The loss of a pet hen can be traumatic to both children and adults. However, it is a good idea to contact the CAHFS laboratory in Davis and arrange for a necropsy to make sure that whatever killed your pet won't cause disease in other hens, animals, or people. This is a service offered at the Veterinary Medicine School; and they may be contacted at http://www.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/contact/.
If you contact them, they will give you a shipping code for discounted FedEx overnight shipping. You will be billed only for the shipping, which is generally less than $15.
The forms for submission and information on how to package the poor hen are on their website; and their is no charge other than the shipping costs as long as you have fewer than 1,000 birds in your flock, and do not send more than two birds at the time.
This post comes as I continue to mourn the loss of Big Bird, one of my Black Star hens who I sent in for analysis in order to protect the rest of my flock.
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