From Soup to Pets

[CalgaryFarmer]

I am sure everyone goes through this.

Of course, when you get your first set of hens you are not thinking about the decision you have to make when they stop laying: what are you going to do with them? In fact, only after they arrive do you figure out that they stop laying about 15% into their full lives.

There are a number of choices:

1. Make soup out of Lady Dianna

2. Kill and bury Lady Dianna

3. Sell/give Lady Dianna to someone who will make soup out of her

4. Put her out to pasture where she WILL fend for herself and live a FULL life

5. Keep Lady Dianna around until she goes to "sleep". Of course, she will keep eating (perhaps less) but more problematic she will take up valuable space that could be used by Princess Katherine who "will pay the rent"

I am starting to contemplate this decision. It has only been a year since the princesses first arrived but come August/September I am going to have to make some hard decisions and perhaps start looking for a good soup recipe.

Of course, no man is an island and the other critters that occupy the homestead, like the 11 year old daughter who named all the chickens, other than Butter Chicken, who my son named.

I have decided to make soup out of them and eat it myself, while offering some to others. Will I be ostrasized by the family for EATING the family pet? Of course, it is easier said then done: axe, chopping block, blood, defeathering, guts, cutting, ingredients, cooking, eating and saying Yum?!?

I am sure others have gone through this. Let us know your decisions, experiences and thoughts.

 

[sourland]

You will be ostracized . Every one is allowed one pet. Never name your food.

 

[donrae]

Where are you getting that they're only productive 15 percent of their lives? My hens are laying still at 4+ years. Not at the same rate, granted, but I have more eggs than I can eat.

If these birds have been pets, don't eat them. Start a new batch with the understanding they are NOT pets, but give these birds a pass.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

You are right. Some/most will continue to lay after their first two years. But at some point you have to ask, do I replace twice-a-week layer with pops-one-out-every-day layer?

 

[Mrs. K]

Well free range a bit, that always seems to give me some room! Ugh!

Personally, I have found, once they start looking like chicken that you eat, I quit (or at least try) thinking of them as... the pet.

I have butchered mine, love the broth, the meat is chewier than you think. Getting new chicks is always fun....

but, "Butter", well she has raised lots of chicks for me, and really, she does stay.... until the end. However, I have always had hatchery chicks and I have never gotten a 4 year old chicken, but she is three now.... hoping for one more clutch out of her.

Sometimes you need to cull for the flock, it does help to think about it first, and work yourself up to it. It should be a fact of chicken raising, as it keeps your numbers in line, and keeps the flock healthier.

Mrs K

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Thanks Mrs. K. I am sure I will come to the "you have to work yourself up it" moment and .....

 

[aart]

You are right. Some/most will continue to lay after their first two years. But at some point you have to ask, do I replace twice-a-week layer with pops-one-out-every-day layer?

Exactly!!

I am in the same position right now, have five 3 year olds that might lay 1-2-3 a week and still eat just as much feed.....
.....and only room for a certain number of birds to occupy comfortably, with up and coming pullet chicks-something's got to give.

It will take me another year or so(only been doing this 18 months) to figure out the optimal population rotation, if there is one-haha!

Soup/stew/broth is really the best option IMO, why waste all that feed by burying if you can get another kind of food out of them?

 

[Spartan22]

W

I am sure everyone goes through this. 

Of course, when you get your first set of hens you are not thinking about the decision you have to make when they stop laying: what are you going to do with them?  In fact, only after they arrive do you figure out that they stop laying about 15% into their full lives. 

There are a number of choices:

1.   Make soup out of Lady Dianna

2.   Kill and bury Lady Dianna

3.   Sell/give Lady Dianna to someone who will make soup out of her

4.   Put her out to pasture where she WILL fend for herself and live a FULL life

5.   Keep Lady Dianna around until she goes to "sleep".  Of course, she will keep eating (perhaps less) but more problematic she will take up valuable space that could be used by Princess Katherine who "will pay the rent"

I am starting to contemplate this decision.  It has only been a year since the princesses first arrived but come August/September I am going to have to make some hard decisions and perhaps start looking for a good soup recipe.

Of course, no man is an island and the other critters that occupy the homestead, like the 11 year old daughter who named all the chickens, other than Butter Chicken, who my son named.

I have decided to make soup out of them and eat it myself, while offering some to others.  Will I be ostrasized by the family for EATING the family pet?  Of course, it is easier said then done: axe, chopping block, blood, defeathering, guts, cutting, ingredients, cooking, eating and saying Yum?!?

I am sure others have gone through this.  Let us know your decisions, experiences and thoughts.

Well said, what I needed to hear, my first layers are exactly 1 yr olds. Are they not as productive the 2nd or 3rd year? I will be ready to butcher them for food when they are not paying rents. Though my family threatens that they won't eat chicken ever if I do. I normally joke, you will never know what chicken is in the freezer.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I am sure everyone goes through this.

Of course, when you get your first set of hens you are not thinking about the decision you have to make when they stop laying: what are you going to do with them? In fact, only after they arrive do you figure out that they stop laying about 15% into their full lives.

There are a number of choices:

1. Make soup out of Lady Dianna

2. Kill and bury Lady Dianna

3. Sell/give Lady Dianna to someone who will make soup out of her

4. Put her out to pasture where she WILL fend for herself and live a FULL life

5. Keep Lady Dianna around until she goes to "sleep". Of course, she will keep eating (perhaps less) but more problematic she will take up valuable space that could be used by Princess Katherine who "will pay the rent"

I am starting to contemplate this decision. It has only been a year since the princesses first arrived but come August/September I am going to have to make some hard decisions and perhaps start looking for a good soup recipe.

Of course, no man is an island and the other critters that occupy the homestead, like the 11 year old daughter who named all the chickens, other than Butter Chicken, who my son named.

I have decided to make soup out of them and eat it myself, while offering some to others. Will I be ostrasized by the family for EATING the family pet? Of course, it is easier said then done: axe, chopping block, blood, defeathering, guts, cutting, ingredients, cooking, eating and saying Yum?!?

I am sure others have gone through this. Let us know your decisions, experiences and thoughts.

#4 is not an option, imo, if by "she will fend for herself" you mean to cease providing for the bird with the expectation that it will find it's own food, shelter, etc on your property living out it's life as that "full" life will be shortened by the first predator to come along and find said bird. If I am misunderstanding your meaning I apologize, but the situation as I have described would be more cruel than just dispatching the bird and being done with it.

Is your relationship with your family and their relationship with life such that a reasonable conversation about the situation would result in them understanding the choice to use the bird in a new way (as a food source)?

 

[polychip]

I say keep her as a pet. Why not? If she brings happiness to someone, isn't it worth the feed? My five year old hens still lay eggs. I have the luxury of a large coop and property that they can free range. But I also have 10+ older hens that I keep around. They still eat bugs and weeds. That's enough. I also butcher chickens that I raise for food. It is more trouble than it's worth if you've never done it before. I guess my point is, what's it worth in the end?