Exposing kids to butchering. Please take a second to weigh in.

[KittySparkes]

I'm really enjoying this discussion! We don't have chickens yet, but my husband has finally agreed that it would be OK to keep some hens for eggs, and after much convincing has agreed to try eating their eggs. He's another one who does NOT want to know where his food comes from, which is so strange to me. He doesn't want to know about factory farms, he just wants to eat the animals- and he's actually a really nice guy who loves animals. I don't get it.

ANYWAY, what I wanted to say is that I already know I want meat birds some day (asap, actually) once we're comfortable with keeping chickens. My husband has said absolutely no way, he will not ever eat anything we've raised. Actually reminds me a bit of your stepdaughters.

He doesn't think I could do it anyway. As for the kids (ages 5 and 3 right now), I think they're too into watching "Chicken Run" for them to go along with it in the near future. Then again, they don't like anything I cook anyway, so not much of a loss there. I still say we'll get there some day...

I think you've been given a lot of great advice here, and I wish you good luck. You might not be able to make your stepdaughters willing participants in any of it, but even if they just see the chickens being raised and then know that they're eating those same birds (but don't want to help with processing), it would be a valuable lesson for them. Good for you for stepping up and helping them learn.

 

[sparkles2307]

My kids are 6 and 7 and were exposed to it at age 5 and 6. My stepson was 15. They were fine. I explained it to them and made it clear that we werent getting pleasure from killing things and that the roos were better off being butchered quickly than anything else. No one had nightmares or scars.

 

[LindsayB]

My 4 year old daughter was present when I butchered our meaties. She didn't seem to care, she knew all along they were going to be food, not pets. Our family is also big on hunting though so she's seen it all.

 

[BarefootMom]

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I like you

Some of my friends thought it was horrible that the kids watched and "helped" us butcher our chickens. Our son "helps" whenever DH gets a deer and so on. I understood at a young age, but truthfully wasn't around butchering much and 5 years ago when I got married I wouldn't hardly touch raw meat (I had never cooked before either!) But when you start raising something for meat purposes, it is a lot easier. Our meaties were for meat and we knew it. Same with our butcher steer. And with our bunnies- sure I am attached to the adults and they are my babies, but I know that we can't keep them all.

 

[ams4776]

Im having my 5 yr old watch and help process. But he has seen the cats here hunt and plenty of dead critters. Once he told his dad that he should've had his gun in the car to shoot the turkey we saw. (So we could eat it) ive raised on to understand facts of life (not detailed detailed but enough) i wont have my 3 yr old there though. Now my mom thinks i shouldn't have my oldest the my dad laughs and tells me hiw they did it on the farm and my dh doesnt care long as he doesn't have to be there. So i left it up to my son and he wants to help. Maybe talk to the girls first. If they are oppesed to it probably not a good idea to force it on them.

 

[wyoDreamer]

After re-reading this before submitting it, I have determined that it sounds very preachy, and for that I want to apologize in advance. My writing skills have deteriorated over the years. Please take this as it is meant, which is only as my feelings and a reflection of my experiences growing up. It is not meant in any way to be a directive of how to live your life.

My advise is the talk to the girls and find out if they are interested in this project. If they have no interest in participating, then don't push the issue. You cannot force them to appreciate the whole raising and butchering process, that is a decision that they need to make for themselves. Dialogue goes both ways. Listen to thier concerns if they have any.

What you can do is have frank and open discussions with them. If this is important to you and if you decide you want to raise some meaties to butcher, go ahead and do it. Allow them to participate as much as they want or don't want to do. Most important to me is that you have a good solid relationship with them. Allow them to have their own opinions and the right to express those opinions in a respectful way. But make sure that they also know that others have the right to their own opinions as well.

From all the comments posted here, it seems that most of the people who participate in raising their own meat are those that have either been brought up with the whole sustainable living lifestyle or have chosen that route - of their own free will. Be aware that it is a lifestyle. It will become part of who they are.

I was raised with hunting and fishing. Getting a dual purpose breed to raise for eggs and meat only makes sence to me. I learned to hunt and fish, mostly so I could spend time with my dad but I found out that I really enjoy being outdoors appreciating nature also. It has become a part of who I am.

 

[RockyRill]

My children have all seen butchering of animals. They were ready to accept it at idfferent ages, and for different reasons. One of my duaghters want to see how all the innard work together, and asks about the organs. I have to demonstrate a reverance for the life of the animals for my 5 yo son, He can be very...um...boyish. He has never been violent or even excited about the process, but he want to to it. I hope it is because he wants to be like his dad, and not because he wants to kill things...

 

[GableBabble]

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Hubbie got attached to one of the bull calf's last year. Until it was feeling frisky and charged him......

 

[Mac in Wisco]

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I agree. I'm a bit uneasy of the idea that the sole purpose of raising and butchering this bird is to teach them some sort of life lesson.

If this is something you plan on doing more of in the future and generally fits into your lifestyle then by all means have at it.

 

[Chick1043]

I can understand why kill chickens to eat them of course! But im 14 and I wouldn't want to have anything to do with it!! I think its gross. lol As for your 14 year old, I don't know what shes like so Im not sure!