Do you let your children watch you butcher a chicken?

[triplepurpose]

I can think of few better lessons for a child than being part of such an experience! Like anything else, it's not something that necessarily needs to be forced on them, but if they are ASKING to watch (this is the key thing), what a perfect opportunity to involve them! There is absolutely no reason to "hide" slaughter from your children (or anyone else's), as if it were something wrong or shameful--how is this possibly a healthy approach to take? If you slaughter, it ought to be treated as a normal part of life--trying to hide from yourself or others this fact of life, as "Western culture" is so damningly fond of doing, is irresponsible and, frankly, perverted.

Besides, likely most of the conflict is in your head, not in the children's--I've noticed that most children tend to be a lot less traumatized by watching home slaughter, presented appropriately and sensitively, than a lot of adults generally fear they will be. And why WOULD they be? After all, it's a natural part of life!

 

[chickenzoo]

Can this thread be moved to either meat birds or family stories etc...... it's disturbing to those just looking for funny chicken stories... hehe

 

[Jim Pryce]

My kids had no problem with it. They know where there food comes from. My Daughter Sarah actually in Kindergarten wrote a paper on how her Dad(me) after returning home from a Goose hunting trip dressed out the Goose. It made the teacher & other kids queasy, but she had no trouble expressing her feelings & describing what the job entailed.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

When we slaughtered our 50 meaties earlier this spring my nieces, 6 and 9, were involved in the whole process. I had told them from the time the chicks arrived that we were going to be eating them. I reiterated this each time we interacted with the chicks as they aged. On slaughter day the girls were great helpers. They caught chickens, tossed chickens in the plucker, carried them to the eviscerating stations, and even helped there. My 6 year old niece helped cut off feet with shears, and the 9 year old processed a couple of chickens all by herself.

I think so long as they are emotionally prepared by the adults they trust for processing day it won't be traumatic to them, and it'll be educational, even fun, for them.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

My middle daughter fondly recalls her only real memory of my mother, who died after a lengthy illness, when DD was 9. DD was about 5 and stood on a chair at the kitchen sink while Grandma processed and cleaned a chicken- explaining the different organs inside and what she was doing as she went along.
My DD treasures her memory of Grandma and thinks it's awesome that her one clear memory is of such a teachable moment.
Children often don't retain early memories unless they are significant/traumatic. Think about what YOU remember from your childhood. I believe a lot has to do with the adults' attitude towards what is happening. Children pick up on your unspoken attitudes.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

A few years ago, our farmer neighbors were doing their annual family butchering ( 2 steers, 4 pigs). Everyone helps and their teenage daughter brought her best friend. Her friend wants to be a doctor and was thrilled at the prospect of actually being able to help with the entire process and see and examine the carcasses to identify organs, muscles, etc, that she knew she would be memorizing in a few short years. What a learning experience!

At our 4H club, one meeting a year is led by a veterinarian and focuses on an actual examination of a system of a cow using a specimen from a butcherhouse. Hands-on is encouraged.

 

[Chicksatlast]

Thank you very much for this thread. I am such a newbie, first flock is just 12 wks old, but I have been looking forward to "processing" day (with some apprehension). When I placed our order of 25, I purposely ordered 10 roosters, knowing that too many roosters would have to keep me from backing out when the time came. I know that once I work through the apprehension, I will be so proud of being able to assist in providing good clean, healthy, flavorful meat for my husband and I - as well as our grown kids eventually.

Thank you very much for all of your insight. I might be in my 60's, but I feel like a child as I anticipate this next big step in my life. Thank you.

toby1959, I am going to try to send a personal msg to you. I am very thankful for this opportunity to give these birds the best life possible before they feed me. I am interested in your prayer of thanks if you wouldn't mind sharing something so personal.

 

[lilwhispers]

I allow my kids to help if they like. This last set we butchered the kids helped with everything EXCEPT the killing although they did help kill the rabbits we did a few months ago.

 

[tassiedevil]

Myself, My children and my granddaughter, 4, all know what to do with a chicken to get it to the table! We all learnt at a very young age. We also butcher our own beef and lambs. If kids grow up with it humanely and quickly done, they learn an invaluable lesson on life and where food comes from.
Please tho dont let the headless chicken flap around the yard blood spurting everywhere. A large bucket to drop them in until the flapping stops is better.
Even better is to hold wings back with legs to decapitate then hold down on ground to bleed out, and the flapping stops. Then dunk into hot water, not boiling, approx 85 degrees, (straight out of my hot water cylinder is spot on). with a few drops of liquid detergent added. Swish around til tail and wing feathers come out easily, dunk into cold water . Feathers will fall off easily. Once to that stage, for the sensitive person, it looks like a chicken from the supermarket (well almost)!!
I believe kids pick up on the expression on the adults faces rather than any feelings of upset for the chook!
Keep neutral look on your face. Its a job.

 

[Rathbone]

I think the above words were right on. Keep your face calm and easy and don't let the chicken flap about. My grandfather taught me to put the bird in a burlap bag with a hole cut in the corner. Bird puts his head out, you cut it off. The body being in the bag eliminates a lot of blood spraying around - and in my family - elimantes the kids seeing what appears to be a struggling body.