Emotions Tied to Culling

[BrandonsBirbs]

I have realised a lot of people on this section of the forum find parts of culling quite hard, emotionally and whatnot.

Am I bad for not feeling really anything?

Of course sometimes I have been extra attached to some birds and really not  wanted to cull them but needed to, but that's happened maybe a handful of times and I've culled easily over 300 birds now.

After reading a lot of the posts here I do start to wonder if there is something wrong with me?

I did find my first cull or two hard, more because I had strong attachments to them, though.

 

[sourland]

No. It's a healthy acceptance of where our food comes from, but you have to understand that's how I was raised. Pets were allowed, but food was not named. Animals were raised humanely and killed as humanely as possible.

 

[Ridgerunner]

No, nothing wrong with you. If you enjoyed killing them or torturing them then I'd worry about you. It sounds like you are treating them like livestock, not pets. I'm pretty much that way. I hatch them and raise them to be food. I don't enjoy the killing part but it is necessary if I'm going to eat them.

 

[Shadrach]

I know this is in the meat birds section and I really don't want to go down the providing food for the family, or draw a distinction between pets and livestock, or even consider how people might feel about killing any creature.
There is a difference between culling and killing. We are writing about killing here, ending a life.
I detest the task. I have lots of feelings about it. In all my years of looking after chickens I have never managed to not feel upset when faced with the prospect of having to kill another creature.
Until recently I've only taken care of free range chickens and being able to kill a chicken that has been severly injured by a predator, or chicks abandoned by their mother, sometimes partially hatched, has been the most usfull skill related to chicken keeping I've aquired.

I've seen people confronted with a chicken with horrendous injuries that no amount of medical intervention and supportive care would ever make it well, stand by and watch the bird suffer because they could not face putting the poor creature out of it's pain and misery.

Just for this alone, everyone who keeps chickens in whatever circumstances should know how to and be prepared to kill. One can't always find someone else to do the task, or wait while the bird suffers for a vet appointment. Sometimes it has to be done there and then.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

No. It's a healthy acceptance of where our food comes from, but you have to understand that's how I was raised. Pets were allowed, but food was not named. Animals were raised humanely and killed as humanely as possible.

I make sure the birds have a good life and as you say are raised well. Since my childhood cat died I've never felt properly attached to another animal, pet or not. Glad it's okay, thank you.

 

[Isadora]

Not strange at all. While I would agree that most people tend to have a harder time when they 1st start killing things, it's not uncommon to feel how stated.
My husband is more like you. He had never killed anything when we purchased our homestead but when he butchered our 1st couple ducks it was fine. He didn't have any issues.
Me, on the other hand… the 1st time I had to put down one of my guineas because it had a slipped tendon that wasn't correctable, I cried. Not because it was a beloved pet, but just because it was a bit of a shock. I've killed a couple of things but I don't enjoy it at all.
Like an above poster said, if you enjoy making an animal suffer, then that's when you should be worried.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

No, nothing wrong with you. If you enjoyed killing them or torturing them then I'd worry about you. It sounds like you are treating them like livestock, not pets. I'm pretty much that way. I hatch them and raise them to be food. I don't enjoy the killing part but it is necessary if I'm going to eat them.

What Ridgerunner said. As long as you're not enjoying it or torturing them, I think you could just be a more straightforward person. That's a great survival skill. I on the other hand was raised in the suburbs and was taught to feel sorry for every single animal and nothing should have to die ever. As someone who is now interested in becoming more self-sustainable, I envy you because it's a tough mindset to break. Yes, we should treat all of our animals with respect, but it's okay to accept death as a part of the life cycle. I struggle with that.

 

[MuscovyKristine]

I have realised a lot of people on this section of the forum find parts of culling quite hard, emotionally and whatnot.

Am I bad for not feeling really anything?

Of course sometimes I have been extra attached to some birds and really not  wanted to cull them but needed to, but that's happened maybe a handful of times and I've culled easily over 300 birds now.

After reading a lot of the posts here I do start to wonder if there is something wrong with me?

I did find my first cull or two hard, more because I had strong attachments to them, though.

We need people who can do different things well...and having the ability to cull amd move on is a helpful trait for those of us who have a hard time with it. I may have a different ability that you don't. Its why we are all needed and valued!

 

[pinewoodacres]

I think part of it is that the first few culls are more awkward, you’re less confident, don’t have a good technique yet. I know that worried me a lot and still sorta does in that I don’t want to cause them suffering. I have done my fair share of crying over culling, the first chick I had to do was really upsetting. But now it’s more matter of fact. I’m more confident and I’m not as attached to them bc there are just so many of them now. Lol They don’t all have names anymore.

As long as you’re not so detached that you’re getting sloppy, lacking in respect for the animal during slaughter, or taking a morbid joy in the killing part, I think there’s nothing unhealthy or abnormal with what you describe.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

No, nothing wrong with you. If you enjoyed killing them or torturing them then I'd worry about you. It sounds like you are treating them like livestock, not pets. I'm pretty much that way. I hatch them and raise them to be food. I don't enjoy the killing part but it is necessary if I'm going to eat them.

Yes precisely, only difference is that I have no feeling towards killing them in terms of not enjoying it, I just do it. Thank you.

Not strange at all. While I would agree that most people tend to have a harder time when they 1st start killing things, it's not uncommon to feel how stated.
My husband is more like you. He had never killed anything when we purchased our homestead but when he butchered our 1st couple ducks it was fine. He didn't have any issues.
Me, on the other hand… the 1st time I had to put down one of my guineas because it had a slipped tendon that wasn't correctable, I cried. Not because it was a beloved pet, but just because it was a bit of a shock. I've killed a couple of things but I don't enjoy it at all.
Like an above poster said, if you enjoy making an animal suffer, then that's when you should be worried.

Definitely don't enjoy it and I'd never let them suffer, they're worth much more than that. Thank you!

What Ridgerunner said. As long as you're not enjoying it or torturing them, I think you could just be a more straightforward person. That's a great survival skill. I on the other hand was raised in the suburbs and was taught to feel sorry for every single animal and nothing should have to die ever. As someone who is now interested in becoming more self-sustainable, I envy you because it's a tough mindset to break. Yes, we should treat all of our animals with respect, but it's okay to accept death as a part of the life cycle. I struggle with that.

The main reason I bring this all up is because my family look very down on me for doing it, usually I wouldn't care but when I was asked, "don't you feel bad?" I responded simply "no." Since then it's been a weird form of contention between my family and myself. Thank you for sharing your personal experience. I am curious how I would find killing a goat or something, after all quail are not particularly big!

We need people who can do different things well...and having the ability to cull amd move on is a helpful trait for those of us who have a hard time with it. I may have a different ability that you don't. Its why we are all needed and valued!

I've never thought of it that way, how brilliant. Thank you.

No. The short version is, that you are recognizing their purpose. It's sad, yeah, but as long as we don't lose sight of what it is (the taking of a life) you don't need to, and shouldn't, feel bad about it.
The problem is forgetting where food comes from, in my opinion. Things die to give life to other things. As long as it's humane, you have no reason to feel bad.

I guess this is where I struggle to get my family to understand that I humanely raise these animals so they have a great life, even if it is just 6 or 8 weeks. They don't understand how you can kill something that you hatch from an egg and as much as I try to explain it I don't know if I can ever get them to understand. It's almost as if they're disconnected from where their supermarket food is coming from. Thank you.

I had a hard time at first, until my husband (who is more experienced) told me to always say a little prayer for them before culling, and thank them for their lives. It helps me a lot. Every bird gets a little prayer and a minute to "settle" before I proceed.
Another thing that helped me with "the mindset" was watching a few videos of women doing their own processing on their properties, and talking about how empowered they feel as they provide fresh chicken for their families and/or community.

Honestly, the prayer thing is cute and I did try it but I just didn't feel it worked for me. It's fantastic it works for other people and I think it's such a brilliant idea. Thank you for your personal story.

"Takes all kinds". No, there is nothing wrong with you. There are plenty of us here on BYC that lack the amount of (for lack of a better word, "empathy") which society insists should exist in us at levels which would paralyze us from doing what needs to be done - either to put down an ailing bird, or to put food on the table. There are roles in society for those with the paralyzing levels of empathy, too. and everywhere in between.

Do not put such concern upon how others would define us. Even if their opinions might matter (and they don't), most who would judge lack the experience to do more than compare our feelings with their imaginations and ASSumptions.

I think you're the only person I've seen actively mention it before and I didn't know how to tag you without it seeming rude. I haven't read every post and never will so I must've have missed the other people and that is great that there is some. Always nice to not be alone!

Yeah, I'm not great at ignoring other people's opinions, definitely something I continue to try and improve at every day. I'm a 25+ year old, 6"6 lad, skinny as can be and I look about 12. It's a hard thing to deal with all the comments on my height, weight and people ASSuming I must be so young. Such is life for many people, c'est la vie!

I think coming from a frozen food family who only bought fresh mince never meat (excluding special holidays), we didn't have much money and that was always the excuse (though as an adult I realised that's not quite true, fresh meat can be very reasonably priced). They just don't understand. But I am glad my missus understands and is somewhat helpful with it (cleans final meat after I've done the culling and things) and I think our daughter understands too. She at least eats the meat so can't be against it I think?! haha.