- Aug 12, 2014
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My husband and I recently moved to what will be our retirement home in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio. I have wanted chickens my whole life and we are planning to build a coop and start a flock next spring. In the meantime, I've been reading a lot about what's involved and trying to prepare myself for all the potential difficulties: predators, bumble foot, prolapsing vents, etc. I really and truly think I can handle all that.
But here's the thing: I'm pretty sure I won't be able to do any necessary culling myself.
Don't get me wrong, I love fried chicken, chicken barbeque, coq au vin, the works, and I have no intention of giving any of it up. But if I'm being really honest, it's probably going to have to be anonymous chickens - or at least unrecognizable chickens. I don't think I have it in me to do the deed myself. There is an organic processing farm not far from us but we're not looking to have a big flock and for onesie-twosies I just don't see that as an option.
So, to my question: does this disqualify me as a flock-keeper? I'm prepared to humanely put down any animal that is suffering, and I am slowly being won over to more sustainable, personally-accountable food sourcing but I'm just not sure I can do the "cultivating" myself. If I feed a non-laying hen until her days are done, am I being wasteful? Surely the additional compost, entertainment value, and possible brooding assistance is worth the cost of feed, provided I have enough laying hens to meet our egg needs?
Thoughts?
TIA -
Francesca
But here's the thing: I'm pretty sure I won't be able to do any necessary culling myself.
Don't get me wrong, I love fried chicken, chicken barbeque, coq au vin, the works, and I have no intention of giving any of it up. But if I'm being really honest, it's probably going to have to be anonymous chickens - or at least unrecognizable chickens. I don't think I have it in me to do the deed myself. There is an organic processing farm not far from us but we're not looking to have a big flock and for onesie-twosies I just don't see that as an option.
So, to my question: does this disqualify me as a flock-keeper? I'm prepared to humanely put down any animal that is suffering, and I am slowly being won over to more sustainable, personally-accountable food sourcing but I'm just not sure I can do the "cultivating" myself. If I feed a non-laying hen until her days are done, am I being wasteful? Surely the additional compost, entertainment value, and possible brooding assistance is worth the cost of feed, provided I have enough laying hens to meet our egg needs?
Thoughts?
TIA -
Francesca