Chickens: Pets Or Food?

[Illia]

Quote:
They not only exist, but they are on BYC. Can't think of any names right off the top of my head, but there are even those who keep ducks in diapers in the house. Not my cup of tea, but I guess it's their house.

chickenzoo. First one who comes to mind.

Sorry, but there are quite a few people who do that. . . I guess I just don't understand the people who don't understand ít. I would never do it, but I certainly understand the love!

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
They not only exist, but they are on BYC. Can't think of any names right off the top of my head, but there are even those who keep ducks in diapers in the house. Not my cup of tea, but I guess it's their house.

It happens. Its weird by my outlook - some things just shouldn't be done. But people do it.
Visit YouTube and look it up. You can learn how to do it yourself, if you'd like.

And I assure you, there are BYC'ers who diaper their chickens.

 

[mamaKate]

No diapers here (keep meaning to get some ). I keep my 2 D'Uccles in a large cage in my room and don't consider it any more "wrong" than someone who keeps parrots or other large tropical birds. We don't watch green acres, however they seem to like "This Old House" as much as I do.

My large fowl do live outdoors. I don't hesitate to put them in a dog crate and bring them in when I feel it's necessary. I have dogs and cats that I have loved for years. I probably love the mammals more because they've been here so long. I think there is a clear division between people and animals. Beyond that -all creatures have a right to respectful treatment, be they food, pets or wildlife.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I use to think I had both--but when you get right down to the nitty gritty and they don't do what I want them to do (get along, lay eggs, be a good breeder) then even the best of them are going to be the chicken in the chicken pot pie.

My DS doesn't always do what I want him to do but I don't cook him up for dinner. So I guess my chickens are food.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Mine are definitely, absolutely pets first and foremost. I like the eggs, but if they stopped laying altogether I wouldn't even think of getting rid of them for a second. I love my birds, all have names, are handled, and beloved, and all stay with me their whole lives until the day they die of natural causes. My oldest chickens are eleven years old and still going strong! There are four of them that are eleven. I don't keep my chickens indoors because I honestly think they're happier outside, but I do have some seramas in the garage.

 

[silkiechicken]

They are both. Most start as food, some make it to pet status, some fall from pet back to food, and few make it to be an "untouchable". Those are the ones who get to live out their natural lives.

May be odd, but I too have diapered a chicken. LOL And then when it turned out to be a roo, ate him.

 

[HLAC]

I've had two chickens that were really pets. I didn't raise them for food and I didn't care how many eggs they laid.

However, the majority of my birds have been food not pets. Certainly I get more than just the food value from them. (For instance, they're much more amusing than the bag of carrots I buy from the store.) I also coddle them somewhat. Then again, I coddle my squash plants.... so.. it is what it is.

They are more 'Food with benefits' rather than 'Pets with benefits' to me.

 

[harryg6167]

Both for me.
We gather eggs to eat,sell,and give away.
We have processed our own chickens to eat before but I have terrible
back problems and cannot stand long enough to do even 1 chicken now.
I did find someone local the other day that said when I got ready to put
a few in the freezer he and his wife would be more than happy to come
do it for us.
Have some here though that will die from old age. When having really bad days
with the back and get the blahs, those few old hens are good company to
be around. (Read an article somewhere the other day about having chickens
and their calming effects being good for blood pressure problems.)

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Both. I have some breeds that are strictly pets and others that are just mixed breed laying flock.
We'll occasionally take one for soup or something if she gets too slow on laying. A few of the laying
flock achieve pet status accidentally from time to time due to some unusual event. My old Red Sexlink
is now "Miss Kitty" because she pecked out a dog's eye that attacked her. If they get a name they'll
live to be old biddies.

 

[CARS]

It is said the chicken contributes to breakfast but the pig is committed.