How do you deal with Negative Nacys?

[mybelovedchickens]

We are new to chicken keeping, recently got 6 Australorps and a Red Laced Wyandotte for dual purpose birds. We plan on harvesting the eggs until they retire from egg laying then we will butcher them.
My problem is my father in law... He keeps insisting that we won't like keeping chickens because everyone he has known thats had them hated it. While Im outside with the hens trying to get them used to humans when he comes up to me and says things like 'You know you have to boil them right? To get the feathers off.'
I've looked into how to butcher chickens, I know what we will need to do and I'm not afraid to get messy however we plan on having these birds around in our backyard for 5+ years. I see value in enjoying them while we have them. I have taken to calling them Hennifer or Henrietta and he really gets worked up at that.
I decided to chalk it up to him being the sentimental type, as I am not. I am not too naive to know that first time butchering wont be difficult but not for sentimental reasons.
Im curious if anyone else has these Negative Nacys? Does anyone else have dual purpose birds with a name? Have any suggestions on how to deal with them?

 

[Chickstarrs]

From what I have seen here, most chicken keepers of small flocks have names for their chickens. Mine do and they are mostly dual purpose as well. Not sure if I will be able to do the butchering myself, but that is to be determined later.

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. Honestly, I only name a few of my birds that I don't intend to eat, they're more pets than livestock. However, some people don't have an issue with it and do it all the time. It really depends on you. I tried, just couldn't do it.

I would have replied to my FIL explaining that the chickens are dead before they're scalded which isn't any different than the chicken he buys at the store or orders from a restaurant.

 

[Folly's place]

And add that chickens in home flocks usually have much better lives than the birds from the grocery store!
Mary

 

[sourland]

As a kid I was taught, "Don't name your food." Everyone was allowed pets and they were named, but most were utilitarian. As far as the negative nacy's, I learned long ago to just ignore them. Generally they can not be changed.

 

[My2butterflies]

I don’t have too much trouble letting people’s opinions roll off my back. If I have my mind made up it won’t be changed because someone else has delicate feelings. My fil doesn’t think I’ll be able to butcher my turkeys. He might be right, but we will see. That time hasn’t come yet. He keeps chickens and loves his girls. He’d never be able to butcher them even thought he has butchered birds before with his ex wife’s family.
That’s ok though. I can respect other people’s views and feelings even if I don’t agree.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I have lots of chickens and I love them! Also have quail and I love them too. And most of my birds are named except the quail and the chicks. So I don’t think it’s true that you won’t enjoy them. I certainly enjoy mine.

That said though, you might want to reconsider your timeline a bit. Most people that I’ve seen that replace the birds do it about every 18 months or maybe 24 at most. They start slowing down laying after that so it’s more economical for some.

At 5 they’ve pretty much already way slowed down so you might as well just keep them since you’ve kept them so long anyway. And the older birds do still have benefit. Mine contribute to the compost pile, raise chicks etc.

The meat on a 5 year old bird might also be quite tough. It might be okay with a slow cooker but it might not be worth it.

So anyway, long story short, I would consider either butchering them sooner if that’s your plan and you want the most eggs, or just keeping them if you want to keep them that long.