ELI5 Why do so many ppl treat chickens expendable??

[SwampPrincessChick]

Why are chickens, especially roosters treated so expendable?

Chickens have long been viewed as emotionless and unable to feel pain. Chickens have been viewed like that since the beginning of the existence of chickens, but that stereotype increased because chicken meat is so commonly loved by humans and so available that people began to believe that chickens were widely factory-farmed because they do not have emotions and cannot feel pain－both of these things being obviously false. Humans make up whatever they want to and spread it around no matter if there is anything to back it up or not. Especially when they feel the need to defend themself, because the majority of people will think chickens are emotionless and do not feel pain because they are uneducated and they do not want to feel guilty about eating them. Chickens sure do look emotionless if you are not a chicken-lover, with their stare that often seems like they have no thoughts in that head. But it is easy to see the intelligence, emotions and unique personality if you care.

 

[z3lda3]

I get that, I love my chooks, they are my pets and I don't eat them or cull them but I do understand that I eat chicken from the store and don't see anything wrong with culling chickens. I only don't do mine because I am attached to them

................ well said. my mom tells me that at the factory farm where she used to work( Trillium Farms in Ohio), they would cut the beaks on the egg layers, and the "free range" chickens were housed in a small concrete floored room, that looked like something out of a prison. unfortunately, her attitude towards roosters is "if it's not useful, kill it", but she likes the hens, and I've been able to convince her to re home most of our unwanted birds to a small local hatchery.

Awww

Chickens have long been viewed as emotionless and unable to feel pain. Chickens have been viewed like that since the beginning of the existence of chickens, but that stereotype increased because chicken meat is so commonly loved by humans and so available that people began to believe that chickens were widely factory-farmed because they do not have emotions and cannot feel pain－both of these things being obviously false. Humans make up whatever they want to and spread it around no matter if there is anything to back it up or not. Especially when they feel the need to defend themself, because the majority of people will think chickens are emotionless and do not feel pain because they are uneducated and they do not want to feel guilty about eating them. Chickens sure do look emotionless if you are not a chicken-lover, with their stare that often seems like they have no thoughts in that head. But it is easy to see the intelligence, emotions and unique personality if you care.

yes, I was just saying my chickens have their own personalities! And some can be really funny.

 

[z3lda3]

................ well said. my mom tells me that at the factory farm where she used to work( Trillium Farms in Ohio), they would cut the beaks on the egg layers, and the "free range" chickens were housed in a small concrete floored room, that looked like something out of a prison. unfortunately, her attitude towards roosters is "if it's not useful, kill it", but she likes the hens, and I've been able to convince her to re home most of our unwanted birds to a small local hatchery.

Those poor factory birds it hurts my heart.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Chickens have long been viewed as emotionless and unable to feel pain. Chickens have been viewed like that since the beginning of the existence of chickens, but that stereotype increased because chicken meat is so commonly loved by humans and so available that people began to believe that chickens were widely factory-farmed because they do not have emotions and cannot feel pain－both of these things being obviously false. Humans make up whatever they want to and spread it around no matter if there is anything to back it up or not. Especially when they feel the need to defend themself, because the majority of people will think chickens are emotionless and do not feel pain because they are uneducated and they do not want to feel guilty about eating them. Chickens sure do look emotionless if you are not a chicken-lover, with their stare that often seems like they have no thoughts in that head. But it is easy to see the intelligence, emotions and unique personality if you care.

some more intelligent than others! I have had chickens capable of opening simple locks(the ones with a hook on the side of the door, and a metal eyelet on the doorframe), and I once had a broiler boy who was so dumb, he would mount a hen and then stand there, as if to say, "well I got her, now what?" needless to say, we never got chicks out of him.

 

[z3lda3]

Imo:
It's not ok to kill or eat dogs, cats, such because they recognize you as their leader, they love their owners and see them as part if their pack and family. Chickens and most poultry (besides maybe imprinted poultry) do not see you as part of the flick and don't love you. They may come to you but it's probably because they think you have food. Not that their lives worry less but that is my definition of pet, an animal that recognizes and loves you like you are part of their pack or such

I’m almost positive my pooches just use me, because they can’t open cheese themselves.

 

[The Birb King]

Imo:
It's not ok to kill or eat dogs, cats, such because they recognize you as their leader, they love their owners and see them as part if their pack and family. Chickens and most poultry (besides maybe imprinted poultry) do not see you as part of the flick and don't love you. They may come to you but it's probably because they think you have food. Not that their lives worry less but that is my definition of pet, an animal that recognizes and loves you like you are part of their pack or such

I disagree. Many of my chickens get very excited to see me whether I have food or not, sure they love food, but they also just like to follow me around, sit on my lap, and just hang out and get petted if I don't have food or they were already fed. I feel like anyone who owns chickens would know that they are curious, sentient, and have different personalities. If you love them, they will love you back. Really not much different from a dog or cat, and shouldn't be treated much different

 

[z3lda3]

I disagree. Many of my chickens get very excited to see me whether I have food or not, sure they love food, but they also just like to follow me around, sit on my lap, and just hang out and get petted if I don't have food or they were already fed. I feel like anyone who owns chickens would know that they are curious, sentient, and have different personalities. If you love them, they will love you back. Really not much different from a dog or cat, and shouldn't be treated much different

I have a bantam pullet that follows me around and waits for me to sit down so she can snuggle my neck. And I’ve had my roo dig up bugs for me. I think he thinks I’m part of his flock. I love it.

 

[The Birb King]

I have a bantam pullet that follows me around and waits for me to sit down so she can snuggle my neck. And I’ve had my roo dig up bugs for me. I think he thinks I’m part of his flock. I love it.

Yea my friendliest chicken is a blue Ameraucana hen I hatched last year. I'm not sure why, but shes always been friendly since she was a chick. She will literally just follow me around and stand at my feet whenever I go into the coop, and loves being picked up

 

[z3lda3]

I meant older birds that don't lay as often/at all

Continue to feed and care for her, in return for all the eggs she gave you?!

 

[The Birb King]

Continue to feed and care for her, in return for all the eggs she gave you?!

That's how I always thought of it too. Why kill them if they gave you eggs and companionship their whole lives? I usually sell my older birds to make room for new ones, but if I really like them I just keep them for the rest of their life.