Chickens - Pets Or Slaves

[GimmeCake]

I have a quick question to all of you chicken people. Do you view your flock as egg laying pet birds or egg laying slaves? If not either of these, what do you think about them?

 

[wsmith]

I think of my flock as livestock. I care for them, give them a great diet, protect them, let some of them produce offspring. They lay eggs which I collect, I eat their eggs, sell their eggs, and use some of the chickens for meat. An animal cannot be called a slave. My chickens look to me to provide for their needs, which I do. I care about my chickens, yet I also realize that not all can stay around forever. They live good lives, and seem quite happy, though I can't read their minds.....

I do my part, they do theirs.

 

[shmccarthy]

I think my chickens view me as their slave LOL

 

[3KillerBs]

The phrasing of this question is really quite inflammatory.

Chickens are livestock. The purpose of the existence of livestock is to benefit humans.

Chickens are animals, not humans. Only humans can be enslaved. Domestic animals are property by nature.

Some people make pets of their livestock, many people become quite fond of their livestock and enjoy their personalities, and only sick, disturbed people would keep animals that they disliked and did not want to be healthy and well-treated. But the moral responsibility to treat livestock well does not change the fact that they are inherently animals kept for the purpose of human benefit.

There is no incompatibility between loving and enjoying chickens and expecting them to earn their keep by doing what chickens do -- keep pests down in the yard and garden, providing eggs, and, when appropriate, providing dinner.

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

Moving Lawn Ornaments

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Personally, and this goes for any animal I have beyond my house cat (and this used to apply to him until he became permanently handicapped), I expect for any animal I have to perform whatever function they were purchased for. My horses are winning competition animals, the barn cats keep the rat population at bay, the chickens will (once they are old enough) provide eggs and help weed my gardens. In exchange for this I provide the very best food and care, a guaranteed home for life, and often they become members of our family. I don't necessarily think of any given animal as a pet (although given how my critters are spoiled many would beg to differ), but I certainly don't think of them as slaves!

BuckeyeFoodie--sounds like you're a new chicken owner, so I want to give you fair warning--don't let chickens anywhere near your garden. I know there's a lot of information out there that says chickens will weed your garden and rid it of bugs while providing free fertilizer, but I seriously don't think any of it was written by a person who actually has chickens. I think it's a beautiful bedtime story that city people tell themselves as they romanticize the country and farmers.

Chickens are garden destroyers. They dig out seeds and seedlings with scratching. They destroy the roots of older plants. They eat some plants down to the ground. They will eat holes in your tomatoes and squashes. They LOVE mulch, and will dig it out of all the beds. They will dig out your bedding plants in order to scratch in the nice soft dirt you've made for them. Chickens will cause far more destruction than they will do good in your garden. Sure, the pullets are cute now, and don't cause much harm. But just wait until they get close to point of lay. The destruction will increase exponentially.

I, too, bought into the fallacy of chickens as garden friends. Now, I patrol the pasture fence ruthlessly looking for holes, and any hen over the fence has her wings clipped before I put her back. If you've ever waited patiently for a long-season heirloom tomato to ripen only to find a chicken eating it the day before it's truly ripe, or baby a new variety of watermelon along only to find all the straw you put under it scratched out and the plant itself lying in pieces in your garden, you'll understand the rage and overwhelming desire for chicken stew that comes over you.

 

[4 the Birds]

I think of my flock as livestock. I care for them, give them a great diet, protect them, let some of them produce offspring. They lay eggs which I collect, I eat their eggs, sell their eggs, and use some of the chickens for meat. An animal cannot be called a slave. My chickens look to me to provide for their needs, which I do. I care about my chickens, yet I also realize that not all can stay around forever. They live good lives, and seem quite happy, though I can't read their minds.....

I do my part, they do theirs.

I live in harmony with all of our animals. Some animals provide eggs or milk or purrrrr or even bark at intruders. Some just live in peace and show love. I care for them and provide love back to them.

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

What My Chickens Are:

* A source for-
1) Eggs
2) Meat, when it is necessary

* Alarm Clocks-
1) My roosters' crows
2) My hens' egg songs

* Moving Lawn Ornaments-
1) The reason I have Sumatras and Phoenix, and a ton of other pretty breeds
2) The reason I have roosters

* Garbage Cans-
1) They'll eat anything!!

* Entertainment-
1) Chicken TV!!!


Fancy list

 

[Sandstorm495]

Moving Lawn Ornaments

Ha ha lol! Or you could call them 'Natures vacumm cleaners'.

 

[BrittBergh]

Nature Lawn Mowers is how I see them currently since they don't give us eggs yet but not cutting the grass so often is great!!
or
Lawn Vaccuum Cleaners
or
Why I Dont Pay for Pest Control to come spray any longer
or
Alarm Clocks since their run is right out side my bedroom window and they know it so they cluck and peck my window at dawn
or
The coolest reality TV show ever!!!



I am their slave...food bringer to them. In return they don't peck me to death and hopefully at some point in the next month or so an egg will be given in appreciation for me caring for them