Can You Cremate a Chicken, Duck, or Other Backyard Pet? Ontario Pricing & Options

Yes — chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, doves, quail, bantams, and other backyard poultry can all be cremated in Ontario. Cremation providers don't typically list these animals by name, but they're covered under "pocket pet," "small pet," or "exotic" categories. If you can bring your bird to a vet clinic, humane society, or cremation provider, they can handle it.

Here's what to expect in terms of cost:

• Communal cremation (no ashes returned): roughly $30–$150
• Private cremation (ashes returned): roughly $200–$450

These are the same services and facilities used for dogs, cats, and rabbits — your bird is simply charged at the lowest weight tier.

How Backyard Pets Are Classified

Ontario cremation providers don't have a "chicken" category. Instead, they use weight-based tiers or general labels like "pocket pets," "exotics," or "small animals." Your backyard bird or small animal falls into whichever tier matches their weight:

• Quail, bantams, pigeons, doves, small chickens (under 2–5 lbs): typically the "pocket pet" or "X-small" tier
• Standard chickens, ducks (4–10 lbs): usually the "small pet" or "under 20 lb" tier
• Turkeys, large ducks, geese (10–30 lbs): may move into the "medium" tier at some providers

When you call or arrange online, just provide the animal type and approximate weight. Providers are accustomed to handling a range of species.

What Backyard Pet Cremation Costs in Ontario

Communal Cremation (No Ashes Returned)

Community Vet Clinic (GTA, Gateway partner):

• Rabbits or pocket pets (communal): $30

Pet Aquamation (Whitby):

• Pocket pets (communal aquamation): $75

Humane Society of Oakville & Milton (Gateway-based):

• Under 5 lbs: $75
• Under 20 lbs: $105

Heart With Wings Aquamation (Barrie):

• Pocket pets, 0–5 lbs (communal aquamation): $150

Private Cremation (Ashes Returned)

Community Vet Clinic (GTA):

• Private cremation, any pet size: $250 (ashes returned in a scatter tube)

Heart With Wings (Barrie):

• Pocket pets, 0–5 lbs (private aquamation): $250 (includes ceramic urn or scatter tube)
• 6–25 lbs: $365

Florence (entire GTHA):

• Under 25 lbs: $449 (all-inclusive — pickup, urn, paw print, sympathy card, chain-of-custody certificate, text updates)
• Communal: $199 (pickup included)

Memory Gardens (Kitchener-Waterloo):

• Pocket pets under 2 lbs: cremation fee waived with memorial services
• Individual cremation for standard pets: $350

What About Euthanasia?

This is where backyard pets differ from dogs and cats. Most standard vet clinics don't euthanize poultry, and many backyard animal owners handle humane dispatch themselves before arranging cremation.

If you need a vet for euthanasia, look for one experienced with poultry or exotics. Euthanasia fees for pocket pets and exotics are typically lower than for dogs and cats — roughly $45–$100 at humane societies and clinics that accept these species.

Euthanasia and cremation are separate services. You can arrange cremation independently regardless of how or where your animal passed.

Practical Considerations for Backyard Pet Owners

Not all providers explicitly list poultry. Most will accept them, but it's worth confirming when you call or arrange online. Providers like In Good Hands, Thistledown Pet Memorial, and Gateway-partner clinics all handle a wide range of species.

Paw prints don't apply. For birds and poultry, ask about alternative keepsakes — a feather, a memorial card, or a cremation certificate.

Transport is usually your responsibility. Many backyard pet owners bring their animal to the clinic or crematorium directly. If pickup from your property is important, confirm with your provider — at Florence, pickup anywhere in the GTHA is included for all species.

Multiple animals. If you've lost more than one bird (disease, predator attack, extreme weather), ask your provider about communal cremation for the group. This is typically the most practical and affordable option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cremate a chicken? Yes. Chickens are routinely cremated under "pocket pet" or "small pet" categories at Ontario cremation providers. A standard chicken (4–8 lbs) falls into the smallest or second-smallest weight tier. Communal cremation runs roughly $30–$150. Private cremation with ashes returned runs roughly $250–$450.

Can you cremate a duck? Yes. Ducks are handled the same way as chickens — by weight, not species. Most ducks weigh 4–10 lbs and fall into the "small pet" tier. Same pricing ranges as chickens.

Can you cremate a turkey? Yes. Turkeys are larger (10–30+ lbs) and may fall into a higher weight tier than chickens or ducks, which means slightly higher pricing — roughly $105–$200 for communal and $300–$550 for private, depending on the provider.

Can you cremate a pigeon or dove? Yes. Pigeons and doves typically weigh under 2 lbs and fall into the "pocket pet" or "X-small" tier — the lowest pricing category at every provider.

Does Florence cremate chickens, ducks, and other backyard pets? Yes. Florence offers communal and true private cremation for all companion animals, including backyard poultry, pigeons, doves, and other small animals. All birds and small pets fall into our under-25-lb tier: $449 for private (all-inclusive) or $199 for communal. Pickup anywhere in the GTHA is included.