WitchHazel Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Hi, sorry to put it so bluntly... but what do you do with the body of your dead chicken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I'd bury it in my garden with my other pets who have died (to date, a budgie and a rat, both much loved) Are you planning on getting a massive flock or something or do you not have a garden? Not sure what I'd do if I didn't have a garden but then if I didn't, I wouldn't have chickens in the first place!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 (edited) If anyone knows anymore up to date information then please feel free to correct me! But I'm actually really lucky, because I haven't had a chicken get ill or die at all yet... But I think that when I was researching this a while ago that it is perfectly legal to just place them in a carrier bag and put them in your bin liner with your ordinary household waste. Alternatively you can bury them in your back garden, but I am pretty sure that they need to be at a minimum depth (around 3-4 feet or so) so that they don't attract foxes/dogs etc. Also, remember that if more than a few (3-4) die in a small flock at around the same time, it is advisable to contact Defra who will organise testing for bird flu and other diseases. It is very important that they are aware of any such disease outbreaks and it is irresponsible not to contact them. I know many people would not contemplate doing this anyway, but also for obvious reasons don't ever eat a chicken that has died, if you are not 100% sure of the cause and time of death. Edited October 19, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 kr00zin_uk is right. If you bury your hen in the garden, put a heavy rock over the grave, otherwise I'm afraid the fox may dig it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Three feet is the depth you have to dig (and Egluntine's advice about a heavy rock is also good) - sadly I have recent experience of burying a cat. Poet, it depends on your soil and also the time of year - I have heavy clay soil, and back in May it took me a good three hours to dig a big enough hole for a fairly small cat . I'm not sure I could do it in winter. I couldn't face putting a chicken in the bin - although I'm sure its perfectly legal. I've always assumed that I'll take it to the vet and ask them to dispose of it. I'm very glad WitchHazel asked the question, as it's something I have wondered about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I dig not desperately deep holes, but then sit a VERY heavy paving slab over it. This has been a burning question for us recently, as we have a few girls who are 2 and we think we'll start losing more of them soon, and we have quite a small garden. I set up a little paved area, and I'm planning on popping one under each slab. Beryl was the first, and I have room for another five. By that point, hopefully I can start reusing the first few places I used. I'm not sure how long it takes a chicken to decompose though. Alternatively, I know some people who burn the bodies of culled cockerels (why not eat them I always think). Don't know if this is legal though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 You don't put it in the recycling bin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Poet, it depends on your soil and also the time of year - I have heavy clay soil, and back in May it took me a good three hours to dig a big enough hole for a fairly small cat . I'm not sure I could do it in winter. . didn't think of that, gosh I couldn't bear to put something I'd loved in the bin. Perhaps we could have a ceremonial bonfire of sorts, we have one of those chimnea things or DH will just have to use his muscles and dig a hole when that horrible time comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 Thanks for your answers so far. Poet, I'm not sure I could cremate the body myself, I think the smell would be too distressing. As an adult I've only had to deal with the death of two cats and one horse. Both cats lived to a good age (16 and eighteen) and put to seleep by the Vet. I had the Vet send the bodies off to be cremated and I scattered the ashes in the garden. It was very expensive though. Of course I'm not expecting tohave hens dying all the time, and I don't intend to have a flock to deal with. I do anticipate having hens for the next 30 years or so and I can imagine that will be a lot of hens, especially if (as planned) my second intake onwards are ex batts. I'm not sure I'll be able to afford all the cremations. I'm also not too sure about burying them in the garden, although Aunty E's point about reusing places might make it a possibility. I'm just trying to think about this logically, so that when it happens I'll be prepared. When my first pony died I was shocked (and refused) when I was asked if I wanted him to go to the local hunt. Instead, I had the knacker man collect the body. Years later, I realised that the hunt was actually quite a practical suggestion, and probably no worse than whatever did happen to him. It's useful to know that it is legal to wrap them up and put them in the domestic waste, thanks kr00zin. The sentimental part of me thinks I couldn't bring myself to do that, but the practical side of me recognises that it's only a body, the soul & spirit will have departed and the memory will be with me, so maybe I could. I would also imagine that it would be hardest to do that with the first one, and it would probably not be such a hard decision from then on. Thanks for your replies so far. and I'm interested to hear what others who have not yet replied do as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 very good topic, thanks. Update us in March when you get your girls, lots of pics please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 You could ask your local council what happens to bin waste. Ours is incinerated, so any pets are parcelled up carefully in a little cardboard coffin, and sent off to be cremated. I used to have lots of small pets and at some stage it becomes impractical to bury them all. I am not sure I would like to move to a different house and dig the garden only to find the remains of all the previous occupants pets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 You could ask your local council what happens to bin waste. Ours is incinerated, so any pets are parcelled up carefully in a little cardboard coffin, and sent off to be cremated. I like that idea and think I could live with that. It's very practical and it really helps limit the guilty feeling of putting the body in the rubbish. Thanks charlottechicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I have heavy clay soil and couldn't dig a deep hole. I put Amber in the bin but I was upset knowing she was there and I was very pleased when the bin men had taken her away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I lost a hen once & made the mistake of calling DEFRA who said the 'carcass' had to be picked up by their chaps & disposed of at my expense, as they are classed as livestock. We cremated that one & have done that since too, but have used the bin bag method on occasion too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 can anyone see an issue if we cremated our hen ourselves in our chimnea then scattered her ashes in the garden? I hate talking about this but better now than not know what to do when the time comes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I don't see why it should be a problem, but as has been pointed out, could you bear to smell it ...? It's no worse than a lot of things that people burn in their gardens, but it might be distressingly like Sunday lunch. Better to think about it now though, than when you're upset and having to deal wih it. When the soul has gone, it's not your loving pet any more, it's just a bundle of feathers (or fur). Nice to put them to rest in the garden if you can, but if it's not practical, I don't think anyone should feel guilty about adopting other means. We give them lots of love while they're alive and that's what counts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 yeah, s'pose you're right- think we'll go for the hole in the ground with a rock on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 havnt had to deal with a chciken corpse yet, but would bury chickens in the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I am not sure I would like to move to a different house and dig the garden only to find the remains of all the previous occupants pets Very good point charlottechicken. I haven't had to deal with a dead pet for a long time, but I think we'd probably go for a cremation in the incinerator bin at the end of the garden......presuming that OH doesn't get his way and have them for Xmas dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I am not sure I would like to move to a different house and dig the garden only to find the remains of all the previous occupants pets I think nature takes care of them. Best not to wrap them up in swathes of plastic etc so that the natural processes aren't held up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I am not sure I would like to move to a different house and dig the garden only to find the remains of all the previous occupants pets I think nature takes care of them. Best not to wrap them up in swathes of plastic etc so that the natural processes aren't held up. sorry, you may not find this funny, but i had a vision of someone digging up their new garden and finding loads of chicken bones and thinking they'd discovered some old Medieval encampment/dwelling and calling in the Time Team! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Or even worse.....the Murder Squad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatedog Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 You could ask your local council what happens to bin waste. Ours is incinerated, so any pets are parcelled up carefully in a little cardboard coffin, and sent off to be cremated. I used to have lots of small pets and at some stage it becomes impractical to bury them all. I am not sure I would like to move to a different house and dig the garden only to find the remains of all the previous occupants pets Yes we have friends who buried all their dogs and cats in the garden - at a mighty depth of around 6 feet for the dogs, I think,,,,,,but they've had to move... I would hate that, having to leave all my old pets behind like that.....my previous 2 dogs were cremated and then I scattered their ashes together from the top of the crags behind our town, so that they're together forever, and wherever I go in the town, they're there too..... (I'm a daft old sentimental softie!!!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...