The first time is the hardest. Especially when you have grown attached to an animal.
I have grown up raising chickens as pets so later in life when we started our farm it was hard the first few times.
Think of it as a comparison to the big production chicken you buy from the supermarket. Those birds lived in pure heck, crowded and raised in inconceivable circumstances. But yours had a good life, up to that point of where you are now. You gave the bird food and shelter and care and compassion until what your hubby did for what ever reason.
We have raised cows for process. First one was hard to let go. By the 5th one, I stopped naming them.
We raise swine as well. 2 / 250# girls got dropped off at our processor yesterday. Those were easy to part with from dealing with past experience. In the beginning with the pigs, I had I hard time even selling them. We are there to assist birthing. Keeping them safe from harm until the mommy sow has completed labor. Cleaning them and placing them upon the first sip of mother's milk. Raising them from small as kittens to size of a small cow with short legs. The first one we sent to process, Hit me hard. Second less.
It is human nature to be compassionate and own a conscience.
Time will heal your wounds. I have been in your shoes.
Makes you not take life for granted and makes you appreciate the sacrifices animals have made when you are selecting packages of meat to purchase at your local retailers.
Hang in there...
It gets better! I assure you. FC
I have grown up raising chickens as pets so later in life when we started our farm it was hard the first few times.
Think of it as a comparison to the big production chicken you buy from the supermarket. Those birds lived in pure heck, crowded and raised in inconceivable circumstances. But yours had a good life, up to that point of where you are now. You gave the bird food and shelter and care and compassion until what your hubby did for what ever reason.
We have raised cows for process. First one was hard to let go. By the 5th one, I stopped naming them.
We raise swine as well. 2 / 250# girls got dropped off at our processor yesterday. Those were easy to part with from dealing with past experience. In the beginning with the pigs, I had I hard time even selling them. We are there to assist birthing. Keeping them safe from harm until the mommy sow has completed labor. Cleaning them and placing them upon the first sip of mother's milk. Raising them from small as kittens to size of a small cow with short legs. The first one we sent to process, Hit me hard. Second less.
It is human nature to be compassionate and own a conscience.
Time will heal your wounds. I have been in your shoes.
Makes you not take life for granted and makes you appreciate the sacrifices animals have made when you are selecting packages of meat to purchase at your local retailers.
Hang in there...
It gets better! I assure you. FC
