How do you live with yourself eating the birds you raised?

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
Maybe its because of all the "you's" in the post which normally would refer to the other person and not oneself. The only time she really refers to herself is to assert that she is "sensitive" and "loves her chickens", is attached, and cannot imagine eating one. Followed by, once again, "How do YOU do it?"

I really don't see where this is an innocent plea for just how she can she ever get to the place in her life where she could actually eat a chicken. I see this is a comparison....SHE is sensitive, attached and loving towards her chickens and YOU(the other white meat) are NOT attached, should "feel bad" and just "how do YOU do it?"

Get real...its a slam. I've also noticed the OP hasn't revisited the post in awhile. Was this a post to stir the pot and get folks hot?

I agree... she didn't answer any of the questions I asked.... I don't feel sympathetic for ignorant people. The main post definitely struck a nerve with me too.

 

[BitsyB]

Folks are being too sensitive- her question was in no way accusatory- just asking for advice on how one gets to a place where they can eat the animals they raise and love.

I would like to get to that point someday, but since my 6 chickens are illegal already I can't raise more, so I only buy meat/milk/cheese etc. from local farmers that raise their animls in very humane conditions. The more of us that raise our own food or buy from small, humane farmers, the better chance factory farms may one day change their ways.
(Anyone in DE that is interested- www.delocalfoodexchange.com )

Some people are sensitive, and slamming them can really hurt feelings.
I thought this webite was set up to be suppportive and kind to other backyarders.
Not all of us were lucky enough to be raised on a farm eating your own animals from a young age.

Perhaps if a certain thread offends you, move on to another?

 

[averytds]

OMG,

the freezer full! We can't raise pigs here.

I'm so glad someone finally brought up the cultural aspect. Briefly touched on, someone mentioned the legal aspect as well. Truly a fear as more people get into backyard chickens. How long before "they" successfully add chickens to the same protected class as dogs, cats, horses, etc.

There are just so many things wrong because of our being so far removed from where our food comes from and I'm sure more problems in the future.


If I don't incinerate or bury really deep, my chickens will ultimately end up as food for something. Might as well be me and mine. Honestly, show of hands, if you drop dead of a heart attack in the run and no one finds you for a couple of days, how many of you think your pet chickens won't have started eating you?

 

[shadowpaints]

you know, i thought it would be hard. but really, its not too bad. from the beggining, the cornish crosses they are 'food' i constantly remind myself and my 6 and 5 year old daughters that they are for the freezer. so far, its not been real hard. we do the same thing with any of the chicks that we hatch or buy turn in to roosters.

we also raise a steer and are starting to raise pigs too. we did Boer goats for about 6 years . but then the only butcher that would do goats died.. and we sold all the boers.

i guess that it is harder for some than it is for others. i was raised on my great gramas farm and i always was present and i understood that most of the critters we raise are for food.
for us its easy not to get attached, we dont name them, and we dont cuddle and play with them

they have a good life here untill freezer camp day. they get plenty of food and water, treats and excersize.

also when butchering, we thank the animal for their sacrifice before we kill.

 

[shortstaque]

Quote:
Well put, and I agree. I think that the question itself is an interesting one. The more questions like this are raised and discussed on a rhetorical level, the sooner people may be able to see the questionable logic behind not being able to eat what you yourself raised and know to be good. Stuggling through this question is the beginning of recognizing how food gets to the plate. So many are so removed from where their food comes from. As a society I think we could benefit from more awareness in this area.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

one of my meaties was injured, and i moved her to the chick coop to re-coop-erate.. anyway, she's been so nice with those chicks, roosting next to them, and bossing them around and making them behave, that now I can't process her... hello to another pet chicken...

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
It's really a radical departure for so many of us raised in a modern urban/suburban culture. We're just not accustomed to calmly & purposely ending the life of an animal we're not afraid of, disgusted with, or threatened by. Especially not an animal we may have known from it's infancy, one that we're might have feelings of fondness towards.

Just the practice of keeping poultry is far outside the realm of experience for many of us. We've grown up keeping all sorts of other domesticated animals, but these just might be the very first chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, etc that we're personally acquainted with. So that's another big step to go from "how cool it is to have my own chickens!" to "now I'm going to eat them!" For some folks, that's been in their plans from the beginning, for others, it's an eventual change in perception towards our birds.

I myself have found it enlightening and empowering, but I also understand how other folks have not yet gotten to this same place, and know there are some who may never wish to process their own chickens. Certainly it's hypocritical to condemn folks for dispatching their own chickens if you yourself eat meat, but I can respect the feelings of vegans who have strong convictions against killing animals for their consumption.

What some folks fail to realize is that by eating eggs and dairy products you're supporting the killing of animals, those industries produce a vast number of male animals, cockerel chicks and bull calves. The calves are raised for meat (the spent dairy cows also eventually become beef) and the cockerel chicks are usually dispatched right after sexing. So don't say "Meat is murder!" while eating a cheese omlette.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
I've been on this site a long time, I believe almost 10 years ago. There isn't much anymore that is going to offend me here. I've seen a lot and learned a lot here. I've also seen a lot of people come and go too. I believe back in 2002-2003 I was the one that was looking for help as for processing my own birds. I know what it's like, especially then only being a freshman in high school. I looked to people on this board for advice more than my parents at times due to the fact that I didn't grow up on a farm and didn't grow up knowing where my food came from. It was a learned behavior like most things I've dealt with in life.

Trust me, I'm the last person to be sensitive, especially on a message board. If you post a question like the one posted on the web, you better be prepared to take it or if you give advice you better be able to back it up, because you're going to get called out on it. To me the post was coming after most people that raise birds for meat, there was nothing in her post that stated that " please help me over come my lack of not eating chicken because I just can't live with myself " Nothing in her post says she even wants to attempt to process her own... or about buying chicken from a local farmer like you do. Remember she said she will not eat any chicken because she has some as pets, not even from a local farmer who does it the right way. But I assume those dollar burgers at McD's are wonderful.

To me it's amazing how ignorant people are to the food that they consume. Either it be the meat at the store, the burgers at McDonnalds, or the cow that was raised by your neighbor. Most people would tell you it's just a cow, how can they be different? Even with todays internet, tv, and newspapers telling you about what's going on, people still eat crap knowingly. So to me, it seems this is nothing more than a hypocritical peta act. However there is a lot of good on this thread that is being used from people like yourself that truly may overcome the painful act of killing another animal for your family. It is neat to see others opinions on how they overcome the "deed" or why they decide that they can't. But until I hear otherwise from the OP I believe this was just a stab at the people in this section of the forum. Disrespectful to say the least. Am I offended no... were my feelings hurt.... hell no. Was the way the question was worded disrespectful..... a little.

 

[elieugene6]

Quote:
I think some may have missed this post from the op. I just happened to catch it. I did not read through all 15 pages yet but (and correct me if I am wrong) it seems like she is trying to find a way to be able to do it at some point.

 

[Olive Hill]

There are numerous reasons I should probably have a hard time living with myself -- my tendency to procrastinate, my short fuse and hot temper, my overuse (is there such a thing?!) of sarcasm, my cold and callous views on a number of social issues... you know, just for instance -- eating the birds I've raised however, is not among them. In fact, I consider eating (and selling to others the meat of) the birds I raised as one of my more redemptive qualities. I am creating, fostering and growing a local community, providing safe, healthy and sustainable, locally grown food for area families, bolstering the local economy, working hard to be a responsible steward of the land, contributing to the safe keeping of "at risk" genetic material, reducing demand for inhumanely raised supermarket chicken, and actively contributing to my family's economic situation in a positive way, none of which, I can assure you, keeps me awake at night.