DD wont let me butcher

[firedawg_42]

If you choose to make your chickens pets than you get what you ask for if they are food than dont make them your pets by feeding them treats and teaching them thing they are food or pets choose then remind DD of that and remember who is the parent.

 

[granmahen]

My DGD is the same way(she's 10), and I wouldn't lie to her about it. I want her to trust what I say all the time. What we did was let her pick out her two favorites that will be pets forever and the rest we'll eat when the time comes. She knows she won't have to watch the butchering or help with the cleaning but she can if she chooses. She won't have to eat them herself. But she does know that they are there to lay eggs for us to eat and to be eaten some day. I'm just glad she'll be 3 years older (give or take) when that time comes. Will she cry, probably. Will she be mad, for sure. Will she hate us for a while, definitely. It's okay. Animals are a wonderful way for kids to live and learn about life, especially that some of it is hard. In answer to my DGD's wonderful wit...no we won't eat grandma when she dies, but we will eat the chickens.

 

[jforsness]

This is a very interesting conversation, thank you all. I myself think it's important for you to stick to your guns as you see fit. I have strictly pet chickens and my wife is a vegetarian, so there's no butchering gonna happen here (we're city folk anyway, no room to raise fryers). I am not a vegetarian and think it's important to know that the meat at the grocery had a face one day.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Henry'schickens :

crtrlover, she does take wonderful care of them. I know the hens will be good for a couple more years. We were just planning ahead because she wanted to get a different breed (crested) and I told her realistically we had no more room. I suggested rehoming or butchering and the debate was on with a few tears.

It doesn't sound to me like you're the bad guy, nor is this just about butchering. She wants new birds, but has to make the choice between the new birds or the current flock. Life is full of such choices, tell her it is completely her decision and let her make the choice.​

 

[ScoobyRoo]

I do agree with all of you. I 'know' I need to be firm about this. When we first got the chicks I told her what my intentions were. It back fired on me when she 'put them to bed everynight' (counting to make sure all were there) fed, watered and talked to them. I should have know she would get attached which just makes it harder.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
It doesn't sound to me like you're the bad guy, nor is this just about butchering. She wants new birds, but has to make the choice between the new birds or the current flock. Life is full of such choices, tell her it is completely her decision and let her make the choice.

That converstion came up and she said "Dad can build another coop" I told her that was not going to happen right now with the economy and all. I told her to make a choice. She just wants a couple of crested and that is all. If the farm store has those this spring we will be okay til next year. I had also told her that these birds serve a purpose here. I will not feed all these hens when they slow down on egg production. They will go in the freezer. Then she commented "do they have to go in 'our' freezer?" Got to love these kids!

 

[AHappychick]

could you compramise and sell them and use the money for the new ones she wants? I hope I dont have these problams with my ds but i probably have some time still before he makes the connection, although he does understand that some eggs are for hatching and some are for eating I dont think he gets where his chicken dinners come from though.....

 

[antlers]

Quote:
Totally agree and very well put. We dont eat the dog or the cat but this is the birds purpose.

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

I find it's important to point out that the chicken purchased in most supermarkets had no where near the great quality of life of those raised at home and slaughtered humanely. They were well fed, had plenty of space to "be chickens", often free range, have comfortable accomodations, etc.

I would much rather have that be the case, as an _animal_lover_, than support what amounts to (way too often it seems) _animal_cruelty_.

-C

 

[Wifezilla]

I find it's important to point out that the chicken purchased in most supermarkets had no where near the great quality of life of those raised at home and slaughtered humanely. They were well fed, had plenty of space to "be chickens", often free range, have comfortable accomodations, etc.