Facts to convince hubby that processing ou own chickens is a good idea

[kooltex]

Quote:
I agree, watch Food Inc., if that doesn't convince him, I don't think anything will. You will want to grow everything on the farm. I raise my own meaties, and I am getting some pigs, as well as growing a garden and canning food. Some steers maybe in the future as well.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I've heard so much about Food, Inc that I've been afraid to watch it myself. LOL I stopped eating veal 30 years ago when I found out what they did to veal calves to keep their meat white. I was only 17 at the time and I was just sickened by what I saw.

I think his problem is that he's afraid that he'll get attached to them. We live in a farming community in Northeast TN. I'm the city girl, he's the southerner. But he never owned farm animals.

What I've been doing with extra hens & roos is setting up poorer families in my community with chickens so that they could have eggs and meat. I've threatened many a roo with the stew pot if they threaten to flog me. I'm serious but my husband thinks I'm kidding.

I think this evening, once our grandson goes to bed, we're going to sit down and really discuss this. We already have a good sized garden, we are planting fruit and nut trees this year. (Nut trees because we have parrots and the price of nuts are astronomical) I want to learn how to can, and we already dehydrate and freeze fruits and veggies. I think this is one more way of becoming self sufficient.

Thanks again everyone. I really see that home grown Thanksgiving turkey in our future!

Laurie

 

[MacPoultry]

You might also want to see if you can find a farm in your area that raises meat birds and see if you can go and visit. At first I had no desire to have any chickens other than the egg layers, but after watching someone else process theirs, and seeing their set up it didn’t look that bad. And after tasting one, I was convinced. We have now raised 2 small batches (25 each) of Cornish X and am trying to decide how many to raise this year.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Exactly what I was going to say.

Not to mention food you grow at home tastes better, is better for you, and flat out feels right.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Well after the 2nd person agreed with 'food inc', I went to amazon and ordered my copy out of curiosity. If it puts me deeper into the self-sufficiency mode, its going to be interesting. I'm already into a bunch of things.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
That's what I would suggest BUT let him instead watch YOU enjoy eating your home-grown chickens.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I would tell them, that they taste really really good.

Usually it's the other way around... hubby convincing the wife!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

After raising our own meat chickens last year, I cannot stand the smell of store bought chicken

 

[Penturner]

Since your Husband has already made it know that he does not want to raise birds to eat. I highly recommend you do not try the sly, devious or any other behind his back methods to try it out. That is how my wife goes about doing things and it results in me not really trusting her with anything that is important to me. over the years I have organized an entire network of people that oversee everything that she does including care of my children to paying our bills. I pretty much let her have her way when it comes to buying groceries and pretty much accept that there is a ton of money wasted because of that. anyway long story short, broken trust is not worth it no matter how you went about breaking it. and the distrust does not stop at what you do with chickens either, it means you are willing to lie to him.

Okay that is over. I suspect a few things. One your husband expects that if any killing is going to go on he will be having to do it soooner or later. I know for me that there is a knee jerk reaction of ohhhh god. but with time I would get over it. but that is me. Do you have anyone close by that you could help process there chickens. If your husband knew you had gotten bloodied and did not call on him it might help alleviate any concerns that you need his help. basically go prove yourself.

I know one good way around the emotions of rearing stock and then having to kill it is to have a pet one. this is the one you can shed all those ooohs and ahhhs over and basically feed and ignore the rest. It really does help if you have trouble getting attached to your wards.

as for benefits of home grown. how about taste? aybe you can get a home grown bird from another source and let him see (or taste) that for himself. Gourmet, quality meat. you have the power to process for quality of meet or quantity depending on your needs. or process more and have both. smaller vegetables are better than the giants everyone tends to try and grow, the same is true with meats. younger is tender. Nutritional value. Many will argue that there is more nutritional value int he plastic a store bought chicken is wrapped in than is in the meat. If my taste buds are reliable, they are probably correct. I have all but given up on eating chicken because all we are able to get is the store bought stuff.

I still bet he is just at a speed bump with the idea of processing them though. but that is only because that is the problem I would be having with the idea.

 

[the simple life]

We started raising our own meat birds this year, at first my husband was a little reluctant. I think he thought I wouldn't want to follow through on processing them or it would affect the kids, not sure, he never really said, but we got them anyway because I just ordered them and informed them they were coming and that I would take care of them.
I think part of the thing was he thought it would be more work for him so I didn't stick him with it but now he wants to be involved in helping me when I am out there with them.
We did 50 two weeks apart for the first three batches and now we have 200 for our last batch of the year before the hot weather comes.
I ordered 12 turkey poults yesterday and didn't think to mention it to him but when I was telling my son last night he overheard me. He asked me a couple of questions of what kind and where we had to pick them up and then and said he was glad I ordered them.
My husband is fine as long as I don't do something that will ultimately be his responsibility, maybe that is part of the problem with your husband? The extra work? If you can reassure him it won't be his thing maybe he will be okay with it.

Definitely watch Food Inc. I recommend it to everybody.