don’t you feel bad?

[FortCluck]

And other people do... you miss the point here. You have the people who have been keeping them as meat animals to thank for your pets. This is why people do not feel bad when it comes time to slaughter, because we are treating them as intended. You don't have to, and clearly don't, but we do. So.... asking about if we feel bad for using livestock as intended comes across as an attack, not as a plea to our animal-loving natures.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Do you eat beef? Pork? Chicken? Turkey?

no, no, no, and no.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

If it's any comfort: times are changing. Sanctuaries like Woodstock and the Gentle Barn wouldn't have existed several decades ago, but they do now. More and more ducks and chickens and pigs get to live out happy, natural, full lives and more people are growing and learning about eating without killing.

I'm happy to hear about your drakes! My drake was always my favorite, and I've thought about adopting more in the future. Someday ....

thanks

 

[bobbi-j]

other people can use them as livestock, but they are my pets just like my other animals are

I was going to say dog and cats aren't close to ducks at all. Dogs and cats aren't livestock like ducks, they're domestic pets. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Ducks were never intended

This is the thing - you're comparing pets to livestock. You really can't compare the two. Those who keep poultry as pets are not going to process them and eat them any more than we would eat our pet dogs or cats.

I keep my chickens primarily for eggs, but do process them once they start slowing down in laying. No, I don't enjoy it. Butchering day is always a bit sad for me, but I go into every bunch I raise knowing that one day they will be processed. They are livestock.

 

[Skippersnh]

The only thing I could cull is spiders

 

[The Angry Hen]

I'm not a 'vegan' or 'vegetarian'... I'm a carnivore. I have respect for people in whom farm- raising their livestock/poultry specifically for that one purpose. Feeding their family, making a business. The animals were never wild, always living a captive life.
Most hunters, on the other hand, I do not respect. Specifically trophy hunters or hunters that do farm, but have hunting as a side hobby.
Certain animals weren't raised to be eaten. Yes, they have predators... but why do we have to be one of the predators when we have the freedom to raise our own stock? Maybe you don't have the money... so hunting is the only resort. This, I can tolerate. But why not hunt foxes, fishers, predators, etc?

As far as it goes with ducks. With chickens, I've experienced having to re-home roosters. It's very tricky to do! Nobody wants roosters! I use roosters for breeding stock and flock protection, along with natural beauty... but if a bird's aggressive, there's no reason to keep him/her and many people agree.
I don't cull my birds. Nor do I raise them for meat. I haven't had ducks, either, so I'm not an expert like many of the helpful folks here at BYC.
But sometimes, one may have to cull or re-home if the breeding (and health issues/aggressiveness) gets out of hand. It's indeed a sad thing... but may be the best decision in the the long run.

So before any decisions, I'd try to re-home to someone with more time and patience.

 

[Ratchnick]

I think people forget that everyone has to kill (or have it done for them) to eat. Does not matter if it's a chicken or a carrot. For some reason people get vertibrare bias. I think it's easier to connect with animals because they are cute and fluffy.

Nobody wants to kill their pets, to some people ducks are pets, to other they are food. Same thing with dogs, cats, and even plants! What a strange world we live in, no wonder we fail to see others viewpoints.

 

[2 many chickens]

I respect others decisions to kill and eat their livestock, I do.
I, on the other hand, will not kill or eat my animals. Just not what I need to do or want to do. I will continue to buy meat elsewhere. It doesn't bother me. Kudos to those that do what they feel is right.

 

[tripletfeb]

I'm actually offended by all the people saying grocery store meat is terrible and inhumane, blah blah blah. Not all of us that eat meat have the space or ability to raise our own livestock. I might be in the minority but I don't mind buying grocery store meat. And no, its not organic or grass fed. Call me what you want, but I have a family to feed on a small budget. And yes, my husband hunts deer, yum!!

 

[KaleIAm]

My ducks are pets, just as my cats and dogs are. I would never cull them. I'm also vegan, and have been for about 30 years.

However, I don't think eating meat is wrong. Factory farming, however is an entirely different story, in my opinion. The people who give their meat birds a good life before having one uncomfortable moment are being very moral, in my opinion.

It isn't the right choice for me, or, it sounds like, for you, duck mommy, but for people who chose to eat meat it definitely does the least harm.

Enjoy your drakes. <3