eating chickens you raise

[vfem]

I've found I've gotten attached as I've NAMED them!!!

However, that rooster is getting annoying and sometime I wanna go get the hatchet.

One day I think I will.

 

[miss_jayne]

my kids actually ask, "Who's this?" when we are eating. it has never bothered us at all. they have held the chicks, loved all over them and even play with the meaties.

they know from the beginning that we are going to eat them.

they wont eat chicken at a restaurant or from a store.

 

[Bammony]

When i started with chickens 8 yrs ago, I had a VERY hard time even eating the eggs my hens would lay. I thought, there is no way I can do this. About a year into it I just adjusted my way of thinking about eating the eggs and of course wouldn't eat anything else now.

As far as eating the chickens themselves, I can remember hubby killing our first rooster and me not being able to eat it or even cook it for that matter. Now, I love to eat our own chickens. Pets or not, named or not....it's the best meat i can feed my kids.

So now, as far as the killing goes, I thought I could never do that either. I killed my fist chicken last summer. That is the only chicken I have ever killed. I don't like to do it or even be around while it's being done, but I can do it.

Cleaning the chickens. NO PROBLEM! I can and do do that alot. It was hard the first time, but I can do it now.

Just give it time. Also, there's nothing wrong with never eating your chickens. Alot of people don't. It's just a matter of choice!

 

[patandchickens]

I don't like killing and eating our chickens, but I don't think one is SUPPOSED to like killing things, and I don't see that (for me anyhow) hiding behind having someone else raise the animal or do the deed actually changes it one iota.

So as long as we're going to eat chicken, we'll eat OUR chickens, and look them in the eye before the axe falls and thank them and apologize.

Actually I have not found it any more difficult killing/eating a named pet chicken than the broilers we raised specifically for the purpose. What *did* feel extra weird was a favorite hen with internal-laying-related peritonitis who I put out of her misery -- I felt really bad killing her and then just putting all that meat into a hole in the ground. (I don't think it'd have been smart to eat a chicken with infection).

But, everyone's different. Do what seems right for you.

JME,

Pat

 

[keeperofthehearth]

We eat our extra roo's. Last year was our first though, and it was difficult. As others have stated on here, try not to name them. DH did the slaughtering and I did the cleaning.

It wasn't fun for either of us but once that chicken is stewing in the pot, the aroma wafting through the house, oh my, that chicken is GOOD! Rudy was the hardest for me to eat, see I named him. I thought of keeping him as second roo but he was getting overly aggressive even as a young one. He sat in out freezer for about 3mo but again, once he was in the pot ....and that beautiful aroma filled the house, yep, he was a really tasty one.

DH and I hadn't been feeling real well that week but once we ate some tasty chicken stew we were feeling "much more the thing"

I do believe that "chicken soup is good for what ails you!" We haven't eaten any of our hens though and don't plan on it. They've worked hard at supplying us with fresh eggs so they're off the hook . . or pot.

 

[fluffycreatures]

Thanks everyone. All good thoughts to keep in mind. Yes the separation might be a good idea.
I'm going to get started with silkies and egss and then consider the meat birs.

so I have a while yet.
Thanks again.

Dianenf

 

[ashtray]

i would have no problem eating the chickens i raised if someone else cooked it ... i can not eat anything i kill, gut and skin if i have to cook it ...if the old lady cooks it i am good something about seeing the blood and meat in the frayng pan that makes me wanna puke

 

[me&thegals]

Quote:
Ditto. It takes me a couple weeks of time away from "the deed" to be able to eat them. But, I think it's really an honest way to eat. No pretending that chickens magically show up in the grocery case

 

[fluffycreatures]

Right . Thanks for the replies. Dianne

 

[texas_chick]

Okay. I just read one of the links (https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=89108 ).
Whew. I am glad I ordered only 4 chicks (pullets only).
I plan to have those 4 and then order 4 more in 4 years when laying slows down and then they all get to retire here... LOL