FlyingRamses Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 (edited) Hi Bit of a miserable topic but does anyone have any tips on disposal of chickens after they have died. I buried one of my hens, Marge (full ceremony of course!!) in about 2 feet of heavy clay type soil two months ago. We had the harrowing experience of a fox digging her up at the weekend and proceeding to run around the garden with her, bits falling off everywhere and feathers galore . . . . not good, especially as pet dog wanted to join in the 'fun'!! Had to bag her up and dispose of her with the household waste, smell was just horrendous. Is it better to just take them to the local vet for disposal or is there something I can use to repel foxes from the burial area? Sorry for the rather grim question!! Thanks FR Edited May 29, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 I'm afraid my girls are put out with the household rubbish . I really don't like it but I have nowhere I can bury them. One had to go to the vets recently to be pts and I must admit it felt better knowing she was being cremated . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louise1976 Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 I'm afraid I just put mine in a bag in the bin, sounds awful I know but it really is the only option for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 Mine get double bagged and binned... Sad but sensible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 We have ours cremated, the pet cemetery collect from the vets, they offer group and individual cremations, ashes scattered at the cemetary, ashes in a casket or ashes in a plastic tub for scattering. We have an individual cremation for our girls and have the ashes back for scattering. It does work out quite pricey though (just over £20 per hen), it's just what suits us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks76 Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 double bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 Bag and bin here too. It's practical. If you are going to bury a pet then you need a depth of 4' - too difficult in my heavy clay soil, I've done it for a cat but I couldn't do it every time I lost a hen. The vet will dispose of it if you ask, and if you just go for general cremation (no return of ashes) it's fairly cheap. My bin is only emptied every other week, so if I lost a hen in the summer I'd take her to the vet for disposal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 I also bag and bin them as they had a tendency to reappear if buried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Bag and Bin. Once we're gone. we're gone; the body is just a carcass once the light has gone from the eyes. Wish I could do it with me once I'm gone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Yup - that's exactly my view! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 In the process of working my way through the whole of the Omlet site, there was an article on dead chickens; Cremation Bag/bin Environmental Heath don't want you burying it I think it's in the 'GUIDE' tab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 I bag and bin my girlies too, except two that have been pts and they have both been cremated. It may not be the most pleasant subject, but we all need a plan for "what happens when ...". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Pet cremation via the vets. You are given a little posie of dried flowers and a certificate. (£19.20) If you want the hens ashes it costs £70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Pet cremation via the vets. You are given a little posie of dried flowers and a certificate. (£19.20) If you want the hens ashes it costs £70 Good Grief, I don't think we paid much more than £70 to have our Great Dane cremated and ashes in a casket (mind you, that was 14 years or so ago). Ours is something like £22 for ashes for scattering for a hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 It depends with me, i had Cheryl the turkey cremated at the vets, because she was so huge. Normally double bag, never ever buried as i don't want to have the experience of foxes re digging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooker Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 We buried our first one, and then realised, we have 7 chickens, we won't be able to dig anywhere in our garden for fear of digging them up if we had lept the burying policy! We now do the double bag, bin. Unfortunately both the hens we have lost and disposed of this way decided to die the day after the bins were taken, we are also on a 2 week collection! Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Thankfully we have only lost 2 hens so far. One was cremated by vets and we attempted to cremate the other - not very well as it turned out. However, we have a veritable ferret graveyard going on. Thankfully I paid attention to my dads methods during my childhood: make mental notes of where you buried the last one or use a marker, choose places where you won't dig later - eg under a lawn, and put a heavy weight (we have a special paving slab) over to prevent fox. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolimac Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 When we lost our first hen we were worried about the local fox 'visiting' so my husband asked about cremation at our vets...,the price was just over £100 We brought her home and buried her.On the top we put a nice sandstone paver...thankfully we have been lucky and the fox hasn't bothered..I bury all my hens this way which seems to be working At this rate instead of the odd 'stepping stone' we'll end up with a fully paved garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Double bag and donate money saved to hen charity is my suggestion. Give them a great life and accept when they go that's probably it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 When we lost our first hen we were worried about the local fox 'visiting' so my husband asked about cremation at our vets...,the price was just over £100 £100 ! My vet charged just over £17 and that included putting my girlie to sleep first. Think I'd be looking to change vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 My job involves visiting landfill sites, and I just don't like the thought of one of my hens being dumped in with all the stinky rubbish - they will still be ripped to bits by foxes and birds, just not outside your kitchen window! I do understand the bag and bin theory, and if I could get the landfill site image out of my head, I would probably do the same. I wouldn't pay a fortune for cremation either, £100 is extortion It cost me £10 for consultation, put to sleep and disposal, so I think I'll stick to the vet I've got Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 I double bag too. It's not the most pleasant ending but the most practical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingRamses Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Thanks for all the advice, sounds like bin bags are the way but I will struggle with a couple of the girls who love it when I come into the garden and sit on my shoulders like parrots and half fall asleep as I chat or whistle to them . . . am I getting to close to my chickens, hahah?? I could not bag them up!! Burial is definitely not happening again, especially in my rock hard clay/soil, will check cost of disposal with my vet I think as a second option after bin bags!! Thanks for that link Witzend. FR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I have a friend who is a farmer and one of the first things she said to me when I told her I was getting chickens was when they die I could take them to the farm and feed them to the farm (wildish) cats not entirely sure how I feel about that now I've got them, but circle of life I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingRamses Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Very sad to report one of my first hens, Daisy died today, she was 4 years old so had a good innings, she has been slowing down last few days and quietly left us this afternoon. Could not face bagging her up so buried her and we planted a prickly plant over the top of her to hopefully discourage foxes. Will really miss this friendly and chilled out bundle of showy white feathers strolling around the garden!! FR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
