don’t you feel bad?

[Duck mommy 2019]

i have ducks, drakes, and everyone says to kill them. i’m not going to. my question is how do u kill at a few months old when it can live 10+ more years? not to upset anyone this just makes me so sad when i see my ducks playing and swimming...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It depends on how you view life I suppose. Everything eats. If you are a meat eater it makes sense to raise your own. Most animals are butchered younger for more tender meat. It's easier to me than waiting until they are older and I know them more.

It's the whole circle of life stuff. It does make your head spin thinking about it sometimes. It's one reason I'm a vegetarian.

 

[sourland]

I'm not sure what the situation is, but if too many drakes start gang breeding and drowning the ducks you will be far more sad.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

I'm not sure what the situation is, but if too many drakes start gang breeding and drowning the ducks you will be far more sad.

males and females are separated, males that fight each other are also separated

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

It depends on how you view life I suppose. Everything eats. If you are a meat eater it makes sense to raise your own. Most animals are butchered younger for more tender meat. It's easier to me than waiting until they are older and I know them more.

It's the whole circle of life stuff. It does make your head spin thinking about it sometimes. It's one reason I'm a vegetarian.

why do you butcher if vegetarian?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

why do you butcher if vegetarian?

My husband eats meat and I respect that. I keep the poultry, and he butchers anything that I don't have room for or if they are troublemakers. I make every decision based on what's best for everyone. They are never easy on me.

He's gonna eat meat no matter, so it may as well be something that was living a good free life. Meat bought in the grocery store is usually raised in close confinement, and has never known a good natural life.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

My husband eats meat and I respect that. I keep the poultry, and he butchers anything that I don't have room for or if they are troublemakers. I make every decision based on what's best for everyone. They are never easy on me.

He's gonna eat meat no matter, so it may as well be something that was living a good free life. Meat bought in the grocery store is usually raised in close confinement, and has never known a good natural life.

i get that, but what makes me sad is how they could live 10+ years longer but don’t get too simply because someone wants them for dinner

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

i get that, but what makes me sad is how they could live 10+ years longer but don’t get too simply because someone wants them for dinner

Lots of critters never live out their full lives. 10 years isn't a guarantee. I had a bunch of birds taken by a fox this past summer. He was trying to feed his family. Can I fault him for that? It's the way it is. Nothing lives forever.

All you can do is tend to your own critters, and keep them as you see fit. If you don't want to butcher yours than you don't have to. Other people have a right to raise birds for meat.

I choose to have most of my birds live out their lives here. I'm lucky I can afford to do so, not everyone can.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

It's okay to be upset or sad about the loss of life. I'm sad every time we send a steer or hog to the butcher, especially if I have spent time with them. Just try to think of it like this: A lot of people raise animals so that they know what they are feeding, what they are eating, and how well they are treated. It's no different than going to the store and buying meat, as far as butchering goes. But there is a difference in quality of meat and quality of life.
Who is telling you to kill them?

 

[debbie22]

It's okay to be upset or sad about the loss of life. I'm sad every time we send a steer or hog to the butcher, especially if I have spent time with them. Just try to think of it like this: A lot of people raise animals so that they know what they are feeding, what they are eating, and how well they are treated. It's no different than going to the store and buying meat, as far as butchering goes. But there is a difference in quality of meat and quality of life.
Who is telling you to kill them?

@Meg-in-MT I absolutely agree with you! I have tried, but found it psychologically impossible to eat anything I have personally raised, although since I have been keeping poultry I have a new respect for farmers and smallholders and for the well-being of all livestock. I mostly buy my meat locally from butchers, who buy in their meat from local farms. When I do buy meat from supermarkets, I always take from the organic, free range section. If money is tight I choose to eat less meat, rather than compromise my principles. There is a 100% correlation between quality of meat, quality of diet and quality of life. And I would say exactly the same about the eggs from my own poultry. Lovely hard shells and beautiful yolks from a happy, well fed flock.