eating your pet open discussion

[Ol Grey Mare]

if it is a pet you don't kill it
if it lives on a nice farm killings fine
if it is battery farmed its unfair
I don't eat meat so wouldn't kill my chickens
still open to all opinions

Your responses thus far in the discussion would indicate otherwise.

I have no issue with folks choosing to eat their birds - whether they have been kept as a pet or not. Being kept as a "pet" would indicate, to me, that the bird has had a very good life (not at all indicating I believe those kept as livestock do not) - in some ways I would think that for someone of our mindset that would be preferable to those that are kept strictly as livestock

 

[FrizzlesRule]

I would never and have never eaten a chicken I've owned. They are for eggs and pets. Most of them are named, some are house pets, since I prefer them as pets over dogs and cats. I love my birds and let them live as long as they can.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I certainly wouldn't eat my pet cat! Well, let me have the caveat that if starving and snowed in or bridge out due to major flooding he might look delicious.

Would I eat a chicken I raised? Of course I would and why my first batch of birds got names like Nugget, General Tao, Sweety, Sour...

 

[Titanpaul726]

Every evening my son and I go let the chickens out of their run, throw them some scratch and just sit and watch them do their thing. We get a kick out of watching them run around. It's a relaxing, stress relieving time of the day. We feed them mealworms by hand once or twice a week. We enjoy them very much and they have a pretty darn good life.

While we enjoy them immensely, we also understand that they are food. They exist at our home simply for food. Eggs and meat. People have lost sight of the things that are necessary in order to live. Because people can now take a drive to the nearest store and buy everything they need to survive they no longer understand the necessity of killing for food.

Those who raise chickens for pets are free to do so simply because they no longer have to raise chickens for food. I have no problem with folks who have pet chickens. I do however, have an issue when those who believe that way suggest that is the only "proper" thing to do and that raising and butchering chickens is somehow wrong or immoral (not saying anyone here has done that).

I don't know anyone who enjoys killing and butchering chickens, ducks, pigs, steers or whatever they have raised. But they do it because if you want meat, it has to be done. I respect those who are willing to do this for themselves.

The title of this thread "eating your pet open discussion" is somewhat insulting to me. Eating your PET? Really? So, I guess if you own chickens, and they are somehow to be considered your "pet", then my answer is YES, I eat my pets on an almost daily basis. And I am proud to do it.

 

[csaylorchickens]

I see nothin wrong with eating chickens being raised for meat. Do you ignore your chicken till it's old enough to be slaughtered for food? It deserves to live a happy life until it's time to be eaten.
I would have a hard time caring for and owning chickens for eating but I could do it and I would treat them with tlc still.
It's more horrific buying chickens that are farmed in factories and treated inhumanly.


Quick question: when chickens are done laying can you eat them? When do people normally slaughter the chickens for meat?

 

[pingu1]

I personally don't eat my pets but I don't have to others eat meat so will eat their hens etc

 

[Pyxis]

I personally don't eat my pets but I don't have to others eat meat so will eat their hens etc

Now, I haven't eaten any of my chickens, but I would if I had a cockerel that I couldn't rehome, or was human aggressive, or was beating up the hens. This year, I am thinking about getting some birds specifically for meat.

However, what people are saying in here is that when they eat their chickens, they aren't eating a pet. Chickens are not pets to everyone. In fact, I would argue that to most people they are livestock. That's what people are trying to say - they are eating their chickens, they are not eating their pets. The two are not mutually inclusive. You don't have to have 10,000 chickens for chickens not to be pets to you. When I get my meat birds, if I do, they will not be pets. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to treat them differently than the rest of my flock. They will be fed, and cared for, and let out to range, and will have much happier lives than any chicken in a commercial farm will ever have. But they still won't be pets.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I see nothin wrong with eating chickens being raised for meat. Do you ignore your chicken till it's old enough to be slaughtered for food? It deserves to live a happy life until it's time to be eaten.
I would have a hard time caring for and owning chickens for eating but I could do it and I would treat them with tlc still.
It's more horrific buying chickens that are farmed in factories and treated inhumanly.


Quick question: when chickens are done laying can you eat them? When do people normally slaughter the chickens for meat?

Absolutely you can - given the number of years a hen can live compared to the years they can be expected to be productive this is a choice many folks make to keep their flocks from being overrun with "freeloaders" that consume resources and give no return. You can slaughter a bird at any age - you simply need to adjust cooking method appropriately as the older the bird the tougher the carcass so low/slow cooking methods are going to yield a more satisfying outcome.

 

[csaylorchickens]

Absolutely you can - given the number of years a hen can live compared to the years they can be expected to be productive this is a choice many folks make to keep their flocks from being overrun with "freeloaders" that consume resources and give no return.   You can slaughter a bird at any age - you simply need to adjust cooking method appropriately as the older the bird the tougher the carcass so low/slow cooking methods are going to yield a more satisfying outcome.

Thank you. I'll probably keep them until they are fine laying then use them for meat. Is it wrong I do this? I don't think so. Using resources as much as you can. I just hope I can take them to a butcher so I don't have to do it myself.

 

[Cearbhael]

Thank you. I'll probably keep them until they are fine laying then use them for meat. Is it wrong I do this? I don't think so. Using resources as much as you can. I just hope I can take them to a butcher so I don't have to do it myself.

Actually that is the most economical way to manage a flock. Also eating extra roosters after they get good sized. Keep in mind this method assumes your allowing the hens to hatch chicks to replace the older hens. (called a self sustaining flock.)
The Roosters being young are called fryers or Roasters (roasters being over a year old I believe?) obviously named for their cooking method. The term "stewing hen" refers to hens past laying age. They are slow cooked in liquid to tenderise the meat. They make the best chicken broth and wonderful chicken and Dumplings.
As for finding someone else to butcher your birds? Well, of course that is just fine. I can slaughter my own chickens, but I always feel grief for them. My son is too soft hearted and like you would be finding a butcher to do the deed. And, if during your chicken breeding venture you meet a special chicken that makes your heart soar? Well, there is no harm having a couple of very special freeloaders in the flock. Most of us have, on occasion have been there and done that!

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