Eating chicken

[SkyWarrior]

My husband and I butcher our meat birds and roos. When the time comes to butcher the laying hens that no longer lay, we will do that. Those chickens I'm particularly fond of may get a reprieve.

I love animals dearly, but I accept and understand my place in the food chain. I'd much rather eat chicken who were humanely treated and I know what they were fed compared to something I buy in the store. But I also eat game and have hunted my own -- strictly for food.

 

[Dragonfly99]

We have a flock of pullets that are really just pets, and I'm not sure I could ever eat them. They aren't even laying age yet, so we haven't considered what is going to happen when they stop laying. I'm trying not to think about it.

We are planning to raise meat birds next year, in a separate area of the yard, with the understanding that from Day 1 they are meat. I'm not sure how that is going to pan out. I love my pet chickens, so I'm going to have to work hard to not think of the meat birds as pets. There is a place nearby that will butcher them for under $3 a piece, and that is probably what we will do. I'm not sure I could butcher them myself.

 

[jody63]

Pretty much sums it up for me! LOL

 

[Blue]

Chicken is my all-time favorite meat, and I'm definitely not opposed to eating chickens I've raised myself (just not the ones I've named and consider pets). I'm just not sure I could do the butchering myself.

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

Quote:
I agree that you should never name your food. I also grew up on a farm and had a calf for 4-H. It's a good thing she was a she. That meant that when I sold her she was going for breeding purposes and would be a part of a herd not the freezer. Otherwise it would have been hard to part with her. I am raising meaties along with my 9 named hens. I only address the meaties enough to make sure they are well and well cared for. Other than that, it's as if they don't exist. I know that it will be much easier that way when hatchet day comes. My hens are for eggs only. When they become unproductive I will have to cross that bridge.