Does this make me cold hearted and evil?

[toejam]

This is my view. I DONT laugh at the people who lose their birds. I dont cry much when I lose a bird(s) unkess it is one of my birds that are close to me. (EX: if toejam and floyd would die I would cry since they are my only chickens around from my first time getting chickens. I respect that other people are sad they lost their bird.

 

[Hennyhandler]

I can't believe I am going to jump in on this one but... here I go. The thing is yotetrapper, it seems as if in your later posts that you are a little exasperated over the fact that other members are disagreeing with you or getting a tad upset but in making this thread you opened yourself to people that don't agree and find it totally offensive. You asked what we thought of what you said and now that we deliver you don't really want to hear it.

Besides, I can't get where you say that when a chicken dies, it dies. That it's a part of life. Then you mention that these animals are not our first born. The point I am trying to make is that if, God forbid, someone's child or loved one died it would not be "Oh, well it's a natural part of life. Let's move on." You would be devastated so it is not that it is a part of life. It is that it's a chicken and not a person. And THAT I disagree with. They feel and breathe just like we do.

On another note, I do understand a little where you are coming from in the culling. I wouldn't want an animal to suffer because I was selfish but I DO NOT take it lightly. I would have to measure the situation and would feel awful and would cry. Why not? They mean something to me and to many others. You say they are livestock. No, they are livestock to YOU. There is a difference and the thing is whether they are livestock or not that doesn't mean you can't cry over them or you can't feel bad about it. They are pets to a lot of us and what is wrong with that? Who says they can't be? Who draws the line between a dog and a chicken?
By the way, a dog would NEVER be put down because it killed a chicken. It is there nature and my fault that it happened or it was an accident.

I don't understand why you would laugh at people that feel this way. Even because they take the chicken to the vet. People take dogs. Yet again who draws the line between the two? Just because it is unusual doens't mean it isn't okay or right.

I think I have said enough that I don't need to go into every subject mentioned. My opinion is known on how I feel about this in general. I do think many on here love their pets and treat them as such which makes me, a vegetarian, feel pretty darn comfortable for the most part.

 

[yotetrapper]

Quote:
I guess, the thing that made me stop getting SO attached to critters was when I lost my dog when I was 18 or so. I considered that dog as part of my family, my sister if you will. And I totally overreacted and was torn to shreds by her death. So, after that, I knew it was a matter of not having animals, or coming to understand that animals are just that... animals, not humans. And, for me, that works wonderfully. I loved that dog in the way I love my mom, or my husband, and in my opinion, that was WRONG. So, now I consider my animals, dogs, poultry, what not, as animals. Does that mean I love them less? Yes, I suppose it does, as I love them as an animal, not a family member. I dont love my chicken the way I love my husband, which I believe some (most?) on here do.... I love my chickens as chickens. Some have personalities, and I love them more than others, but I love all of them.......as chickens. When a favorite dies, I soon have a "new favorite". I love them in general, as a whole, not as irreplaceable life companions....

none of this makes any sense to you all?

 

[redhen]

Quote:
I guess, the thing that made me stop getting SO attached to critters was when I lost my dog when I was 18 or so. I considered that dog as part of my family, my sister if you will. And I totally overreacted and was torn to shreds by her death. So, after that, I knew it was a matter of not having animals, or coming to understand that animals are just that... animals, not humans. And, for me, that works wonderfully. I loved that dog in the way I love my mom, or my husband, and in my opinion, that was WRONG. So, now I consider my animals, dogs, poultry, what not, as animals. Does that mean I love them less? Yes, I suppose it does, as I love them as an animal, not a family member. I dont love my chicken the way I love my husband, which I believe some (most?) on here do.... I love my chickens as chickens. Some have personalities, and I love them more than others, but I love all of them.......as chickens. When a favorite dies, I soon have a "new favorite". I love them in general, as a whole, not as irreplaceable life companions....

none of this makes any sense to you all?

yup..i get what yyou are saying..
but..see..you dont know me..

I dont think my animals are human..i dont put human emotions on them..
But i still can care deeply for them..and it can hurt very much when we lose one.
Now.. i'm not as deeply attached to ALL my chickens/ducks in the same way...
Some i am more attached to than others...
and of course those are ones that seem to get killed... *sigh*


also.. i do NOT hesitate to cull an injured bird..i'd do it in a heartbeat to end its suffering.(i believe its my job as that animals care taker..to not let it suffer..).. and i have stated in many threads..that i think that they should cull the bird. I dont believe in letting a very injured bird suffer and linger... if i cant take it to a vet.(which i usually wont..).. we cull it.

 

[DuckLady]

Quote:
Why is that any of our concern?
I have taken my cats to a vet and a couple ducks to a vet. So what? Does that mean I should feel obligated to go find someone who doesn't have health insurance and pay for their doctor visits instead of spending my money as I see fit? How I spend my money is my business. If I want to spend it taking an ant who got into the ant poison to a vet, that is entirely my business and mine alone.

 

[Bluemoon420]

Quote:
That's what she meant. You are leasing the dumpster from the place who provides the trash pick up. Or, you own the dumpster outright, and they charge for the pickup. Most places you lease dumpsters have rules about sticking livestock in them. ( including chickens) They don't neccessarily search thru the trash to make sure you aren't throwing livestock in the dumpster, but if they happen to notice it they will let you know about it. Some let you off with a warning, others place a fine. Depends on the company.

Bluemoon

 

[dntd]

I see them as both pets and live stock, just like rats, they make great pets but they also make great feeders. Of course I have only ever cried once about a pet. My bichon fell from a bed as a puppy and looked like she was dieing, I was so upset so crazy, I wanted a dog for 5 years, got her and a few days later she almost dies horrible. I see chickens like hamsters, sure they could live 8 years but in reality they live such a short life.

 

[speckledhen]

If I could afford an avian vet, I might have considered taking one of my internal layers to him/her. However, there is no permanent cure for it, and I wouldn't go so far as to have a hysterectomy done on a hen. I've known someone who did and I think that was entirely her decision. I would have taken my BR rooster, Zane, when he was having all the hock infections if someone could have fixed his leg. He is still with me, but crippled. He enjoys life and I make sure he has things to keep his interest. Why do I do that? Because I love that sweet rooster as much as I've loved any dog I've ever had--and I really love dogs. After my dog is gone, I will get no more dogs. We can no longer afford the vet bills and I'd rather have chickens anyway.
Not taking a chicken to a vet for me is a money issue more than anything; that, and the fact that most vets don't know as much about chickens as most long-time chicken keepers. If there is money for that purpose, why shouldn't I?

 

[yotetrapper]

Oh, I dont camoflauge mine, he knows there in there and hasn't mentioned it yet, so I guess it must be ok. He's a really cool garbage man, takes about anything we put out there.

 

[OccamsTazer]

I don't understand feeling anger or disdain over a person who is sorry for another being's pain.
Yes, sometimes I disagree with the way others are handling an injury. Not my business though.
It might not be how I would handle it, but good grief, the world needs more people who care!
And since when are men not allowed to cry?