Nope, never killed anything directly, never wanted to and I still don't really. But I do believe in knowing where your food comes from and raising animals in as humane way as possible and I think it's a really honest pursuit to raise your food with love and care and dispatch it with respect and humanity when the time comes. It's weird, I don't like the idea of killing an animal or that something has to die in order for me to eat but I do enjoy eating meat/animal protein in my diet. From a health perspective I think it's possible but very difficult to be healthy without having animal fats and proteins in your diet- it can be done but you have to know what you are doing and put quite a bit of effort into it in my opinion. So, from a spiritual perspective I guess, I would prefer not to have to eat anything that was breathing - but let's be honest, they taste great and provide good nourishment. I just don't want to have to think about it too much and ironically, raising my own chickens will put me in this position at one point or another - if I'm being a responsible chicken owner and not trying to pawn my roosters off on someone who won't put it in the pot just because I became too attached to do it myself. With more and more people raising backyard flocks I think we will continue to see those ads on craigslist for the unwanted roo or old laying hens. I read a blog post recently, forgot the name, but the title was something like "Don't get chickens" - and she was speaking to mainly the small flock keeper who may only be able to keep a few hens and when one stops laying it needs to be replaced but the owner not wanting to kill it herself OR have anyone else do the deed (she had a friend who really wanted chickens but couldn't hurt a fly). She took issue with the people wanting to have hens for eggs while they lay and then rehome them to someone else who will just let them live out their natural life in chicken-pecking bliss. She said this is irresponsible and if we are to raise chickens then we need to be responsible for them until the end. Anyhow, I think I'm rambling now... But that is what I want to be - a responsible, respectful chicken owner who loves her chickens, raises them well and then dispatches them (or by proxy DH) with respect and humanity. And that is more than most chickens ever get.
