What to do with chickens after they pass

[lissalischicks]

Hmmm.... I don't think cremaing would work for where I am. My neighbor would call the cops on me

 

[chickendreams24]

Okay I think I've remembered what DH2B called the incinerator he built.

It's basically a modified rocket stove aka a larger version of a rocket stove.

It is out in our barn lot(there are no animals out there)on concrete. It's been a huge blessing. The only time we've ever had trouble was when it was very wet and we had to wait a couple days for things to dry out. We have not had to use it this winter thankfully. I believe throwing a tarp or a piece of tin etc over it would have allowed us to uncover and use it if needed(my Grandpa passed the Sunday before Thanksgiving and most of our fall and winter projects and winterizing were put on hold, added to that DH2B was in the field until about the first of December.)

I was worried about how it would be as far as smell and everything as well. It really hasn't been bad.

Our first couple years with birds we buried every bird we lost even culled chicks and unhatched eggs. We have a compost pile but like many people here my fear was digging up the decomposing body of a bird. Growing up we buried all of our animals around our grape arbor and had every spot memorized. DH2B has not been that organized in where he digs the holes so I now worry about it any time we stick a shovel in the ground.

He claims he remembers them all but I know he doesn't. LoL which is fine many of them were buried in the dark after they passed or were killed by a predator.

We have had a few times using the rocket incinerator that worked completely perfectly and there was nothing left. We have also had a few bones left on occasion so we are still learning and perfecting it.

We use scrap wood and usually a little gasoline to start the fire very hot. I usually go inside or go work elsewhere in the yard not because of any smell but because it is hard for me burning our birds. Necessary but hard.

Some wood in the bottom like a viking pyre work great and then wood on top as well. We also have been using some cedar shingles off a building we are tearing down and cedar burns really well.

We do have two dogs and originally I was very worried about our great Dane as she was a digger before DH2B and I got together. Thankfully she has never dug up anything as I might never recover.

We have also used the rocket incinerator to burn some possums, as well as some rats, that were attacking our flock and eating eggs. They burned completely and there was nothing left.

Hope this helps.

It can stink, but smells like burning chicken.......I mean. idk, doesn't bother me too much. I usually don't wait right next to the fire. ^this guy has a good point, using some sort of accelerant such as gasoline can help. And I love that Rocket incinerator idea, I need me one of those!! Wonder it its expensive...hmmmm

I Like your idea better than what I do. good post!

I'm a gal but thanks I appreciate it.

Our rocket stove incinerator was free. We built it with cinder blocks we had from a cinder block building that was torn down on our property. If you had to buy the cinder blocks and already had the concrete foundation to build it on that would be the only cost. It's all about how you stack them and where you place them. (The wind is important for building it.) We used no mortar. It's fully removable for shoveling out ash or moving if necessary.