What To Do With Dead Chickens: A Guide For Proper Disposal

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. Flock biosecurity also depends on how keepers handle chickens’ deaths and how they are cared for after they die.

Having to deal with a dead chicken is something that every chicken owner has to do. For biosecurity, stopping the spread of disease, and following the rules, it’s important to know how to properly dispose of dead chickens. This guide will show you the best ways to deal with dead chickens that have died from different causes.

Overview of Disposal Methods

When a beloved chicken passes away you likely want to give it a respectful send off. However certain disposal methods are better than others for preventing issues down the line. Here are some of the main options along with key considerations

Burying: Chickens should be buried at least two feet deep to keep scavengers away. Don’t bury them near water, and leave a marker to help people find the grave later. Check your local laws first, as burial may be against the law.
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.
Landfill – Many landfills accept dead chickens if double-bagged. It’s an easy option though minimal biosecurity. Scavenging birds could still access waste.
Composting – Composting poultry must be done carefully to kill pathogens. It’s best for large operations with proper protocols, not backyard coops.
Incineration – Veterinarians and cremation services can incinerate chickens offsite. This ensures pathogens are destroyed but fees add up for large flocks.
Natural Scavenging – Allowing wildlife to scavenge carcasses is not recommended. It risks spreading disease and violates laws in most areas.

If you’re not sure how to legally get rid of something in your area, check with your local animal control, waste management, or agricultural extension office.

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: Diseases like avian influenza, infectious bronchitis, and mycoplasmosis spread quickly through the air and secretions. Burn or incinerate dead chickens immediately before pathogens spread.

Infectious Diseases: With fatal contagious illnesses like Marek’s disease, necrotic enteritis, or fowl cholera, isolate and promptly burn or incinerate bodies to prevent further contamination.

Unidentified Causes: When the cause is uncertain, play it safe by burning, incinerating, or carefully composting dead chickens until further diagnoses. 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:

Wear thick rubber gloves, protective outerwear, boots, and a face mask. Prevent bodily contact and pathogen spread.
Place the deceased chicken in a plastic bag, seal tightly, and double bag. This contains leakages, fluids, and odors.
Move the bagged chicken out of the coop area immediately to an isolated holding area. Reduces disease exposure to living chickens.
Clean and disinfect the coop thoroughly before allowing access again. Use products effective against poultry pathogens.
Select your disposal method based on regulations, biosecurity priorities, and cause of death if known.
For burial, choose a site far from waterways and other chickens. Dig a hole 2+ feet deep. Cover with soil and rocks.
For incineration, call your vet, local animal control, or a pet cremation service to arrange offsite disposal.
For landfilling, place the sealed bag(s) in your household trash receptacle, not with compost. Inform waste collectors if required locally.
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:

Contact local authorities about proper disposal protocols and assistance options. Regulations may differ for large-scale mortality events.
On-site incineration or composting may be necessary. Construct an emergency burn site safely away from buildings, trees, etc.
Rent a dumpster or make arrangements for extra trash collection if allowed to landfill a large number of carcasses.
Hire a cleaning service with experience in biohazardous waste removal to help clear the area.
Perform very thorough cleaning and disinfection of the entire coop and surrounding environment afterwards.
Monitor for disease re-emergence and quarantine new chickens before adding to the flock again.
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 may shake its head and have discharge from its eyes or nose, and its wings may 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.

Even though most of these signs are clear, a sick chicken might not show much or any sign 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. So, if the chicken’s reproductive tract is blocked or there is a reason for fluid buildup in its abdomen, it 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.

what to do with dead chicken

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. A chicken that can’t drink cannot regulate the most basic of needs, like adjusting body temperature or eliminating 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.