Chickens died overnight. Is it safe to eat them?

[ssunnyy]

Two of my four chickens died last night when the heat lamp fell on them. I discovered them this morning on the way to work, put them in a pot, & stuck them in my fridge. Are they safe to eat after plucking & cleaning?

 

[Alaskan]

I would vote yes... if after all of the guts are removed and the cavity washed, the meat smells good. My only worry would be that the guts left inside the carcass for too long, especially if your fridge isn't very cold, might make the meat go off.

 

[bobbi-j]

Personally, I would not - for the very reason stated above - the guts being left in too long, making the meat off. I don't know that it would be unsafe, I just don't think it would taste very good. But I'm fussy - I won't eat a chicken that we didn't kill ourselves.

 

[Njinja]

I'd eat them. Too late to bleed them, but clean out the guts and wash the meat and cook very well. Definitely check out the smell. And since cats are fastidious and natural predators (rather than carrion-eaters like dogs), I test suspect meat out on them. If my cat will eat it (raw--so maybe only barn cats or those used to hunting and eating what they catch can be used in such a "cat-scan), I am pretty sure I can.

I've also found that in other parts of the world, people eat meat that an American would throw away as "gone bad". I've seen wild game offered for sale at the side of the road in Africa (not field-dressed) that sits out all day under the hot African sun and is still edible...I've eaten my fair share of it too!

 

[Beekissed]

I wouldn't....not after they've had the guts inside of them deteriorating for that long. There will be a lot of chemical processes going on in there during all this time, with some level of ICK being released into the meat tissue from the break down of organs, blood, and other fluids. I don't imagine it would kill you to eat it but there is a question of food hygiene and flavor at this point.