How do you know if a chicken is not healthy enough to eat? I've read of Cornish Cross getting tumors, do people still eat them? And what about any other diseases they get, what if one drops dead in front of you and it's a good size, do you eat it? I guess I'm asking when NOT to eat one!! My Cornish seem healthy enough but I'd like to know, just in case.

-- Carol Koller (ckoller@netsync.net), April 27, 2001

Answers

Response to When Not To Eat A Chicken??

I read that 75%+ of factory raised chickens have leukosis (chicken cancer)...can't remember where...MEN I think. And 40% of all factory chicken has salmonella bacteria.....USDA said that one I believe. I think that is good enough reason to NEVER eat factory chicken! If you think not....ask some chicken slaughter-house workers their opinions!

Now home raised chickens are another story all together. If one of mine was to drop dead in front of me...I think I would not eat it..no matter how healthy it looked. Rattlesnake bite, black widow bite or a few other reasons would have me thinking ...nah....better safe than sorry. You can closely inspect your carcass for tumors and any other odd looking flesh...trim it out and it is still edible in my opinion...although I have never seen a tumor in any of my chickens. Though if I did I might change my mind! Just use good common sense.

Jason

-- Jason (AJAMA5@netscape.net), April 27, 2001.

Any time an animal dies of 'natural causes' there is reason to worry. I always either do an 'autopsy' myself, or take the animal to the vet.

There are literally thousands of things chickens can get - just like any other animal, including people. Most things are nothing to worry about. However, if you are not sure - don't eat it.

Definate signs not to eat the bird: abnormal liver or intestines (could be spots, color, size), enlarged lungs or heart, or a discharge thereof.

Get yourself a book on home vet care for the animals you have, or one that covers them. They are indispensable. It would also be a good idea to check out some general care books specific to chickens (or whatever)...

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 27, 2001.

When butchering, look at the liver. If it has spots, don't eat the chicken (or turkey). We had a couple over the years with green and yellow spots. Don't know what disease they had, but we threw them out. The liver is a good indicator of disease in the body.

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), April 30, 2001.

Postmortem Exam:

http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/rojo1/post.html

Postmortem Chart:

http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/rojo1/postmort.html

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), May 01, 2001.