How do you do it?

[Suzannah]

I mean this in the most innocent way possible, I swear. I don't have a lot of time on this forum, so I don't know the tone, but I really don't mean anything by it. Not trying to pick a fight or ruffle feathers.

I have contemplated getting a few meat birds, but I don't know if I would be able to kill them myself (and my daughter has flat out said she won't eat something we raise, so there's that). I would just like to become more self-sufficient, but I don't know that I could actually do the deed (and then butcher it out). I cried when one of my layers died mysteriously. How do you get over the killing?

 

[Teach97]

doesn't bother me...never has...I see them as food and I guess i get over it by enjoying the dinner. Now...when I had to put my dog down i bawled...but I had him longer than the kids and he was my buddy...chickens....doesn't bother me

 

[farmerlor]

Honestly? Meat chickens are different than layers to me. They're nasty, bald, evil birds who would eat each other if you were more than a minute late with their morning chow. That's exactly why we get the Cornish X chickens because they are so very unlikable. I still thank them each and every one for the food they provide to my family but it's different than the layers who are just as interested in you and what you're doing as they are in the food you're giving them.

 

[bigredfeather]

The first few are the hardest. Knowing that you are taking a life can be a tough pill to swallow. The thing I think you need to do is convince yourself that animal was put on this earth to nourish our bodies. Knowing that you have given said animal a great life up to that point, and have done the deed in the most humane way possible both make it easier. It takes a lot of courage to intially take on this responsibility, but once you get past the first few it does get easier. Many on here have had the same anxioty about it, but with some self convincing have been successful and continue to do it. For me the fact that was I was becoming more SS learning this skill was worth the trade-off.

Goodluck. You CAN do this and you will be a more diverse person in doing so.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We all have different goals and different backgrounds. We all feel differently about it, and raising them for meat is not for everyone. I don't do the meat birds but raise dual purpose.

The way I look at it is they they would never live if I were not raising them for meat. I never enjoy killing them, but I know when they hatch this is their fate. I don't just raise them to a certain age and kill them all, but process a few at a time. Many of them lay eggs or get to know the girls before their time has come. Mine free range and I think they have a pretty good life, even if it is relatively short.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

It was hard for me at first. And I still don't kill my own, I have them processed but I do raise all of my own meat now. My advise:

1. only get CX for meat, their life span is very short anyway and by butchering you are saving them from the discomfort & death of CHF
2. love them and treat them well, and know that however small, you have made a dent in the horrible life of commercial poultry bird.
3. have someone else take them to the processor the first time, take them yourself but don't wait around the second time, sit in the waiting room the next time, watch the cleaning and gutting the next time (amazingly interesting), watch the plucking the next time, then finally watch the killing (I just did this for my first time a few weeks ago - I didn't like it but it was good to learn how fast it's over.

I am nowhere near butchering my own and may never be, but I'm glad I know how from watching & if I had to I could. And I know that the 52 birds a year that my family consumes have happy comfortable lives while here.

 

[DianeS]

I don't know if you ever really do, but like others have said, the first few are the hardest. And the bird never would have lived at all if I hadn't gotten it for the sole purpose of eating it later. And I like eating chicken, and know that the ones in my yard lived a far nicer life and will have a calmer end than anything purchased at the grocery store.

That said, I had the same concerns you have. So I tested myself. I found a meat birds for sale via Craigslist (a 4-H kid had more than his family could use), and I bought two. So I was contemplating butchering two birds I had no attachment to what-so-ever. That made it easier.

And once you know you can do it, that you can end a chicken's life without it feeling pain or fear, it's not so hard the next time.

In my opinion, there's only one way to find out if you can do something, and that's to do it.

 

[heather112588]

i couldnt kill them either bc i raised my guys from chicks. However ending up with 2 hens and 5 roosters, i brought myself to the conclusion that it had to be done ( for them as well- they would fight). They also used to overmate/hurt the girls to where they would scream and i felt so bad for them. I found a local butcher and tryed not to think about who i was eating.

 

[NicoleRM]

I can do it because raising them with love and care and killing them respectfully is less of a burden on my conscience than supporting commercial poultry house practices. Plus they are really tasty.

 

[Suzannah]

I really appreciate the thoughtful replies. I may try it in the spring and see how we do. My husband is all for it and has said he will do it, but I am pretty sure that won't go too well. Still don't think the kid will eat the bird, though.