluid buildup, the chicken will walk like a penguin. In general, the first sign of [any chicken] illness is not eating. ”.
Jacob notes that not eating could also be the result of having no available water. Chickens won’t eat if they can’t drink.
So what should you do with an unhealthy hen?
Removing an unwell chicken from the flock will prevent it from being bullied by other flock members and protect the flock from what could be a contagious disease. It will also allow for closer observation of the ill bird. The chicken should be moved to a warm environment that offers protection from predators and other flock members.
While offering a chicken water is helpful, a sick chicken may require more intense management. Water may need to be provided by spoon or eyedropper to encourage her to drink. If a chicken can’t drink, it can’t take care of its most basic needs, like keeping its body temperature stable or getting rid of waste.
If possible, try to determine what ails the chicken. Though many chicken owners don’t have access to a veterinarian who is comfortable with birds, a simple internet search of trusted websites may shed some light on the problem. However, the cause of the illness may remain undetermined.
“Unfortunately, most diseases [in chickens] are diagnosed by necropsy, which is not useful,” Jacob says.
What to Do with a Dead Chicken?
FAQ
How should I dispose of a dead chicken?
Visit disposal sites at the end of the day to avoid carrying contaminants from farm to farm. Disposal methods may include composting, incineration, burial, or rendering. For most sites and flocks of all sizes, onsite disposal is more biosecure than taking carcasses offsite.
What do you do with a chicken that died?
Burning. Burning a dead chicken in a firepit or burn pile is an acceptable means of getting rid of the carcass. Dec 14, 2023.
What do farmers do with dead chickens?
Farmers dispose of dead chickens through various methods, including composting, incineration, burial, rendering, or disposal at permitted landfills. The specific method chosen depends on factors like farm size, regulations, and environmental considerations.
What to do with freshly killed chicken?
We all find ourselves anxious to eat a fresh chicken, but you should wait 24 hours before cooking. When you place the chicken into a cooler and chill, it allows the muscles to begin decomposing. Chilling will make the meat more tender, giving it a better texture and taste.