Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Conducting the funeral
• Part 2 of 3: Commemorating the bird
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing the spread of disease
• Tips

Whether your beloved domestic bird has died or you found a dead bird outside, you may be wondering how to bury it. Burying a bird is easy to do, and it can help you deal with its death. You may even want to hold a funeral service for the bird or commemorate it in some other way.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Conducting the funeral

1. Pick a place. In most cases, you can bury a bird in your own yard without too many restrictions. Since the laws vary from place to place, it is always a good idea to call your local council to find out if there are any laws about animal burial.
   • Under no circumstances bury birds or other animals in a vegetable garden.
   • In some areas there may be restrictions against burying animals if the groundwater level is too high. Contact your local environmental department to find out.
   • If you have cats or dogs, you may want to choose a place that they cannot reach to prevent them from digging up the bird.
2. Decide if you want to bury the bird in a container. You don't have to bury the bird in some sort of container unless you want to. When choosing a container, make sure it is not made of potentially toxic materials.
   • Animal coffins are often used for emotional reasons, so it's up to you whether you want to use one.
   • Do not bury anything made of plastic. If you transported the bird to the cemetery in a plastic bag, do not bury the bag with the bird. Gently empty the bird into the hole by holding the corners of the bag, seal it, and then dispose of the bag with the normal household waste.
3. Protect the grave. It is generally a good idea to dig a hole at least six feet deep for a grave. The deeper the hole, the less likely a scavenger will pass and dig up the bird. When you put the bird in the grave, cover it with the soil you dug for the hole.
   • You may also want to consider covering the area with stones or paving stones to protect it from scavengers.

Part 2 of 3: Commemorating the bird

1. Consider putting a tombstone. If you wish, you can add some sort of memorial or keepsake to your bird's grave. This can be as simple or as detailed as you prefer.
   • You can mark the spot with a simple stone so that everyone knows where it is.
   • If you want a more detailed memorial, you can create a personalized gravestone. Consider making one out of wood and writing a personal message on it with paint or marker.
   • You can also buy a kit that is commonly used to make a concrete step stool. This will allow you to decorate the stone and write down your pet's name if you wish.
   • You could also put a figurine of a bird on the grave as a memorial.
2. Consider if you can plant something on the grave. If you don't want to place a tombstone, but still want to mark the grave and pay homage to the bird, consider planting a beautiful plant on top of the grave.
   • Choose a plant that can tolerate the amount of sun in the area.
   • Plant a perennial if you want the plant to keep coming back year after year.
   • Do not forget to take good care of the plant so that it can bloom well.
3. Have a ceremony to say goodbye. When saying goodbye to a pet, having a small funeral can help you feel more at peace. The style of the ceremony is completely up to you.
   • You may want to have each family member say something about the bird.
   • If you want you can say a prayer or sing a song to the bird.
   • You can also observe a few moments of silence to honor your feathered friend.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing the spread of disease

1. Do not touch the bird with your bare hands. Whether you're burying your own bird or a wild bird, you should never touch it with your bare hands. He may have died of a disease that you can transmit by touching him, so be very careful.
   • Wear disposable gloves if possible. Discard them as soon as you are done handling the bird.
   • If you cannot wear disposable gloves, wear washable gloves or use a piece of flexible single-use plastic such as a plastic bag to protect your hands.
2. Wash your hands well afterwards. After handling the bird, it is important to wash your hands well to avoid spreading germs that you may have picked up from the bird.
   • Make sure to sanitize any surfaces in your home that the bird has touched.
   • If the bird touches your clothing, wash it immediately in the washing machine with warm water.
3. Decide if the bird needs to be tested. Usually it is fine to bury a wild bird on your property without reporting it, but in some cases municipalities ask residents to report dead birds, especially in times of epidemic. If you are unsure whether such regulations apply in your area, please contact your local health department.
   • If you notice large numbers of dead birds this is definitely worth reporting.

Tips

• If the ground is too frozen to dig a grave, you can keep your bird in the freezer until it is warm enough to carry out the burial. Just make sure the bird is well wrapped so it doesn't come into contact with food. You may also want to consider taking your pet to the vet to have it cremated or buried in an animal cemetery.
• If you are unable to bury a dead bird, it is perfectly acceptable to wrap it in plastic and dispose of it in the trash.