Confinement

[Time-Out]

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agri...agriculture/they-eat-what-the-reality-of.html

I'm glad the UK has more rigorous regulations, but we still import cheap meat from abroad. Have you heard about the horsemeat scandal we've got going on? It's the best thing that could happen. Supermarkets are getting ever closer to providing only British meat and the UK has some of the best animal welfare laws in the world.

score for farm animals!

 

[mithious]

Wow

My two cents, which my not even be worth that.

My personal reason for raising my own chickens is so I know how they are raised, what they are fed, how they are housed/treated! That being said;

I do intend to breed and butcher some of my chickens for meat and also raise some for eggs. Even though I intend to eat some of them, I also want to give them a life, as best I can, while they are alive! I do intend to free range my chickens, with a run for when I am not here for safety against predators. More so I don't lose my investment, but also for their safety!

I am getting back into chickens BECAUSE of the commercial aspect of how they are raised and not wanting to eat all those antibiotics and growth hormones!!! Never mind all the other stuff.

Do I want my chickens "happy"? Yes!!! Why? because they will taste better and their eggs will taste better and they will provide a healthier diet for me and those that I have entered into this project with.

No,I don't name my chickens, but they get plenty of space, are kept clean and disease free and can live relatively like mother nature intended and I believe the end product will be that I will be a bit more sustainable! Does eating my chickens make me a horrible person? NO!!!! Would I cage them like a commercial company would do? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

Why? For my own health first and for the chickens second! I DO care about my chickens and cry when a baby dies...but I CAN and WILL butcher some of them for meat, as the years go by. That is my personal reason for having back yard chickens...meat and eggs.

My chickens will have the best life I can give them and of course the layers will live longer than the meat chickens. That is why I got a dual purpose bird and have some ideas on a breeding program to improve over the hatchery stock and hopefully get the chickens back to a more natural breeding! But again, it is more for me and my health! The chickens will just benefit from the fact that I don't want to eat commercially produced anything, if I can help it!!!

I might, some day, down the road get into a small flock of bantams for the fun of it, not for food...but my main goal is to feed myself and those involved,healthier!!!

My flock are not pets...and I mean NO offense to those on BYC that raise chickens for pets...we all have our own personal reasons for raising chickens and it's all good. I still love watching my chickens..er chicks right now, and enjoy their company! I have 15 BR's that are two weeks old. I ordered pullets but have a couple cockerels too I'm sure...atleast two...and intend to raise my own stock. I have ordered 6 straight run Dominiques for next spring and intend to breed these into my BR's...to bring back a more "natural" chicken. I WANT atleast a few broody hens to raise the chicks with the flock and improve the quality of my flock!!!

I DID have a hard time reading the OP's posts, and really don't understand his/her thought process..why bother? is my thought. Buy chicken and eggs at the store if the OP is going to raise them the same as a commercial company! But that is just my opinion. I do hope the OP changes their mind and Learns from you all!!! Ok, nuff said on this topic!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their chicks and flocks and have a great day!

 

[shayla6216]

I see that that this post is old....but HELL NO that is just cruel. How would you like to be locked up like that your entire life?
People like you should not have animals AT ALL>

 

[aart]

I see that that this post is old....but HELL NO that is just cruel. How would you like to be locked up like that your entire life?
People like you should not have animals AT ALL>

Welcome to BYC!

Wonders who you are responding to in this very long thread??
The 'quote' button is good way to makes sure your reply reaches the right recipient.