BORED chickens?

[Davaroo]

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Here's an interesting observation, very astute. Wombat alluded to it as well. It is today in our affluent times that we have the leisure to ponder chicken boredom, which treat they might like or whether we should tolerate "mean" cockerels.

In times past we were more concerned with feeding ourselves. Our biggest thought might be be if that newfangled invention, electricity, might ever pan out.

The first requisite for a philosopher is a full belly, after all.

 

[Judy]

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There's a lot of truth in this, but we have seen pets throughout other times, though I assume to a much lesser extent than we do now. Egyptians had cats, Romans had lions (not as pets but still as entertainment,) and we see on these TV shows about primitive Amazonian, etc. societies that a few animals are often kept as pets, even of species that are also eaten.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
There's a lot of truth in this, but we have seen pets throughout other times, though I assume to a much lesser extent than we do now. Egyptians had cats, Romans had lions (not as pets but still as entertainment,) and we see on these TV shows about primitive Amazonian, etc. societies that a few animals are often kept as pets, even of species that are also eaten.

Until they are eaten, you mean

 

[Judy]

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Did we really not know that before the 70's? Or did we just feel that our responsibilities did not extend beyond decent animal husbandry? Did we awaken to some new idea, or did it become fashionable to regard all our animals as "our babies?"

People didn't keep chickens or rabbits in small predator proof pens then, or not that I ever saw; both ran free in our large back yard. I don't recall predator losses, but everyone's dogs ran free, so I assume they must have occurred. The yard was fenced, but would not have stopped a determined dog, only the chickens and rabbits. Certainly, the feelings aroused by losing a chicken were not the same as those aroused by losing a cat or dog. This was in a sort of rural suburbia; we were not farmers, nor were my grandparents.

I suspect that what happened is, we began to look at our food animals with the eyes we had formerly cast only toward our non-food pets. Maybe what happened is that more and more people who did not live on a farm as the family business began to keep food animals?

I don't know. Just thoughts. Am very much enjoying reading the other thoughts in this thread.

 

[Judy]

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Perhaps so. Egyptians mummified their cats, but maybe those Amazonian villagers do eat the pet monkey; don't know. Maybe in some cases and not others?

 

[Davaroo]

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Did we really not know that before the 70's? ... I suspect that what happened is, we began to look at our food animals with the eyes we had formerly cast only toward our non-food pets. Maybe what happened is that more and more people who did not live on a farm as the family business began to keep food animals?

I believe you have hit the core of it here.

 

[birdsofthefarm]

Our chickens will lay on the poopy floor and roll around if we haven't let them out by noon

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Here's an interesting observation, very astute. Wombat alluded to it as well. It is today in our affluent times that we have the leisure to ponder chicken boredom, which treat they might like or whether we should tolerate "mean" cockerels.

In times past we were more concerned with feeding ourselves. Our biggest thought might be be if that newfangled invention, electricity, might ever pan out.

The first requisite for a philosopher is a full belly, after all.

I think many are getting into chickens because they are concerned about feeding themselves in the future. Gun sales, ammo sales and feed & chick sales have sky rocketed since November. You do the math.

And if we ever lose electricity here, I only pray I have enough gasoline on hand to be able to drive to cooler climes.

 

[Judy]

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LOL -- Made me feel like a fifth grader who guessed and got it right --

 

[Davaroo]

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LOL -- Made me feel like a fifth grader who guessed and got it right --

I call it "Bambification." It even has a name.