Dumbest Things People Have Said About Your Chickens/Eggs/Meat

[7 Biddies]

that's most of the problem some stupid people make headlines while the people who obey the rules suffer, But there always will be an element not acting responsible,

If the news media would spend some time on the good that happens, rather than just the sensational, it would help a lot.

 

[aoxa]

My best friend of 40 years is like that. She'll gladly swallow down all the steaks and bacon you can throw at her, but can't stand the thought of eating anything that she's seen alive. As in that animal, alive. I just shake my head. The sad part is, I understand it. I really do. The faceless ones from the factory farms have never been seen. But the cute cow or chicken in someone's yard or farm, awwwww. Still, Yes, that's completely wrong and backwards thinking.
Another misconception many vegetarian people have is that we feel glee or happiness when we kill animals. No normal person enjoys that! How crazy!

I just had my first 5 roosters processed by a good friend. I know she does it humanely and quickly, but it does make me sad. I am not sure how to control that emotion. I don't want to feel sad or guilty when eating them. I don't know how to change my feelings. I have not had meat from any other source but locally for years. And then they have to show me pictures on how they raise their chickens. It's just knowing and caring for those birds and then seeing them after processed that makes me feel sad.

I also have had nightmares of me killing my birds since we had them processed. I know I could never do it myself. I am way too sensitive of a person. I will continue to get them processed by my friend - but I hope these feelings fade. I love knowing that they had an awesome life. They would not have been used for breeding, so meat would have been their only purpose.

Someone have advice on how to get over this? Does it get easier?

 

[Macro]

I just had my first 5 roosters processed by a good friend. I know she does it humanely and quickly, but it does make me sad. I am not sure how to control that emotion. I don't want to feel sad or guilty when eating them. I don't know how to change my feelings. I have not had meat from any other source but locally for years. And then they have to show me pictures on how they raise their chickens. It's just knowing and caring for those birds and then seeing them after processed that makes me feel sad.
I also have had nightmares of me killing my birds since we had them processed. I know I could never do it myself. I am way too sensitive of a person. I will continue to get them processed by my friend - but I hope these feelings fade. I love knowing that they had an awesome life. They would not have been used for breeding, so meat would have been their only purpose.
Someone have advice on how to get over this? Does it get easier?

I think it's pretty natural to feel the way you do. Especially in today's culture.

Maybe if you sat down with someone (or even just by yourself) and discussed why you feel the way you do about killing your birds and then why you feel it's important to process your own birds and eat locally ethically raised birds you could work out some of your feelings! Sometimes you just need to work out why your brain is making you think a certain way.

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

Choosing to butcher an animal is always a tough decision, but for some animals that's what they were born and bred to offer. As far as it getting 'easier', that's probably a matter of personal experience. It's not my favorite part of homesteading, but dispatching and processing some of my extra roosters and rabbits doesn't bother me very much because my dad was an avid hunter when I was a kid and I was raised around it. I also know my animals were pampered in life and that makes it easier for me. We ate whatever he brought home, duck, deer, rabbit, and more. We never killed for sport. I helped clean the animals since I was about 4, things like plucking feathers and jobs you didn't need a knife for, of course. When I couldn't help, I watched. I will never forget my dad scolding me once when I was very young and making fun of the dead animal he brought home. That day he taught me to respect the kill, because it had provided the ultimate service to our family. To this day I thank the animal I am about to dispatch for its service. I think if a person wasn't raised around butchering their own meat, it would be harder. I hope it gets better for you, Aoxa, and can I just say how wonderful it is that you only eat local meat! That's not quite possible for DH and I yet, but it is one of our top goals to raise all our own meat, or at least be able to trade what we have with another local farmer someday.

 

[aoxa]

I think it's pretty natural to feel the way you do. Especially in today's culture.
Maybe if you sat down with someone (or even just by yourself) and discussed why you feel the way you do about killing your birds and then why you feel it's important to process your own birds and eat locally ethically raised birds you could work out some of your feelings! Sometimes you just need to work out why your brain is making you think a certain way.

Well I know why I wouldn't kill my own - it's because I am terrified of doing something wrong, and it suffering. That and I have always had this thing with anything missing a head. I blame horror movies and being very young watching them.

Again, I don't have anything against using them for meat. It just makes me sad. Especially when they were such friendly roosters beforehand. Maybe I'd do better if it was a mean rooster. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't bother me.

Also, I don't like the idea of bleeding them out. Not for me. I like fast and efficient, but again - I can't do it myself. I raise my own birds very humanely and they free range from the time they are 4 weeks old. But again, I feel I may have gotten too attached to them. I didn't cry or anything, but obviously know I am taking it badly when I have dreams of breaking my turkeys necks last night. The night before I was killing chicks. It's got to me, and I want to shake it.

My fiancée feels totally different. She even got a tour of the butchering where the heads were still on the ground. I could not do it. I stayed back and admired their hens who were eating tomatoes we threw in to them.

 

[Nsampsel]

Quote: I think it goes back to that feeling of "connection" to the animal. You raised this animal, you knew this animal, you likely thought of it as a pet even if you didn't reali2e you were doing it. It's never easy to lose an animal you care about, even when you raised it with the knowledge that it could eventually become diner. It will take time to get past that, but in the meantime, don't let all your hard work that was put into that animal go to waste. Enjoy it for repaying you in kind. You fed it all these months. Now it's returning the favor & feeding you.

 

[aoxa]

Choosing to butcher an animal is always a tough decision, but for some animals that's what they were born and bred to offer. As far as it getting 'easier', that's probably a matter of personal experience. It's not my favorite part of homesteading, but dispatching and processing some of my extra roosters and rabbits doesn't bother me very much because my dad was an avid hunter when I was a kid and I was raised around it. I also know my animals were pampered in life and that makes it easier for me. We ate whatever he brought home, duck, deer, rabbit, and more. We never killed for sport. I helped clean the animals since I was about 4, things like plucking feathers and jobs you didn't need a knife for, of course. When I couldn't help, I watched. I will never forget my dad scolding me once when I was very young and making fun of the dead animal he brought home. That day he taught me to respect the kill, because it had provided the ultimate service to our family. To this day I thank the animal I am about to dispatch for its service.  I think if a person wasn't raised around butchering their own meat, it would be harder. I hope it gets better for you, Aoxa, and can I just say how wonderful it is that you only eat local meat! That's not quite possible for DH and I yet, but it is one of our top goals to raise all our own meat, or at least be able to trade what we have with another local farmer someday.

Thank you so much Simmonsfunnyfrm. I appreciate it.

No I was very much coddled. My dad was always the type who told me the road kill was taking a nap. It's always the parents' fault isn't it?

He was shocked when I announced I had meat for him. He didn't think I would do it.

 

[aoxa]

I think it goes back to that feeling of "connection" to the animal. You raised this animal, you knew this animal, you likely thought of it as a pet even if you didn't reali2e you were doing it. It's never easy to lose an animal you care about, even when you raised it with the knowledge that it could eventually become diner. It will take time to get past that, but in the meantime, don't let all your hard work that was put into that animal go to waste. Enjoy it for repaying you in kind. You fed it all these months. Now it's returning the favor & feeding you.

Thank you. This gave me goosebumps.

We had planned on having company over and toasting to the rooster who gave his life to feed us. I plan on eating them. I would never let them go to waste.

 

[galanie]

I think it goes back to that feeling of "connection" to the animal. You raised this animal, you knew this animal, you likely thought of it as a pet even if you didn't reali2e you were doing it. It's never easy to lose an animal you care about, even when you raised it with the knowledge that it could eventually become diner. It will take time to get past that, but in the meantime, don't let all your hard work that was put into that animal go to waste. Enjoy it for repaying you in kind. You fed it all these months. Now it's returning the favor & feeding you.

Thank you. This gave me goosebumps.

We had planned on having company over and toasting to the rooster who gave his life to feed us. I plan on eating them. I would never let them go to waste.

That's exactly right. And just to let you know, it does get easier. Never to the point that you no longer feel any sadness at all, but it does get easier. The best part, is that after processing, you have the ability to think of it as "just meat." After all, that creature is gone. Now, it's just meat.

 

[aoxa]

That's exactly right. And just to let you know, it does get easier. Never to the point that you no longer feel any sadness at all, but it does get easier. The best part, is that after processing, you have the ability to think of it as "just meat." After all, that creature is gone. Now, it's just meat.

Thank you Galanie.

Seeing as these were the first eggs I have ever hatched, and my babies. I used to call them my buddies because as chicks they were the friendliest. I didn't mean to get attached, and distanced myself from them for weeks before they were due to be processed. I thought I would be bawling myself silly on the way to get them done. I was very good. No tears. I was in an off mood the rest of the day though. That was quickly abated when we delivered a few pullets to our friend who was so thrilled to have them. I traded 2 12 week old production barred rocks in exchange for 5 processed roosters. They took her all afternoon. She was so happy to have them. That helped the sadness.

I have many more to send her. I need to detach a bit I think.