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

[farmgirl77]

my 98 year old grandpa says, "It's a mind over matter thing. Those that mind, don't matter. And those who matter, don't mind."

 

[frankenchick]

SunnyDawn, I think I hurt something inside trying not to laugh out loud at your story!

We processed chickens; I noticed afterwards that when I cooked one, I was careful to use every scrap of meat because I knew that an animal died to provide it. I think it would be the same for any animal we raised.

Raising one's own meat (or even animals one doesn't plan to eat) is an important part of life education, IMO. Everything lives at the expense of something else, that's just The Way It Is. Like when coons killed our emu chicks . . . they were doing what predators do. Of course, we had to kill them to protect the rest of our poultry . . . I guess in this case, we were the super-predators. That's Life.

It's really sad to think that people can reach adulthood without learning this. It does tend to cheapen all life.

You're doing the right thing, honeydoll.

 

[dancingbear]

Yet another point that is often overlooked about livestock, is that most breeds would become extinct if people weren't raising them for meat. Not many people can afford to keep livestock as pets. They have to pay their way, just like people. I can't afford human freeloaders, either. They have to have a job, or be a lot of help around the farm. A pig can't go out and get a job to pay the bills, so we fed them and cared for them, gave them a good life from spring until fall. (winter for the last 2) Then they got slaughtered and ended up in the freezer, feeding us.

Same with chickens and other poultry. I know there are some folks who can afford to keep them as pets, but very few can afford large numbers of them as pets, and pretty much anybody who has poultry or livestock has to figure out what to do with all the extra males. You might keep a hen for eggs, a cow or nanny goat for milk, but the boys...well, no milk, no eggs, no babies to sell or eat...not many folks can afford to just feed them without getting something back. Besides, they start fighting, many become aggressive. Not all female livestock is suitable for breeding, milking, or whatever, either. Some of them are culls. If you don't get rid of culls, you weaken the whole herd/flock. Gotta weed out the less desirable animals, or you'll have an unhealthy herd or flock, pretty quick.

It's either eat them, or at some point kill them to get rid of them, wasting the meat would just be wrong, IMO.

I love the comment about lions vs. vultures and maggots, that's priceless! I plan to use it. Depending on who the person is, I might soften it a little, make it lions and hyenas.

Most of my friends are cool about knowing we kill our own meat. I often take some to potlucks, and they are delighted to eat it. They know they are eating a humanely raised animal, or carefully handled game, in the case of deer or something else. I took raccoon to a pot luck once. Not everybody ate it, but nobody criticized! One of my most citified younger friends, has surprised me in his willingness to try whatever I show up with. He was actually my emotional support the first time I butchered a chicken on my own, thanks to a bluetooth headset, so we could talk while I did the whole thing. That was a huge help to me, he made comments that made me laugh, so I didn't get all freaked out over the actual slaughter part.

 

[Sphinx]

Personally, I feel that a chicken raised at someone's house, able to free range, living a humane life is much better off than a commercially raised chicken in a tiny cage, pumped full of hormones, and debeaked. I will admit I jokingly gave my neighbor some flak because they bought this ADORABLE calf that thinks he's a dog for meat. I requested that next time they buy a meat steer, they buy one who is nasty tempered so I won't be sad when he dies.


Now, if I were you, I would buy some crazy alter in your yard, or make the spot where you process your chickens look like an alter. Then, tell people that you practice a religion that requires you to sacrifice a chicken to the gods, and then eat the meat as a sacrament. Ask them if they'd like to know more about your beliefs or attend church with you. They would probably nod and smile and never ask again.

After all, it's never acceptable to question someone's religious beliefs and traditions, so they probably won't bug you anymore.

 

[Peep_Show]

Quote:
Upon reading this I had a vision of erecting little roadside crosses in the yard for all the little chickens..... This site is such an inspiration!

 

[pattypenny]

people are stupid some times so go on with your life and forget the stupid people.

 

[jodief100]

Quote:
My coworker suggested something along this line. He included a staff with feathers, ritual dance and painting your face with red smears while processing.

In all seriousness, this entire situation bothers me because this disconnect from where food comes from is having some serious consequences for farmers. Laws to “protect” farm animals are being suggested and even passed by people who know nothing about farming or animals. They are imposing their own ignorant standards for animal welfare on the very people who can afford it the least. The result is fewer small family farms and more agribusiness. Since small farmers raise their animals in the open for everyone passing by to see they are getting the brunt of the criticism while agribusiness is behind closed doors.

I know of several small farmers who have had visits by the “Agricultural Boards”. These are political appointees who know nothing about farming. The results have not been good. One farmer was cited for not having his cows in shelter when there was snow on the ground. Never mind the fact that the barn door was wide open and the cows CHOSE to come out in the snow. A neighbor of mine had a lame horse that had been cared for as an invalid for YEARS when someone complained that the poor horse wasn’t being cared for because it had a bad hoof. Only a long argument that ended when she pointed out the only option was euthanizing the horse got the SPCA off her back.

 

[honeydoll]

jodief100 I agree with your concern. I have had the same thoughts completely. I know what you mean. There has been such a push for humane treatment of livestock that the regulations are really hard to adjust to. The large agribusiness are the worst on farm animals. Most small farms take great care of their animals. It's sad to see this happen here, I believe in Mom and Pop farms so strongly that when I see them hammered by "do-gooders" I really feel for them. I will keep on with my meat animals, but it is stressful to feel neighbors watch you to see if you are processing. We had one old lady actually drive slowly by our house all the time and watch us and our children. We told her if she did not stop we would press charges for harrassment. Once we eluded it was very creepy for a grown adult to spy on children she stopped. This is what we deal with. She also used to put fliers for certain animal interest groups in our mail box, she did this to our neighbors who hunt too. We told her that was a federal offense and she then stopped that too. I truly don't understand people sometimes. In a way it makes me feel better to hear others have experienced this too but mostly it concerns me that so many of you have experienced this , because this idealogy is growing it seems. Now, I need to go find me some meaties, most of the places here stopped selling them now. Hmmm...anyone with cornish x chicks in NE Ohio......?

 

[Settin'_Pretty]

I was tempted to get into the whole "inhumane commercial chicken vs the free ranged small farm chicken" debate like a few others have,
but that's not what this thread is about is it, and like it or not the world has need of both.

As for raising your own food....
You should never allow anyone to make those decisions for you.
Those who do it, know why they do it, those who don't will never understand until they do.

Personally I don't have a politically correct bone in my body, and would tell them to shut their mouth and pass the chicken.

 

[Penturner]

Honeydoll, You really do need to follow your husbands example. Think of it this way. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Not just those that agree with us. They really are. It does not mean they are right, any more than our opinion makes us right. They look at the pros and cons and make their decision, you have done the same. Your decision is just different. If people then try to influence you to their way of thinking, you simply need to know that you have already weighed the issue. Listen to them because someone may actually say something you don't already know. But if there reasoning is wrapped up in comments like. You are abusive, cruel or what not. I know I simply ignore them. I will explain why.
I process chickens and person Y says. "You shouldn't do that because it is cruel" I actually think about what they said, not how I feel about it. They are claiming I should not do what I am doing and they have a reason for it. "It is cruel" Are they correct? Not in my opinion. I have chosen a way to kill the birds in the least cruel way possible. Is it "Sad" well maybe, it depends on how you feel about it. I woudl not foolow their advice simply because the reasons for it are wrong. I don't get caught up in they disagree with me. Now tell me I can have meet full of parasites or diseases and let that information be correct. You might even change my mind.
if all they want to do is put you down, shame you or otherwise be offensive. treat that for what it is also. I don't take abuse of any kind from anyone ever. not even the socially acceptable versions. They can find the door in the same place it was when they came in. Period.