Am I crazy for treating my chickens as pets?

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Funny this is in the Meatbirds forum though.
Usually, people in this forum are People for the Eating of Tasty Animals.
I believe that my animals can enjoy their lives up until it's time to eat them.

 

[MysteryChicken]

There are SO MANY people here that do the same thing. This is a place for people to come if they keep chickens as pets,for meat, eggs, or all of the above. No judgement here

I'm an all of the above person. I keep mine as pets, for meat, & eggs also.

Those I hold back as pets live a full long life, & die of old age.

Egg layers, I rotate(Swap coops) when needed, & retire to the pot for soup.

Meatiest are typically those I'm not using for breeding, or no longer needed, or to make space for replacements/new birds.


I keep everything in a specific cycle, depending on individual chickens.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Funny this is in the Meatbirds forum though.
Usually, people in this forum are People for the Eating of Tasty Animals.
I believe that my animals can enjoy their lives up until it's time to eat them.

Funny you mention that. I'm enjoying a soup made with broth from Sage, our goat.

 

[samanthaoverton]

People eat dogs and guinea pigs in foreign countries...but in the U.S they're pets you are not crazy..

 

[BelovedBirds]

I don’t know if I am overthinking but an embarrassing thought came inside my mind that people might think I am crazy for having chickens as pets when the average person including myself have indulged in eating chicken whether it be fried or roasted. Am I crazy for treating my chickens as pets like dogs and cats? My defense logic is that some people keep goldfish and tropical fish as pets while some fish like salmon and catfish are eaten. Does any of you feel the same way as I do?

I feel the same way about my ducks, but that's why I don't eat meat- personally, just my thoughts here, I still find keeping fish and eating fish somewhat hypocritical- but not nearly as much. Fish naturally eat fish, and part of fish keeping entails feeding them shrimp and fish- so there are a lot of grey lines and it's never just a matter of "I love all fish and it's wrong to kill them" I myself have had to euthenize a lot of my fish, and often leave the eggs and newly hatched babies to their parents because I simply have no room. (they will eat them)
So then again, not many people consider fish equal to dogs or cats, the same way we view our birds as.
To me, I adore my birds and now I have them I see how smart and funny and beautiful they are- feathered pups in my eyes. So it would utterly break me to consider eating one just because I didn't know it. They're the same to me. You're welcome to your own opinions, I'm just answering honestly, thats how I feel about it

 

[theoldchick]

No. You are not crazy. You just enjoy animals on a different level. If a chicken wants to be a pet and wishes to enjoy my company I will allow the relationship to develop. Not all chickens want to be pets which is okay. Let 'em be chickens and do their thing.

 

[Callender Girl]

I used to eat meat, and chicken was one of my favorites Then, one day I decided that it didn't make sense to me to spend hundreds of dollars keeping my own pet birds alive while eating birds that I bought at the grocery. Slight differences aside, for me, chickens are chickens.

My chickens are pets. Some lay eggs. some don't. But they are all personable and entertaining, much more so in my yard than on a plate. So, to the OP, having a chicken that rides around on your shoulder sounds LOVELY; don't concern yourself with what other people think. Enjoy having your girl as a pet, Emmyjim!

 

[Painted Calls]

My chickens are pets and I eat chicken.

I have pet cows and I eat beef, too. I believe that meat is meat. Doesn't matter what form it comes in. That doesn't mean it can't also be a pet.

 

[Chookchicken]

It‘s normal to keep chickens as pets.

When I first got chickens a lot of people said it was ‘weird’ and I ‘should stop eating chicken since I might offend them‘ I’ve just learned to not care about other’s opinions. You should just enjoy your own life. You don’t want to waste time on relationships with those who think your crazy, it shouldn’t matter what others think as long as your happy

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

The main reason I am asking this is because one my pet chickens is very tame and affectionate. I sometimes bring her inside and let her sit on my lap while I’m on the computer. I also want to show her off to the outside world like in pet stores. I’m in the west coast far away from the current avian bird flu pandemic. But I’m worried people may laugh at me because I have a pet chicken perching on my arm or shoulder.

Best piece of advise in life for everyone everywhere is this: don't worry about what other people think. Honestly! If having a pet chicken makes you happy, do it! If eating chicken (which is delicious) makes you happy, do it. Who cares what other people think?