anyone feels bad for eating their chickens?

[Brunty_Farms]

And no I don't feel bad.

 

[averytds]

Quote:
We know a little gal trying to rehome a roo at present. She's ruled out the nice lady who usually takes her roos because "they must not like it at her place much because they keep running away."

She named off 6 or 7 so far.

We've told her straight up we will help/teach her and her mom how to process or take the roo and we'll do it, but no question if we take him he will be dinner. I don't see the point in trying to lie, my kids would just tell her after the fact anyways. I will not be surprised however if her mom contacts me about doing something on the sly if much more time passes. I assured her they wouldn't know if she served him up as say chicken and dumplings for dinner. Can't say the same for Silkies though, even cooked. My kids all spotted the difference, but they all ate and they all thought he was delicious.

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
I disagree. First of all, what most of the world eats isn't "chicken". Second of all. There are many people that really believe it's mean to eat your "pet".

Me? I think they taste better than any at the store!

Matthew

The amount of chicken meat consumed around the world is in the billions of pounds higher than any other meat, making it the majority staple in the world.... as far as meat goes.

Jeff , I believe Matthew was just soapboxing on the evils of eating commercially raised and processed chicken , at least that's how I read it LOL .

 

[sotelomary]

I admire all of you who can caull and eat your chickens. I really do. Me, I'm just to squimish and I don't think my family would eat it even if someone else did it for me.

I have a non-layer that no one wants, not even for free. I sure wish I could put her in the pot. For now, she is a free loader and I'm hoping for a natural death soon. How bad is that?

And even though they have names, to me their are still just chickens.

Mary

 

[Ibicella]

Quote:
I don't eat my pets. Chickens are not pets. They are livestock. Occasionally, one will become a pet, and it does not get eaten. It's got another purpose to fulfill.

People mistakingly think that in order to kill something you have to be cold, hard-hearted, sociopathic, and have no care at all for other beings. This is very far from the truth. I believe in order to kill properly, you NEED your compassion intact. I really don't enjoy processing day. I don't LIKE killing things. But I care very much about my chickens, especially the ones that are going to end up ensuring my own survival. I want my chickens to live wonderful lives and be given as compassionate a death as possible. I think factory farming is a travesty and want to get away from that out of compassion.

The ignorance of others becomes very tiresome sometimes.

 

[Ibicella]

Quote:
Darn, it's too bad you aren't close to me, I'd be happy to take her! An old stewing hen is the BEST.

I also completely understand your sentiments. I butcher my own, and I respect why others can't or don't want to do it.

 

[Keara]

no I don't feel bad..... got a roo out of the freezer right now to put in a stew pot for tomorrow. Making broth and the tenderest meat for chicken salad, and anything else you can think of.....

I do understand that it is hard to "kill" an animal, but I think of it this way. Better me than some faceless, minimum wage, factory employee, who hates their job and doesn't respect the beautiful animal the chicken is.

 

[dianaross77]

We had a small farm when I was young. We raised sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and ducks. Some were pets and some were food. It was already decided which were which before anything was processed. I used to watch my mom process the rabbits but I would've been heart-broken if she had done our beloved little netherland dwarfs.

So, its not unusual, even on a farm, to have pets and livestock of the same species. we would commonly eat the offspring of pets, though.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm with Chickiebooboo.....I don't cuddle or diaper my chickens but they get primo treatment while they are in their laying years. Then I guess they become livestock...and I eat them. I do not feel bad. I raised them from a chick with good husbandry techniques, insured they had a healthy and carefree existence out under the sun, playing on green grass and just being chickens. Then I gave them a quick death and repurposed their bodies for nourishment.

Can't have any better life than that, IMO.

Better than dying of "natural" causes....which can mean anything from being torn apart by a predator, thrashing around on the coop floor with a heart attack, or feeling completely ill until you cannot eat or drink and finally die. How completely horrible....would you allow your dog to end in this manner? Sometimes it seems chickens are only "pets" because no one has the fortitude to be responsible enough to end their lives.

 

[can you hear me now?]

When I eat a bird of ours, I like to thank them for feeding us. Kind of like the native americans did. No ceremony though. The other thing is I know.where these birds have been, eaten, and how thy were processed, which makes me even more grateful.