eating your pet open discussion

[Cearbhael]

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...

I wouldn't eat my cats either, but if I drop dead and can't feed them I am sure they will gnaw on my carcass! I forgive them in advance because they can't order delivery meals... They will get hungry while I am laying around dead as a door nail. Could take some time for someone to miss me and investigate. Poor little critters will have to make a choice... Eat mommy or die!

 

[aggiemae]

We pay someone to raise our meat chickens for us. Partly because we can only keep laying hens here and partly because I am not quite ready to deal with were my meat comes from.However we don't by any factory farmed chicken. Not ever.

As for our egg hens... I have a harder time not eating them when they are done laying. It feels wrong to dispose of them as if they are garbage or unload then on someone else. There are dozens of offers to sell or give away 3-4 year old hens that are "still laying" on Craigslist so I know that lots of people give old hens away to avoid dealing with something that I consider part of responsible chicken care.

My feeling is that my hens get the best of everything here and passing them off so someone who might not (probably will not) provide the same feels wrong. More wrong that stewing an old hen now and then.

 

[aggiemae]

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

I pay someone to raise my meat chickens so I can be sure they are well treated, well fed and humanly slaughtered.

Though our egg hens are endlessly entertaining, and we do name them we keep them for egg. Chickens live many years after they are done laying so we kill them and eat them when their egg service is done to make way for new hens. I have never come up with a better alternative.

 

[aggiemae]

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

Chickens live a long time, I had a rooster as a kid that was over 10 years old. What are you going to do when your hens stop laying?

 

[curious chickee]

My chickens (as I keep telling my girls) are farm animals not pets, they are raised for us to enjoy their eggs and boys become dinner. They can enjoy and play with the chicks. We don't eat pets.

 

[pingu1]

Chickens live a long time, I had a rooster as a kid that was over 10 years old. What are you going to do when your hens stop laying?

I will set up an old peoples home as I have become permanently attached to them

 

[Titanpaul726]

Society is in trouble when folks feel like they have to ask the question "is it right to butcher and eat my chickens?" First, it's their chicken. They can do with that chicken what they will. Second, because someone else chooses to name a chicken a "pet" doesn't infer that somehow all chickens should be considered pets and that by butchering one you are "eating your pet". Third, being unable to provide food for your family because you feel bad for an animal is, in my opinion, irresponsible. It places you and your family in the position of having to rely on others to feed your family. And that is a very bad position to be in.

 

[COChix]

This is my personal opinion. Let's look at two chickens. One of them lives in an industrial setting on a wire cage or open floor crammed with other chickens. It never sees sunlight or has a chance to scratch in the dirt. It can't roost, nest, or even flap it's wings because it's so crowded. Once it reaches prime size, it is sent to the slaughter house on one of those crowded trucks stuffed with chickens blowing in the wind. I live in an area with a lot of these chicken trucks and I even see chickens in the road who fell out. The other chicken lives on my small farm. He's an extra rooster. He is raised with plenty of space, sunshine, and food. Not just commercial food, but he can scratch for worms in the dirt. At night he roosts in a nice dry, safe place, just like his instincts tell him to. He gets to scratch around in the grass and find all sorts of goodies, and gets treats from my kitchen. He'll even get to try his hand mating with some of my hens before his time comes. But, I only need one rooster, so eventually, he will be humanely slaughtered by someone who cares about his individual well-being, right up until the end. Which scenario is more "right" or ethical? That's my answer about eating chickens. But, if your chicken is truly a pet and not a farm animal, as they are for many backyard keepers, I completely understand if you don't want to. My chickens are beloved farm animals but not exactly pets. I would eat them, but I wouldn't eat my cat. My question for myself has been - If I can't eat this chicken that I know, who has been well treated and had a nice life, how can I in good conscience eat a different chicken who had a miserable life, just because I happened not to know that chicken personally?

Amen!

 

[Blooie]

I figure if my chickens eat leftover chicken and love hard boiled eggs, who am I to quibble?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I wouldn't eat my cats either, but if I drop dead and can't feed them I am sure they will gnaw on my carcass! I forgive them in advance because they can't order delivery meals... They will get hungry while I am laying around dead as a door nail. Could take some time for someone to miss me and investigate. Poor little critters will have to make a choice... Eat mommy or die!

LOL - Heaven help the chicken keeper who has the misfortune of becoming suddenly unconscious within reach of their flock.........