Culling... To eat or not to eat? the bigger picture...

[yadaguhtoo]

I for one at this point in my life could never ever imagine eating even one of our animals. I love them all and they provide me with hours of enjoyment. If I have had a hard day all I have to do is go sit outside and pretty soon I am surrounded by all of our critters, dogs, cats,pigs, chickens, turkeys and they all seem very interested in what I have to say. On the down side we do have to do what we call rooster slaughter day once a year because they start to fight with eachother and cause injuries but even on that day (which is very stressful) we bury them and thank them for being great friends.
My husband says there may come a day when for whatever reason we have to start eating at least the chickens and he has also said he would like to get a pig or cow for butchering. I told him I don't mind driving to the store for my meat but if he really wants to raise something just put it on a piece of the property I can't see from the house and I will stay away from there and not make it my pet. He hasn't done it yet, I think he knows even he would have a hard time butchering something he raised. I don't know if the day ever really does come I think I would like to go first and let the animals have me. Call me crazy, I just can't do it. I do enjoy the fresh eggs the chickens and turkeys give us and I thank them for everyone of them

 

[N&MSchroeder]

We ended up with roosters even though I bought what I was told were pullets.

BYC has really helped me to understand that butchering our own food can be a very positive move forward. My husband said that he would do it, but I was the one who wanted the chickens and believe I need to be involved in some part of the process. We have a good friend who has offered to show us how. She raises and butchers meat chickens on a regular basis, so this is what I would advise you to do as well, find someone who knows how to butcher and have them show you the ropes so it can be done humanely.

Good luck!

 

[simplyscrambled]

Good advice to have an experienced friend to help the first time. My coworker was raised on a farm, and helped me process the roosters and quail that I had. True, once the 'deed' is done (which truly was the hardest part for me) the rest was familiar, I skinned, and it was 'food.'

I really wanted to raise and butcher myself, since I eat meat, and wanted to give them a good life, humanely kill them, and consciously know the life that nourishes me.

I, however, do keep the hens as pets, even long after they stop laying eggs. The girls are definitely pets. They have names. However, I'm not allowed roosters in town, and when they start crowing, they get processed. My bf quickly breaks their neck and bleeds them, I skin and take the breast meat and remove the thighs. Since they're not meat birds, there is little meat on the wings at all, so I don't bother.

 

[Rodster]

Wow,
Thank you all so much for your points of view. I wont try to remark on each reply as i wouldn't want to over do it but i really appreciate every word. i will go back again and read these a few times over the next few days so it can sink in but i already feel alot better inside about my choice. I especially appreciate information on how to get the right "cycle" going so as to keep a healthy, happy flock, nice eggs, a set of chicks under a mom, and a few troublemakers in the freezer or secluded for fattening. I also will be looking into the idea of growing stuff for them to eat as well. All of your idea's are great. I will cut this short as i don't wish to be a pest but i will definately be watching and will offer a reply as required or appropriate. I did see on Youtube a machine like a dryer with special rubber "fingers" inside that looked like a blast to operate... maybe not so much for the poor birds, but by then it's already halfway to food. Can't remember what it was called but it looked like it peeled a chicken faster then my grandmother could peel a tater. I dont imagine i'll be building one tomorrow, but if in 3 months i've been able to cull AND eat a bird ok, i'll certainly be looking into making me one. ohyea, it was called a "whizbang" if i remember correctly. Anywho, im actually a kinda shy guy....

Again, thanks and i'll put a short post in the bewbie section with a bit about myself and my new flock. Btw, im heading to a farm in hillsborro to go look at a few turkeys in a few hours. will also see if there is a few hens that might be a good fit with the flock. I have no idea what my hens are tho (look for pics real soon) and i THINK i'd kind of liek a few easter eggers, the colored egg idea seems neat. i REALLY like HUGE eggs tho... anyone have an Emu for sale? those eggs seem pretty

Oh what to do... Wish us luck...

 

[Geckochick]

This has been an interesting read for me. We are trying to become more self sufficient, and we want our children to understand their link in the food chain, to respect the gifts of food and where it comes from. Our chickens are first and foremost for eggs, but we recognize that a time will come for culling and eating the meat. We will not keep roosters at this point, and DH does eventually want to have a flock of meat birds. In fact, DH would like to raise a pig and a cow as well. I am not there yet. Although, I want to be -- we currently try to buy most our meat from friends who farm, but it would be nice to have our own everything.

Our children are already accepting of the potential for culling. We have one 5 week old chick who we suspect may be a rooster, and my daughter told everyone at a recent family gathering at the coop, "That is Roo. We think he is a rooster and he will go soon to live in the crock pot farm." And then she whispered to DH's uncle, "That means we will kill him and eat him. Thank you, Roo." I am proud, in an odd way, that they get the link, because we have tried to instill gratitude for their food, whether animal or vegetable. When we were gifted some fresh venison in the fall, the same daughter asked what kind of meat we were eating, and she leaned over her plate and said, "Thank you, Bambi. You are yummy." I stand to learn a lot from my kids.

 

[Snapnzap]

Two books I have read that helped me come to terms with this topic are:
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
and
The Compassionate Carnivore by Catherine Friend

I love animals but since I don't want to give up eating meat, I am grateful for the opportunity to give my "food" and better life and death.

 

[Niss]

Geckochick, you kid is great! How matter of fact with out any callousness.

I love it when I read threads and see how many folks here have their eyes open about where our society seems headed and the benefits of securing a supply of healthy food (and the skills involved) now. I also enjoy reading the thoughts of others with different outlooks--it's interesting to know why the people who, say don't cull thier chickens, choose a different path than I am headed for. It's also fun that anytime DH talks about self sufficancy people ask if he's getting an outhouse, but here people 'get it'!

 

[leeyuh]

We had to cull our first hen two days ago to put her out of her misery, following a nasty dog attack.

Before we did the deed, we knew we would have to eventually, but we had hoped our first slaughter would be our mean, meaty rooster and not a young, beautiful, sweet hen.

I held her while he cut the neck, neither of which are good jobs. The good thing about actually doing the job is you move your knife across the neck, and you're done. When you are the one holding the bird, for 30 seconds you feel the life slowly escape...kicking, squawking life. It wasn't fun to see the nerves and everything do their thing. While we plucked and gutted her, we discussed the fact that when you eat chicken from the store, it doesn't have a gender. We kept referring to our dinner as a female..."Man, she has a lot of feathers", "I'm going to go ahead and remove her neck", "What do you want to do with her feet?". Perhaps I would have been hungrier if I stopped referring to "her".

Anyways...it was not something that I was happy to do, but it is something I am very glad to have done. I think everyone should participate in a culling at some point in their life. It really connects your stomach to the earth, and makes you really think before you eat. I've been growing my own food (vegetables) for years, but nothing can compare to the satisfaction and gratitude of eating meat that you raised and processed yourself.

It's a meal you can truly give thanks for.

 

[southerndesert]

Quote:
That was very well put.... Truly thankful and I also believe respectful after all the hard work they do for us just killing and throwing away seems....well.....just wrong.

 

[savingpurple]

Why..can't I get it in my head to do this???? I read this, and I know this, and I agree with the OP that hard times, troubled times are coming our way, and NOW is not the time to be a wuss. Now is the only time to learn, educate, and do the deed and I have a soft heart.

I can be brave lots of times, but this is a hard one for a once city girl, trying to be a self reliant grown up !!!

We have a friend that has offered to show us, but we have to help. Now maybe if it doesn't start out with mine. Maybe....??????

I give you all credit for being alot braver than myself....Need to find my ...um...well, they may be in my own purse.....