To butcher a chicken or keep as pet?

At the time of caring for the hens, my decision is to let them die as natural seniors. Did think of killing them for meat after egg production ceases. But checking the methods of killing, rather not.

In my youth did participate in butchering chickens, fish and pigs for food. Not being a vegan, do care, they gave their eggs in service to us, it just seems better as pets.

This is the difference in old age and life experiences to make this decision for my hens.

If forced to eat for survival conditions, yes but not otherwise; it is kind of like, would you kill your dog or cat when they are no longer useful. Old Yeller.

It is a personal decision you must make at that point in time, spare the armchair quarterback hindsight's, it is at that point of time you must decide.

my husband keeps presuring me to butcher my extra roosters once they are 5 months but i dont think ill be able to.i know hoe because i used to sell meat birds butchered but i think ill feel wierd killing these since ive raised them since babies

negrita said:

my husband keeps presuring me to butcher my extra roosters once they are 5 months but i dont think ill be able to.i know hoe because i used to sell meat birds butchered but i think ill feel wierd killing these since ive raised them since babies

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I have a LOT of young cockerels, and I find myself feeling the same way. I keep telling myself they are going to wind up in the crockpot, but when it comes down to it, I don't know if I could do it. I get attached to their personalities etc., and start seeing them more as pets than food. If they start breeding my hens to death, I will have to do something, but I don't want to have to kill them if at all possible.

I once had a rooster that was mean as all get out, he absolutely destroyed one of my guineas one day, but the guinea was still alive. I knew that he would lay there and suffer in misery until he eventually died of shock or dehydration a few days later since he was unable to move. I went and got the butcher knife from the kitchen and chopped off his head. I felt so horrible killing him even tho I knew it would end his suffering. I will probably feel just as bad for killing a rooster!

I would find it very hard to cull hens just because they stop being as productive. I know and understand why some people do that, but I feed 3 dogs and 2 cats that have never in their life contributed one bit towards their feed bill, unlike the chickens, so why would I cull the chickens just because they start being a little less productive? At least they contribute SOMETHING over their life time lol. Also, my chickens go out in the woods and forage for food, the dogs and cats, if they kill something, they never eat it, they just let it rot. At least the chickens legitimately feed their selves and actually eat what they find!!

Once my cats and dogs pass, I think I will just stick to chickens lol. At least the chickens make me breakfast instead of barfing hairballs everywhere and dragging their butt across the floor lol.

thats hilarious about the cats i love cats husband hates them so i cant have them he loves dogs i hate them he cant have them we both like chickens

i mean fresh meat is delicious but i feel bad about killing them cuz i raised them sure when i get frustrated over cleaning the poop i tell mu husband u clean ur stinky chickens poop but then i pet them and tell my husband look how my beautiful chickens are growing.

and besides like u said its not like a survival thing theres plenty of chicken at the store. My kids keep asking me when i give them chicken this is from the store right mommy? cuz i told them their dads evil plan and they are on my side

Roosters are a little easier to wind up in the pot, some city neighbors don't care for a rooster to crow different times of the day, they wake up a neighbor before their work schedule time.

Had a rooster in town years ago, the crowing was not a problem with the close by neighbors, just one jerk about two blocks away had a s**t fit, otherwise no problem.

Have had dogs, cats, fish, tamed wild birds but the latest flock of hens really liked, the old saying of never naming the chickens if you will be eating them is true. Have not named them an still sure they will live out there lives.

There are some chicken owners that decide to send their chickens to the crock pot, some keep them as pets and others give them a way to families that want them as pets for their kids.

My chickens if circumstances change, will give them to a family instead of the pot.

Have gone deer hunting and the difference is there is no emotional ties to the animal, do a thank you prayer for the deer giving up it's life for food. With chickens you develop a relationship, you care for them, they feed you with eggs. That is why the decision whether to eat them or be pets is a personal decision you must make.