Getting flack for killing our meaties -- and need some reassurance!

[Ema]

Ignore the flack!!! you are doing nothing wrong. I have egg layers only...for now...eventually I will try and get meat birds. There is nothing wrong in knowing where your food is coming from. I have seen many videos on how factory meat birds are treated and well I doubt it very much you do that. You give them the best you can until its THAT time. Its a responsible thing to do and in the long run much healthier since you know what You fed your own birds. I wouldn't worry so much about what others have to say. If they don't like it well they don't have to eat it or be there. My family owns both egg layers and meat birds farms, all free range aswell and meat rabbit farms, no one likes the idea of culling an animal, but honestly...food doesn't magically appear. It takes soo much more to raise and eat your own birds than it is to open up your wallet and just pay for what ever from where ever at the grocery store. Get them to watch the video that pamela Anderson endorses on Kentucky fried chickens!!!

 

[marymac]

Quote:
I should!!! I am happy I posted this and really grateful for the support. I am in NE Ohio too, not too far from the Footbal Hall of Fame, are you close? Do you get any gripes from people?

I am in Trumbull co. and i don't raise meaties, no room, but I would like to. It's sad so many people don't know where their meat REALLY comes from..So many kids today if you ask them " do you like hamburgers?" they usually say yes! "Do you know where it comes from? They will tell you "McDonalds!" That is so wrong, but sadly it is a way of life. I am so glad I was raised the way I was. I have lots of compassion for most any animal, but sorry, I'm not a vegetarian. My husband hunts and we eat what he kills and I'm right there helping him process the animals right here at home. You should pat yourself on the back for doing things the way you are. What will all these people do if all of a sudden the stores quite selling meat? I know it sounds urealistic but at least you will know how to survive, and that makes me feel good.

 

[darkmatter]

I'm with you on the purpose of home raised chickens:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=361951&p=1

 

[lilwhispers]

I grew up on dairy farm and had all different animals. We got chicks every year for eggs and meat. I remember when i was about 8 being able to help my grandma butcher the chickens. We would kill them outside and then bring them into the barn to process while my dad and uncle were milking. When you are ABLE to do the job yourself you have a greater appreciation for the life of that animal. One time my cousins husband came out to talk to me while I was setting up to butcher and asked that I not let his kids see me butchering the birds ( he was a city boy afraid it make his kids vegans). By the time I was done the kids were wanting to help.

 

[Camelot Farms]

My favorite scene from Twister is where they are all huddled around the dinner table chewin' on some steak and someone says 'tasty beef Aunt Meg, where'd ya get it'. She ladles gravy onto a plate while asking 'did ya see my cows when ya came in?' The someone says 'no' and she smiles.

Cracks me up everytime.

DH is an avid hunter...hunts anything that the law will allow but I have to find someone to process my aging out layers this fall ((((Tennesee Truly)))), because he doesnt want to do it.
Some people are just weird.

As someone else said... 'keep on chickening' and raise your kids to respect food and where it comes from.

One final note...my teenage boys who arent terribly interested in my chicken stuff are very excited about the bee hives that are going in this coming Spring. They think its 'cool' to get 'stuff' from animals...lol.

 

[TiaView]

Ignorance abounds. Just enjoy your healthy non-chemical, non-hormone laden meat. You know where it came from and how it was treated.

 

[pontoosuc]

like my grandmother would say "keep a stiff upper lip"

I applaud you for wanting to provide healthy meat for your family from healthy, well cared
for animals. BRAVO!

 

[paridisefarm2009]

Only tell people what you want them to know , If they ask where did some of your Birds Go tell them They musta flew away or somthing Got them , They need to Know NOTHING ! Especially if they are going to critizise ! I Just Finished Processing all 23 of My meat Birds and Now I gave a few away and HAve a lot of meat for the freezer I only gave away to the suporters , It is Very enjoyable to know there are a few people that enjoy it more than store baught

so Dont let it get to you what others Do not know ... Just tell them nothing . Smile and wave that's all you need to do . Jean

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

There is a terrible disconnect in urban/suburban society about where food comes from. You are doing nothing wrong in raising and humanely processing your own meat animals. We do the same.

I am sorry you are getting pressure from those around you who haven't thought it through. Sensible people will see the logic in it. It is not "necessary" as long as those stores carry the product you want, but there is pleasure and pride in knowing how to do something useful. Raising food is ultimately VERY useful.

 

[Mama C]

Quote:
A significant part of why we are raising chickens is so that our kids fully understand the value of the meat they eat. Also, so they never embarrass themselves by saying anything this stupid.

You're doing just fine, Honeydoll. Keep your chin up.