Does this make me cold hearted and evil?

[speckledhen]

Well, I wouldn't throw my deceased dog in a dumpster without a second thought, though some sects do treat dogs like livestock and trade them and keep them in undesirable conditions. That said, what you do with one when it's dead doesn't matter--it's dead. It's the way you care for them when they're alive that matters and I think you're stereotyping folks quite a bit here.

You can think of your birds however you wish, but most of mine are very much like dogs, begging for petting, wanting to sit on my lap for ages, etc. They know I have no food, they truly want my company. My chickens are very much pets, however, if one was severely injured, I would put it down immediately. Same with respiratory disease--no treatment for that will ever be administered here and I advise all others to cull for that issue. Just because I see mine as pets doesn't mean I can't do what's necessary when it's time. And I culled an aggressive rooster, no problem. They're still pets.

I won't ever have a house chicken in a diaper, but I don't make that call for anyone else. Each to his own. I see things in my birds that you apparently don't. Truthfully, I feel a bit sorry for anyone who owns a flock, but never really gets to know them as an individuals. They're amazing creatures.

What I find rather appalling is that you say "You ever read a post that is intended to be a tear jerker, an "oh my God my poor chicken" type post, and you know you should feel sympathy, but you just can't help yourself, you chuckle?"

You think it's funny when someone feels empathy for a sick or injured chicken? I'm not sure what to say about that except that you can't really think you'll get much sympathy for that statement in this crowd. I hope that was just a poor choice of words on your part.

Since I have commented on this thread, I will alert the Staff to watch for it to tank and act accordingly.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

People have different levels of empathy, and different ways of viewing the world. I wouldn't be so quick to judge people as "bleeding hearts" or "pathetically overemotional" just because they have a different view towards and connection to their birds. You may see chickens as livestock that exist for a utility purpose, but many of us see chickens as pets, an animal we have an emotional attachment to, and treat them as such. All of my chickens are kept for a solely pet purpose. I've had some of my birds for going on twelve years now, since I was ten years old. Of course I have some level of emotional attachment to them.

I agree with others who have said the same--if you can't sympathize or are just going to laugh at someone for going through a rough time, it's probably better not to even click.

I don't click on the threads about killing birds for meat because I'm a vegetarian and disagree with the act of killing for food, and I'm sure you can show the same respect for people even if you disagree with them.

EDIT: SpeckledHen put it beautifully.

 

[Zahboo]

I think that's a little harsh. Yes sometimes people can't make the judgement to cull, but we love these guys LIKE THEY WERE OUR CHILDREN. They aren't things that peck the ground until we decide to eat them. They are pets. For me, I'd die for my girls and guy. I'd screw with a Copperhead to get it away from MY babies. I would run infront of a car to get my hen out of the road and I'd fight a dog that was chasing my girls without a second of thought. I don't think I'm screwed up for doing it either. I know they have feelings and I know they are the best thing that has ever happened to me. They bring me joy and if I lose one you're dang right I'm going to cry my eyes out for days and slaughter whatever caused their death. We post here because others share our compassion for chickens.

 

[patnjess]

Oh I completely know where your coming from!!! You know its like when you are driving threw the catholic orphange parking lot and hit a kid or two, you know they don't belong to anyone or anything, but what really bothers me is when it damages my freaking car!!!

come on! Of course they are chickens. Heck if I run over squirells or hit a bird I'm disturbed. Your comment is little weird.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

And sometimes, I will open a post, and see where a chicken was dog mauled, or attacked by a coon, etc. etc., and to me it's obvious it needs to be put down, and the people are all like, Oh no I just can't stop crying and my chicken is sufferring but I'm keeping it alive, and I can't cull it, never been so sad in my life, etc. etc., and sometimes I just can't help it, sometimes I laugh out loud because really, people, these are livestock, not your first born son.

I agree with that. While I dont laugh at it, I think its pretty sad that the bird has to sit there and suffer when obviously it should be put down. JMO.​

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I think it's dangerous to lack the capability to cull. If you keep chickens, that's one of the most important things to learn IMO because things happen. I do see some of the issues on here where folks keep them going for SOOOOOOOOOO long because they can't cull...for lack of a better word...sickening. It makes me more upset when some won't cull than it does if a dog finishes the job in the first place. I don't think any of it is laughable...silly maybe, but not anything I would find amusing. My kid is really softhearted with the birds and cries every time something happens to one. Eventually when we have raised them for several more years and she grows up a bit, she'll realize it's a part of life. You have to remember too a lot of folks on this site ARE KIDS. Kids are naturally more sensitive even if they aren't dubbed as pets from the get go. Ours are livestock, and we have a handful that are semi pet status. Just go easy on folks. Everybody is different. I wouldn't rush a chicken to the vet and would feel very stupid doing so...but lots of people on here would. It all boils down to the individual. Live and let live.

 

[Beekissed]

Now, I don't laugh at those posts....rather I don't bother clicking them open as they kind of make me weary.

It does distress me that folks can be so maudlin about a chicken but can watch TV shows, real or not, that show human slaughter each evening and call it entertainment....they don't even flinch and they sometimes laugh when someone is killed in an especially unique and brutal manner.

It sickens me when someone says they would give their life for a chicken but do not feel like their neighbor deserves any consideration or will not give houseroom to a foster child or help other humans on a regular basis. I love my pets the same as the next person but I would gladly kill and cook them for another human in need...even the dogs.

I also don't read the threads about people keeping injured or sick animals alive to "give them a chance" when its obvious that the animal is at death's door and needs someone kind enough to open it for them. I learned long ago that what I consider humane and what others feel is two different things...so I don't bother distressing myself by reading those posts.

It doesn't make you cold-hearted or evil at all...it just shows poor judgement in the types of posts you choose to inflict upon your senses.

Live and learn....

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:

 

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:

I'm with Cyn. We cull when we need to. But we only cull for very very serious issues (such as an egg-bound hen who was one of our first chicks). And I definitely try to offer support to people who need to cull.
I suppose it's different if you keep chickens as actual livestock, but I think most on here are pets. After all, this is BackYardChickens.com

ETA: To answer the OP's question, no, I don't think you're cold-hearted or evil.

(Though honestly laughing out loud at a dying chicken is a little... different... from what I would do!)

 

[magistradomina]

I have17 chickens and I love them very much! But if one of my chickens got hurt badly enough that I should put it down,I would put it down. The reason is, the animal would be in a lot of pain, and the best thing to do would to end its misery. I DO NOT think humans should be killed if thier in a lot of pain because they were made by God, and God will take them when He wants them. And if some one takes their life, they have just done somthing that only God should do.