Is it safe to eat a chicken that a hawk killed?

[gilesf]

I came home to a hawk on top of one of my chickens, I scared him off and he had just gotten to the neck of the bird and killed it, very little damage to the bird, just 2 mins late! anyhoo rounded up the rest of the birds to calm them and now I am wondering if its safe to pluck and eat the chicken? Seems like a waste to bury it but don't want to do something stupid. Its fresh but still wondering???
thanks

 

[Habibs Hens]

I wouldn't eat it

a hawk will kill mice and rats and rips their flesh

that blood flesh and disease from beak and talons will transfer to the chicken when the hawk grabs the chicken

 

[chfite]

I would cut off the damaged and possibly contaminated part and prepare it as usual.

Chris

 

[4 the Birds]

You could eat it but I would have to be pretty hungry or desperate for food to eat road kill or something killed by a predator other than a human. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Triple Willow]

I agree with chfite, if there isn't much damage I would clean it up and trim off any damage and eat it like I would any other bird. I think it is wasteful not to. When slaughtering in a case like this it is important to get the head off as soon as possible so as much of the blood will drain out as possible. If the blood doesn't drain out very well just soak the prepared bird in salt water for a day or two before you cook it. That will draw a lot of the blood out. (Put the bird in a bowl big enough that you can cover it in water and add about 1/2-1 teaspoon of salt to the water.)

I don't know what the next person has chickens for but mine are for food. No I'm not so poor that I have to eat a bird like this but to me it is just wasteful not to eat it. With this economy I'm sure there are many families who would be thrilled to have a bird like this on their table.

Too bad you can't eat that hawk! lol

 

[conny63malies]

When that happened to our chickens back in germany , my grandma would just boil the whole chicken and feed it to the cats/dogs with some rice.

 

[Triple Willow]

When that happened to our chickens back in germany , my grandma would just boil the whole chicken and feed it to the cats/dogs with some rice.  

That would be a good idea too.

 

[Triple Willow]

I think we forget how gross chickens are. They eat bugs, mice, snakes, each other, pick through other animal's poop and I bet if we fell dead in their run, in time they just might eat us too. LOL

 

[outdooraholic]

Since it was a fresh kill, I would say it would be fine to eat as long as its thourougly cooked (160deg). Like stated before, seems like a waste not to.

 

[blythspirit]

I would clean it and eat it...It would be a waste not to. Poor chicken...sorry you lost her.