are people owning for meat

[mesafox101]

im not owning chickens for meat but i was kind of wondering how many people are owning chickens for meat. if you are i have nothing against you

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, hope you are enjoying BYC!

We started out keeping chickens for eggs and as pets. But I always new I wanted to move away from the atrocities I learned about in the chicken industry.

Eventually we did end up getting oops roosters we had to do something with. And thought how nice it would be to be semi sustainable and hatch our own new layers... and therefor handsome boys as well. It was a difficult transition that took a while to make, but we were committed.

I now keep chickens for eggs, meat, entertainment, therapy, physical fitness, and.... chicks! Very few actually make pet status, but the ones who do are supremely special.

It's such a blessing to be able to live this lifestyle.

 

[rebrascora]

Like @EggSighted4Life I got into chicken keeping for eggs, but then broodies raised chicks and there are no happy homes to be found for the surplus males and I eat chicken, so it makes sense to process those unwanted cockerels for meat, especially once they start terrorising my pullets and hens. I don't intentionally raise them for meat in the sense that, if my eggs all hatched into pullets then I would not butcher birds and I don't find it easy to kill birds that I have raised, but it is my responsibility to deal with those surplus cockerels in order to keep my flock happy and healthy and confining them to a bachelor pad is not an ideal life for them. I ended up spending my limited funds and time feeding and watering and tending wounds and mucking out and basically becoming a slave to them for no reward .... until I eventually realised that, if I eat chicken, then I should be prepared to kill and butcher it and if I raise chicks I should be prepared to deal with the surplus cockerels that result.
I now raise less chicks as I find this aspect very difficult. I'm not sure I can say that "I own chickens for meat" but more that I butcher surplus cockerels out of a sense of necessity and responsibility.
I therefore cannot answer a straight "Yes", "No" or "I might start" to your poll as none of those options really apply to this situation.

 

[perchie.girl]

I am the same as the others.... Right now I dont have any chickens due to family obligations.... Once they dont need me any more I will be filling that coop again

I do adopt roos and they will have a forever home... But
I plan on raising Muscovy ducks for meat and eggs... as well as Guinea fowl and chickens.

OF couse there will be the "special" birds ... But I will be on a fixed income and beef will be off the menu... I plan on not wasting anything by the way... Feathers for crafts.. Flytieing... what ever...

Will be selling hatching eggs on craigs list. Then eating eggs ...

deb

 

[birdofhermes]

no excuse for killing or exploiting animals in this day and age

 

[Athena2344]

I have raised a flock of 25 broilers, and i processed 15 myself, i am all for self sustainability and necessity, there is nothing wrong with those who keep and breed for meat, as long as it is done in a humane manner, my birds were stirred up regularly and well cared for, there were even a few that knew their names. When it came time for processing, they were kept as calm as possible, and didn't experience any pain, make it as quick as possible and you and the birds will be fine.

 

[Athena2344]

if it needs to be done, make it happen, just do it as humane as possible. I will tell you this though, i will never forget the smell of wet chicken

 

[Athena2344]

I am also planning on raising geese as well, and 1 or 2 will probably end up on the table for christmas or thanksgiving, i believe that as long as you provide the best life as possible, i.e. regular cleaning, feeding and watering, their is nothing wrong at all with culling the flock

 

[junebuggena]

Eggs and meat here. I incubate year-round, selling the pullets that hatch to locals who don't want to have to pay the shipping and small order fees that the hatcheries charge. With 3 growing kids to feed, it just makes sense to eat the males.

no excuse for killing or exploiting animals in this day and age

Actually there is. Not everybody can eat alternative proteins. And it's a lot more eco friendly to eat a free range cockerel raised on your own property than it is to purchase soy products that are grown hundreds of miles away, processed and then trucked into the grocery stores.

 

[Athena2344]

Eggs and meat here. I incubate year-round, selling the pullets that hatch to locals who don't want to have to pay the shipping and small order fees that the hatcheries charge. With 3 growing kids to feed, it just makes sense to eat the males.

Actually there is. Not everybody can eat alternative proteins. And it's a lot more eco friendly to eat a free range cockerel raised on your own property than it is to purchase soy products that are grown hundreds of miles away, processed and then trucked into the grocery stores.

The broilers i raised were the best tasting chicken i had ever eaten, they were huge with no fat at all, and i knew exactly what they had eaten and drank, and how they were treated. i definantly have to agree with you @junebuggena