Do you let your children watch you butcher a chicken?

[Meat Hunter]

I think if they are able to have a basic understanding of how the meat gets to the table, and if they want to watch, I say let them. It's important not just for them, but for everyone, to know just how food goes from field to table and to understand that it does not just show up under saran wrap in the stores. If they get freaked out, then stop and send them inside until the process is complete. I started both my children I believe around the age of 6. Not only with chickens, but with the processing of deer. My daughter was quite insistent that she be allowed to disembowel the chicken. She took an active role in processing them. Not so much on the deer though, she leaves that to dad LOL.

I think we have an obligation to be part of the process and not let others do it for us. Our basic primal instinct to hunt, kill and process our food is being replaced by nicely prepared packs of meat with fancy names under plastic wrap. I am pretty passionate when it comes to it. It is not something that gets me all giddy and bloodthirsty, but I find an immense sense of satisfaction knowing that I am able to take something whether is be a deer, pheasant, chicken or rabbit, kill it humanely as possible, clean it, process it and serve it at the table.

 

[ladyride]

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[brenda+2]

Thanks for all your thoughts! I feel really good about including my children when we process our next bird. I'll keep you posted.

 

[LilyD]

I would suggest not letting them watch until they are older. I know my sister let her kids watch when she processed our last group of meaties and they wouldn't eat chicken for quite some time after that. Once they are older and understand that the chickens have so much better lives living on our farm in the sun with room to roam about than in a cage with a feeder in front of them where they can turn around and poop and that's it it is definitely easier to let them watch or even help.

 

[jwg423]

My kids were about that age when they started to watch and help out, with the pigs. I was terrified but their dad decided that it was good for them to know. So I reluctantly let them see the process. Turns out that I am the one who had the most difficulty with it. We haven't had to do any of our chickens yet, but I assume that it will be the same.

 

[elieugene6]

Ok, I have to add my 2 cents. I always helped my grandmother growing up. I hated seeing them run without heads. That being said when we first got chickens I knew we would be processing because that is just part of having them. We don't chop heads off. My fiance insists its easier but I wont let him. I have still been unable to watch the killing process. I don't know why I am having trouble. Probably an ingrained fear that it will be like it was even though I know it isn't. I have watched online videos. I catch the roosters, I hang them up in the cone and all he does is slice the neck. I then come back and pluck and do everything else.

My four year old daughter is interested and would probably watch the whole process if allowed. She will be allowed as soon as I can get my courage up. lol. She watches me scald, pluck and gut. Two days ago she wanted to touch and we allowed it. My 8 yr old son will not look at anything until it is completely dressed and looks like a store bought chicken. We don't force it. They both will eat our chickens and we do have favorites that will never end up on our dinner plates. I do hope that some day I can convince my son to watch but he may have been coddled to much as he was younger. He does have respect for his food though.

Personally I think the younger the better if they show an interest. As we get older I think it makes it harder. I know that if I was alone and had no one to help I would be able to do it I just don't want to. I have always been an animal lover and could never bring myself to hunt. I am trying to get over it because I want to be able to provide my own food. It has a better life that way.

 

[kimntep]

Children don't know what they don't know and only know what they are taught. My children have never been in a situation where they could or would want to watch anything being butchered, though all of them fish. If they were raised, however, in an environment where we raised our own meat and they'd grown up knowing that's how it was, they wouldn't know any different, so it wouldn't necessarily be a shock. Our chickens are raised only for eggs and most of them can be called pets PLUS I'm a big wimp, so we'd never think of eating them, but it that's life for your children, they'd probably be ok. Let them be the guides and good luck!

 

[ChickyLove]

I'm glad this thread was started, as it's provided some deep insight for me in how to handle the same when it comes along. Right now we just have three little chicks and they are out PETS. I have explained to my five year old little girl that we never eat our pets, but we WILL eat what they produce, whether it be just eggs or whether it be the chickens that come from those eggs. We do not name our food. She knows that we should never let a creature suffer. Whether it's a spider that we stepped on and it's still moving, a pet who is dying from cancer or injury, or something that we are killing to eat ourselves. I grew up in a family that hunts and fishes. My Dad on more than one occasion has hunted dear, pheasant, grouse, turkey, rabbit and brought them home to be dressed and eaten. I remember one year we were so dirt poor that we ate nothing but trout for about four months. I gutted them, cooked them. I was quite young and am not traumatized by it. My father handled everything in a very matter of fact way. Right down to explaining that certain times of year we do not hunt/fish for certain types of animals, so that population has time to grow/spawn. We tend our own little garden (it's looking kinda sad this week due to the tornado!) and eat what we produce. I think that it is extremely important for children to be exposed (at an age appropriate time!!) to the methods and ideals of raising crops and food. Give the creatures that are entrusted to you the best life possible right up until you humanely slaughter and eat them. JMO

 

[Life is Good!]

Let each child guide you to what she/he wishes to be involved with.

Our oldest son has ALWAYS been interested in seeing/knowing where his food came from. Age 3, sitting in a restaurant, loud voice, "so steak comes from cows, right?!" as only a 3yo can do. From age 4, he's the one to carry the fish filets from the fishhouse to the cabin - standing on a stool so he could see what dh and granddad were doing. At age 10, we bought him his own filet knife and he can now (age 13) filet as well as dh (albeit slower, as he's more interested in doing a bit of dissection while fileting!)

Second son has NEVER been interested in seeing what happens. Is glad it's in front of him on his plate. Knows full well where it comes from. Last year (age 8), he finally went into the fishhouse to peek at what older brother was doing. Has very little interest in doing the work. He'll help in the kitchen though, so he helps cook it all. Not a bad set of kids.

Let each one guide you to what they'd like to do - same as with any activity!

 

[prairiehen74369]

Here's a chicken butchering story you may or may not find it amusing. My youngest was 5 and I had hatched several chicks out in the incubator several roosters my Mother was visiting and insisted we butcher them while they were young and tender we sent the youngest to town with his big brother on an errand. I was in charge of deheading them we had the job done by the time the boys got home. In walks the little guy with this chickens head saying ''I wanted to save this one.'' I hadn't gotten that head in the burn barrel oops. My children were county born and raised and under stood the process no matter if it was a show steer or lamb. They will tell you today its not easy raising them up with the best of care knowing what the out come will be, but its the best food there is. We never made a big deal of it so they didn't well maybe once.