does anyone ever get used to killing and eating their birds

[BoomChickaRocka]

These animals were raised for food and thats all there is in my mind. Although my detachment from these animals may a bit skewed as I grew up on a farm and have been butchering chickens since i was a child. They're bred for a purpose and to keep them alive past that purpose is actually a little selfish. The Cornish Cross was not meant to live much past 8-10 weeks and have a high mortality rate past that so to keep them alive past that causes distress for the animal.

 

[blueskylen]

i must admit that i cannot process my meaties when they are ready - i know that i raise them strictly for food, and try to remain detached from them, but just can't bring myself to do it and there is also the mess factore. have someone fairly local that we take them to, thank goodness!.

 

[Wife's Chicken Killer]

Quote:
My wife is the same way. Hence my screen name... She can't handle, feed, or even be around the meaties.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I am about to hatch my first batch of eggs - knowing that I'm going to end up with a bunch of surplus roos I have to cull. I had to cull a roo last year because he was so mean but geez, did I cry, even though he was meaner than a junk yard dog. I felt so guilty thinking it was my fault he ended up mean. Later on I re-homed a roo but didn't feel much better about that result because the roo was so unhappy in his new situation!! So this question is very appropriate for me.

 

[redbudchix]

Even though I have yet to get my first chickens, this has been weighing very heavy on my mind. How do you do it? You name them, love them, take care of them...? I know, in my mind they aren't supposed to live very long, are raised for a purpose, etc...but if I name them, hold them,....I think this will be my main stumbling block to raising chickens?

 

[Wife's Chicken Killer]

Quote:
I wish/hope this question would be in the hearts and minds of anyone that raises/harvests their own animals for meat.

Once we lose our empathy and AFFECT towards the slaughter of an animal, the next step could be losing it towards to the care of the animal, too.

I hope never to become so conditioned toward the killing of an animal that I don't care about it. For then who is to say that I cared about raising it...

Of course, I'm not saying we must cry and moan for every bird that we process... Just that we should recognize that we have a responsibility to harvest the animal ethically and give thanks for it.

Now, my wife... will NEVER be able to be involved in this process. Knowing that I can and do care for them well is enough for her. If she were ever to interact with them they would all be "off the menu" and ultimately die of heart attacks (crosses) which would be horrible...

atleast, my .02

 

[redbudchix]

My brain hears what you say, but having animals all my life-I am having great difficulty. I did volunteer raptor work for two years. I learned to skin "pinkies"- newly born rats/mice. We had to feed them to the bay raptors...surprisingly-I could do this. Got quite good at it. I think because it was necessary, and I had not looked them in the eye...I know I will really struggle with this.

 

[JulieNKC]

Wife's Chicken Killer :

Quote:
I wish/hope this question would be in the hearts and minds of anyone that raises/harvests their own animals for meat.

Once we lose our empathy and AFFECT towards the slaughter of an animal, the next step could be losing it towards to the care of the animal, too.

I hope never to become so conditioned toward the killing of an animal that I don't care about it. For then who is to say that I cared about raising it...

Of course, I'm not saying we must cry and moan for every bird that we process... Just that we should recognize that we have a responsibility to harvest the animal ethically and give thanks for it.

Now, my wife... will NEVER be able to be involved in this process. Knowing that I can and do care for them well is enough for her. If she were ever to interact with them they would all be "off the menu" and ultimately die of heart attacks (crosses) which would be horrible...

atleast, my .02

Beautifully said!​

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Wife's Chicken Killer :

Quote:
I wish/hope this question would be in the hearts and minds of anyone that raises/harvests their own animals for meat.

Once we lose our empathy and AFFECT towards the slaughter of an animal, the next step could be losing it towards to the care of the animal, too.

I hope never to become so conditioned toward the killing of an animal that I don't care about it. For then who is to say that I cared about raising it...

Of course, I'm not saying we must cry and moan for every bird that we process... Just that we should recognize that we have a responsibility to harvest the animal ethically and give thanks for it.

Now, my wife... will NEVER be able to be involved in this process. Knowing that I can and do care for them well is enough for her. If she were ever to interact with them they would all be "off the menu" and ultimately die of heart attacks (crosses) which would be horrible...

atleast, my .02

I may have to hire you! Or someone like you ....

But I AM determined.

(Mine ALL have names. I can't help myself. Heck, I'll probably have all the eggs named!!!!!!

)​

 

[redbudchix]

Hiring someone is something I will probably have to do, at least in the beginning. I have prided myself on giving the best care I can, to any animal entrusted to me, and to kill and eat it, is something I can't heart my heart around.