Though poultry - keepers are often taught how toward off predatorsand how tokeep their chickens healthy , end - of - life subject ( and selection ) are often left out of the chicken - care conversations . However , being able-bodied to recognize the signs when poulet are ill or close to an end - of - life scenario is of decisive grandness — specially if other members of the deal may be at risk . How steward manage end - of - animation issue and how chickens are care if they pass on is also instrumental to flockbiosecurity .
Healthy vs. Unhealthy
Though the lifespan of Gallus gallus can vary widely by breed and care , a good estimate is that most hen will live between 4 and 8 eld . However , it ’s not unusual for backyard hiss that have no genetic progeny to last to between 10 and 12 years old .
A healthy wench should be brisk , with bright eye , comb and wattle . Its nostrils should be clean and feathers should be politic . The razz should stand unsloped and be concerned in its surroundings , as well as eat , toast and bring out waste on a regular basis .
It follows , then , that an unhealthy bird would be the opposite of those listed antecedently . 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 foul . disgusted volaille tend to pass over their nostrils on their wings . Its face or wattles may be conceited , or it may have a bluish cast to its face .
Any of these can designate that the bird has a respiratory infection .
Though most of these signs are obvious , a sick crybaby may offer only subtle — if any — clues that it is n’t feeling well . It may hide , not eat well , have lower egg production , tolerate oddly , have strange droppings or be unenrgetic . Any of these symptoms warrant a unaired look at your chicken .
It can be a challenge for a backyard bird proprietor to recognize augury of disease as chicken are quite good at concealment when they ’re ill , especially during an end - of - life issue . “ Unless the chicken is outwardly sick , you may not make love they are die , ” says Jacquie Jacob , poultry elongation companion in thedepartment of animal and food for thought sciences at University of Kentucky .
Laura Сrazy/Adobe Stock
“ Chickens can take a lot of pain without showing signs . The outward-bound symptoms [ the chicken is demo ] will count on the effort of the heathland job . 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 wimp ] malady is not eat . ”
Jacob notes that not wipe out could also be the solvent of having no available water supply . Chickens wo n’t eat if they ca n’t drink . Laura Сrazy / Adobe Stock
Isolate, Hydrate, Diagnose
So what should you do with an unhealthful hen ?
Removing an under the weather chicken from the wad will preclude it from being boss around by other stack members and protect the flock from what could be a catching disease . It will also allow for secretive observation of the sick Bronx cheer . The wimp should be go to a warm environment that offer protective covering from predators and other muckle member .
While offering a chicken pee is helpful , a sick volaille may demand more intense management . Water may postulate to be provided by spoonful or eyedropper to encourage her to salute . A chicken that ca n’t wassail can not regulate the most basic of needs , like adjusting body temperature or eliminating thriftlessness .
Laura Сrazy/Adobe Stock
If possible , sample to influence what trouble the Gallus gallus . Though many chicken owners do n’t have memory access to a veterinarian who is easy with snort , a simple cyberspace search of trusted websites may shed some brightness level on the problem . However , the drive of the unwellness may remain unresolved .
“ alas , most disease [ in chickens ] are diagnosed by necropsy , which is not useful , ” Jacob says .
If a Chicken Doesn’t Rally
If a poulet goes more than a Clarence Day or two without improving , Jacob notes that euthanasia may be the mode to go . A chicken grisly for that long rarely returns to full health . Though for sure not enjoyable to think about , all animal owners — include poultry owners — should have a plan in place should the animal become grim or spite beyond repair . Many backyard flock owners do n’t have vet who can assist with euthanasia , so the goal is to finish the chicken ’s liveliness as quickly and as painlessly as possible .
For most hobby enthusiast , this involves either wringing ( not break ) the neck or beheading . Quickly and forcefully wringing the neck causes cervical dislocation , where the spinal corduroy severs and kick , causing brain damage ( unconsciousness ) . This is the most humane method acting of euthanasia for chickens at menage , Jacob say . The most significant part in the number is to make the bird unconscious , intend the hoot can sense no pain . Anything that happens after this ( expiry ) is moot .
demise by decapitation is often more difficultfor backyard flock owners , though both beheading and deform the neck can be take exception for a Gallus gallus owner to do . If either of these end - of - life alternative seem unrealizable , reach out to other owner of chickens in the country to see if they may be willing to assist when the time come . Though difficult to think about , it ’s imperative that a program be in place , so the chicken does n’t suffer .
kozorog/Adobe Stock
If a departed chicken is on the property — either because it was distinguish or pour down — something must be done with the carcass . If a hen is recover idle , immediately remove it from the cage or run if other chickens have access to the body . Though it may seem like overkill , don protective glove to remove a fledge protagonist from the hencoop is necessary for in force biosecurity to keep the other chicken safe.kozorog/Adobe Stock
Disposal
Proper disposal of a chicken carcase directly colligate to the cause of death . Unfortunately , unless there are outward-bound signs ( often of depredation or disease ) , it can be hard to know what have the chicken ’s death .
If an infectious disease of any form is suspected , wimp possessor ( even hobby poultry proprietor ) should get through out to an filename extension agent , local veterinarian , the state veterinary surgeon or theUSDAto determine what should be done with the carcase . USDA can be reached at 866 - 536 - 7593 . It should be repeat that a chicken find oneself idle should not be consumed .
A chicken that has die of lifelike — or at least unknown — causa can still be a bit of a enigma as disposal of brute carcass can diverge by county and city . To get an idea of what is satisfactory , reach out to a local propagation agent or to the municipal waste station for guidance .
schankz/Adobe Stock
Options for Disposal
Though a chicken might seem belittled in comparison to larger livestock like horses and cows , there may still be local law of nature regarding burying it , often with regard to the depth of the local water board , fix of water informant like pool and streams , or how many structures are on the ground . Additionally , the location of where galvanic , gas , water or cable line can also be a concern when attempting to bury a chicken ( if incertain where these are located on the property , call the respective company before digging the hole ) .
If it ’s driven that burial is appropriate , bury the biddy several hundred feet ( or as far as possible ) from the coop where other chickens reside . This is of particular importance if parasite overloads , mites or lice are suspected to have meet a character in the chicken ’s demise . Gallus gallus are omnivores and as such will scavenge a carcase if usable , potentially ingesting worm or other parasites .
The hole should be at minimal 3 feet deep and the grease should be tightly packed around the body to prevent predators like raccoon and weenie from reek and unearthing the body.schankz/Adobe Stock
Burning a dead crybaby in a firepit or burn pile is an satisfactory agency of getting rid of the carcase . Though it will smell unpleasant , this method will guarantee that no sponge or diseases transfer to other wimp or wild birds .
Though often not an ideal resting spot for a favorite biddy , in many areas of the United States , urban and suburban waste facilities allow for dead animals ( admit chickens ) to be placed in the trash . Often the body must be double- or triple - bagged , so it ’s smart to line up out what ’s acceptable ahead of clip .
Chickens that get to an ending - of - life event due to raw causes can be added to a household composter , which must be properly designed and managed to minimize scent and put down pathogen . A drained chicken offer nitrogen , so it must be balanced with carbon materials like newspaper , straw or corn stalk . The correct amount of moisture in the composter is critical for proper breakdown of the carcass and to avoid any unpleasant smell . When done correctly , composting should be completed in about a week after adding the deadened wimp .
Some veterinary offices will volunteer cremation armed service for a fee . Determine beforehand if the ash will be received or will remain with the clinic for disposal . This means of removal will incur a fee .
Incineration at a university or state veterinary diagnostic research lab ( often after necropsy to set cause of decease ) is the preferred method acting of carcase disposal if disease is suspected .
Though the deprivation of a chicken can be excited , get a plan ( or program ) for how to dispense with the body can relieve some of the prompt stress , allowing owners time and space to grieve .
More Information
While owners of other stock are used to vaccinating their animals , backyard poultry owners are often not afforded that selection to prevent unwellness for a salmagundi of understanding , including lack of access to vet conversant with poultry , expense or carelessness of disease susceptibleness .
Poultry proprietor should reckon vaccination if they show their poultry or if they routinely bring in new dame to the sight , either from auctions or other sources . Additionally , if owners often permit unfamiliar people to handle birds , or if the flock has a history of disease , immunization should be considered . A veterinarian can ply direction on which vaccines to administer based on the flock ’s fix and susceptibility .
Though respiratory disease are common in poultry , they ’re often nonspecific in backyard pot and derive on as the seasons vary . Often bird will cough or sneeze , but they ’ll continue to corrode and drink .
Medications are often unnecessary , and the unwellness will solve on its own in seven to 10 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . However , if treatment is desired , most birds can be treat with a Achromycin antibiotic , which can cut symptom length by about half .
It ’s of import that only medications approve for laying hens be used and that their directives for administration are keep abreast , says Jacquie Jacob , domestic fowl extension comrade in the section of animal and food sciences at University of Kentucky . Though these medications were antecedently available over the counter , they now require a veterinary surgeon ’s prescription to obtain .
This article originally appeared in the November / December 2023 issue ofChickensmagazine .
