Don't you feel bad?

[cluckmecoop7]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you feel bad when you butcher? How do you train yourself not to feel bad? How do you kill the bird before thinking that you might not? I am wondering this because I am getting chickens....egg chickens. I will eventually be getting meat birds. This is my first time having chickens.

Thanks

 

[Chelsea-85]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you feel bad when you butcher? How do you train yourself not to feel bad? How do you kill the bird before thinking that you might not? I am wondering this because I am getting chickens....egg chickens. I will eventually be getting meat birds. This is my first time having chickens.

Thanks

Don't feel bad at all because they are created to be domesticated, lay eggs and, after all, be eaten by humans. I bought 3 chicks and kept them for 4 months, after that I ate them all, but I myself have never butchered any bird in my life; chickenshop keepers did for me.

 

[sumi]

Here's a good discussion on the topic: Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

Me personally, I don't butcher my birds and probably would find it very hard to do.

 

[SueT]

If after having egg layers, and you think you still want meat birds, you could look into having someone else butcher for you.

 

[WhiteWyan]

I suggest finding a very quick method of dispatch. I tried cutting the throat with a hunting knife and sometimes the first cut wouldnt do it. Their feathers stopped the blade. I felt truly horrible about it. Next time I am going with tree loppers. The quicker the kill the less guilt.

 

[Acre4Me]

They are livestock and rather than “feel bad”, my family feels happy and thankful for good food and for providing a quick and humane end to an otherwise good life. As another says “one bad moment in their lifetime”.

Your meat birds don’t have to be killed in a negative manner. They don’t need to suffer. If you are not sure you can do it yourself at first then find someone who will show you and guide you through your first bird. While you can rely on YouTube... you sound like a person who could benefit from an in-person tutor. Because if you are this worried and emotional, the worst thing you can do for the bird is to have it pinned down or in a kill-cone and be hesitant...for a while, while working up your nerve.

You can contact your local ag extension office to see if they know of any people or farms that offer classes, some do this service, some offer “homesteading” classes. An older teen in 4-H might be willing to help, but call the local 4-H office for your county.

My tween has helped butcher birds twice...no problems or hesitations, but there was a learning curve of course, and an adult in-person tutor too! We’ve done unwanted cockerels and meat chickens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I was wondering if any of you feel bad when you butcher? How do you train yourself not to feel bad?

I have not trained myself to not feel bad when I take a life. The rest of butchering is not a big deal, it's just meat. But there is a certain finality about the moment you go beyond the point of no return. But my main goal for having chickens is meat, much more than eggs. Those chickens would never have been hatched if I were not going to eat them so the killing is necessary.

The way I look at it they had a great life and one bad moment. I try to make that one bad moment as quick and sure as I can so it is very short.

 

[annageckos]

I have never slaughtered a chicken, but use to raise rats for feeders. I love rats, they are very sweet animals but my other animals need to eat and that is their food. It was hardest at first. I can say I never got over (and don't want to) feeling bad for taking their lives. It is ok to feel, I'd say it is a good thing. Killing anything should be taken seriously and you should have respect for them and the process. It gets easier the more you do it though. The animals were well cared for and had a very good life. Much better than the mass raised rodents(or other animals for the most part). I made the act of killing as quick and painless as I could. I don't raise any chickens right now, but I do plan to raise meat birds once I move. It helps to think that if you are going to eat meat an animal has to die. At least if you are doing it yourself you know the animals are well cared for and the end is as quick as possible.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

I tried for weeks to do my first kill, couldn't do it, finally gave him to a friend, he cut his throat, so that it bled out and then offered him back to me, and I told him to keep it. I am still working on the killing part....

 

[sourland]

I grew up in a situation where animals were raised for food so it felt natural to me. I agree with everything that Ridgerunner has posted. It is good to not take for granted the ending of a life. Definitely have someone who is experienced help you initially. Good luck.