Livestock... pets... it’s a POV thing. DH thinks my meaties are pets. I don’t know why he thinks this. He doesn’t pet them. He doesn’t feed and seldom looks at them. But he’s visibly distressed that I’ve been processing them the last two days. I couldn’t possibly ask him to help except peripherally. He’s such a tender-heart. (Coyotes don’t qualify as pets.)
But man! Processing chickens is HARD WORK. Who knew? Not me, that’s for sure. Fifteen in the fridge and freezer; six to go. I figured I’d have them all done first day. I’m getting faster, though.
It’s sad killing them. I didn’t think they’d take so long to die. (I’m bleeding them. My book says that’s best but I’m not sure whether it’s really that much better results-wise than cutting off the heads and having it done so far as the bird knows... maybe not enough that anyone but a foodie would notice?)
To me they’re livestock. They’re meat birds. I like them, but we have to eat, I like chicken and I hate CAFOs. It’s more honest, IMO (and more kind, too) than buying plastic-wrapped Tyson chickens at the grocery. That disguises the cost and enables bad behavior (treating animals as mere commodities). My birds have had a pleasant life and I value them. I’m not gonna stop eating meat. I don’t like killing them but if someone has to do it, then why should the someone not be me? (But I still ain’t eatin’ no pup-dog nor anything like.I’d be willing to try rattlesnake tho...)
Youll continue to get faster too as your learning your preferences. My DH doesnt help on that end either. Are you plucking them?
ETA: hitting that jugular should have it only take about 1 minute before theyre not aware of whats going on. If theyre still looking at me it makes me sad too. The first few extra roos i did i would get about half way thru and cry n wanna put em back together again
not really but alot of peeps think so....it has it's own distinct flavor, just like, rabbit, frog, alligator, etc. 
