Everyone tries to press that chickens are pets, but

[Dill]

Yes, killing an animal for food ends its life...but if everyone was vegan, there would be a whole lot fewer animals that ever got a chance TO live.

In regards to factory farming (or whatever its called) they'd be better off never being born i reckon.

But yes, with animals that families raise for themselves like people do on here they do have good lives before they're humanely killed and that's good... but I sometimes wonder whether or not animals go to rainbow bridge. If they dont have any sort of after life that'd be really sad.​

 

[Anny]

I do take my chickens to the vet. My chickens are treated better them some peoples dogs. They are taken in for yearly check ups, and if anything seems wrong.

Some people don't ever take their dogs to the vet but they still consider the dog a pet. Hell some people never even let the dog in the house, but it's still a pet.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
You are at an advantage. Many 'pet' chicken owners and most farmers do not have that luxury. For instance - where I am - there isn't a chicken vet or a vet that will see a chicken within 100+ miles.

My chickens are not pets. They are livestock. I don't need a vet to tend to my livestock. I know more about chickens and MY chickens than any vet around here. That is why farmers, who have learned through experience, hands on care, tend to their own poultry needs.

Going to a vet, having a vet that will see your chickens, doesn't make you a better 'pet' owner than any other person on this forum.

 

[jjthink]

Mercifully for the reader, I have to get to work so hopefully that will keep this from being way too long!

To each his own re: being a carnivore or a vegetarian. My dream is simply for all humans to treat all other beings with respect while they are walking the earth and ideally that they give them a decent length life.

I would just like to take a moment to dispense with the implausibility of humans being vegetarian and healthy. I've been a vegetarian for 40 years so far and am not dead yet. Others I know have been vegetarians for much longer and they are not dead yet, not even close. It's entirely possible to be healthy and a vegetarian. I don't claim to be nearly as healthy as other vegetarians I know but that's entirely my fault from too much of an "on the run" diet of chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and pizza in between (oh, and I did I mention the ice cream, pasta, and BBQ chips?)

As to our feathered and furry friends, and the OP's initial question, I am not interested in debating anyone as and seek only to answer the question from where I sit, understanding that we don't all view from the same perch. I bring any and all beings in my care or in my path to the vet if they need it (competent vets for feathered souls are far and few between and so thankfully, some BYC folk have themselves learned the necessary skills to treat their birds and that is fantastic and just as good if not better a lot of the time). I choose to work extra jobs so I can provide the best care possible to all. It matters not to me whether they are human, furry or feathered. They all feel pain, joy, and fear just like us. It is very difficult to work so much but it is what I choose to do as I don't want to deny care if it is within my power to give it. One of my cats (who unfortunately turned out to have a very serious heart problem and did not make it) was just in the hospital and 48 hours cost $2,500. It always costs that and commonly much more for anything but the simplest of problems. When my roo was attacked by careless people's dogs in the past, his care was equally expensive each time but I felt he deserved the best I could give him (I was not able to ID the dog "owners"). To see him thrive again was a joy. I just met hen Ellie in July and she came to me compromised and almost right away there was a $500 vet bill for her care. I do a goodly amount of rescuing strays and pay for their medical care with the extra jobs, trying to help those forsaken by my species.

It's all very, very difficult and stressful - vet costs are in the stratosphere these days - can never seem to get ahead before the next medical crisis happens. The costs of veterinary care these days truly saddens me greatly as I know a lot of creatures out there in the world are therefore not getting this care. I don't spend money on things like going to the movies, vacations are rare, I don't buy anything fancy for myself or the house, I live in a very humble home, and focus my resources on my family - human, furry and feathered - makes no difference to me - and also on my rescues, as many as I can possibly manage to help. And also on presving land for wildlife so they can continue to have a home. It feels good, other than being exhausted! It's not perfect - I could certainly do a heck of a lot more if I bought less far less chocolate.

Off to the races, job #1.
JJ

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

Quote:
I'm sorry for your loss. But I agree. Some vets are like that. I think that's awful that vets would rather line their pockets than do what's best and most comfortable for the animals and their owners.

But back to the chicken thing. I think chickens are absolutely pets to some. I think chickens are absolutely livestock to others. And then I think to many there are both in one flock. You can't tell me that the people who put chicken diapers on their birds and let them waddle around the house don't think of their chickens every bit the same as say a dog or a cat.

Would I do that? Noooo...
Do I think their crazy people? Yesss....
But do I talk to my dogs and cats when no one is around? Yesss....
Do many people think I'm crazy for it? Yesss....
I've also been known to cuss out a PC and yell at a tv...but I digress
Crazy is as crazy does I guess.


The great thing about chickens is they have become a multi purpose animal.

 

[Guitartists]

To me, the PETS are the ones I name and pay special attention to. The ones that regardless of their "value" one way or the other, they will live out their days until they die a natural death. I've culled chickens... and I've taken a pet rat to the vet.... so, it just depends. Would I take my RIR to the vet? No... I'd do what I can or cull her... now Roxie my Mille Fleur.... she's a PET.... I'd do anything I could to help her, but she interacts with me as a pet would. Doesn't seem fair, I know... but I cannot afford to, nor do I need to, have 30 PET chickens.