How long do you keep your chickens?

[redhen]

Quote:
If you wont kill a suffering chicken..what do you do with it then? Bring it to a vet, i hope?
As animal owners, its our responsibility to not let our animals suffer. If we REALLY care about them, that is.
I can never understand how someone can leave an animal to suffer. Its just so cruel.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
By not killing a suffering bird you are being more cruel to it them giving it a quick death. I have had chicks before who wouldn't eat, would you rather I let them starve to death just to give them a few more days to live?

For real...

 

[F50myster]

Quote:
By not killing a suffering bird you are being more cruel to it them giving it a quick death. I have had chicks before who wouldn't eat, would you rather I let them starve to death just to give them a few more days to live?

see thats the problem you have to have hope you cant just kill a chicken because you think that its going to die anyway what if the chick recovered from his sickness and started eating? you will never know what could have happened to the chicks you killed. thats big for me because if i killed a chick i would feel so guilty id always be wondering stuff like "what if he couldve survived?" id rather burry a chick that died naturally knowing that i gave him a fighting chance instead of throwing away a chick with his neck broken because i want to get it over with fast.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
By not killing a suffering bird you are being more cruel to it them giving it a quick death. I have had chicks before who wouldn't eat, would you rather I let them starve to death just to give them a few more days to live?

see thats the problem you have to have hope you cant just kill a chicken because you think that its going to die anyway what if the chick recovered from his sickness and started eating? you will never know what could have happened to the chicks you killed. thats big for me because if i killed a chick i would feel so guilty id always be wondering stuff like "what if he couldve survived?" id rather burry a chick that died naturally knowing that i gave him a fighting chance instead of throwing away a chick with his neck broken because i want to get it over with fast.

I have tried that before and ended up prolonging the suffering of a day old chick, knowing that he starved for days before finally dieing is worse to me then the few who actually pull through.

 

[chickensbythesea]

If you worry about killing grass and plants, shouldn't it bother you that your chickens are eating it?

It's pretty much the same principle; it is part of it's potential life cycle to be eaten, much like worms will probably eat you and I at some point. I can ensure them an excellent life, a swift and humane death, and a meaning for their sacrifice, which in my eyes is a lot better way to go than spending days, if not weeks, suffering tremendously as my body shuts down because someone wouldn't ease the pain. It's certainly what I would prefer for myself.

I may cull before they get to this stage, but as I said, their life is full, and their death is as painless as possible, and their memory and sacrifice is celebrated as we appreciate our meal. I don't think this is so bad, a lot better than (and I'm not saying you are one, just that these people are being hypocritical) the people who are aghast I can eat something I raised and prepared, but still eat commercially produced chicken. I can't stomach eating something that has suffered it's entire life and was killed in conveyor belt fashion, I'd much rather eat something I know didn't live and die in misery.

ETA: There's a difference between hope, and turning a blind eye. Some situations require hope. Some situations require action. For example, this fall, I found a garter snake that had been hit by the tractor next door, and was severed in half, guts hanging out, but still slithering, albeit slowly and erratically. There's no amount of hope that was going to fix that; snakes don't magically regrow spine and organs. Should I have just sat back and hoped for the best? No, I did the responsible, but hard, thing, and ended the clear suffering.

 

[WriterofWords]

I don't think it's necessary to start calling someone cruel and get the thread closed. If you don't like what someone is saying just move on.

 

[andrea98]

i believe i will keep mine seeing how they are just banties & their eggs well are small.. but i wont tell them that... yes please dont get this one closed!!!

 

[redhen]

Quote:
I'm sorry..i never called anyone cruel, personally.
Its just MY opinion that its cruel to let an animal suffer. Thats all... its NO big deal. Its JUST an opinion...
I'm entitled to my opinion...just as others are entitled to say they prefer to let their animals suffer, insted of culling them.
We each have our opinions... i'm entitled to mine also.
Why is it that i cant state my opinion also?

 

[greekbioguy]

maybe its too soon for me to worrie (am still waiting for my new chickens) but how on earth will i be able to kill and eat a bird that i have raised and has been with me for years . i could kill a bird that is sufering if there is no hope for it but i cant take a healthy bird and kill it .and what would i do with it cant really come in terms with the idea of eating it .maybe i sould built a pension coop for old chickens but i am afraid their numbers over the years will increase

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
By not killing a suffering bird you are being more cruel to it them giving it a quick death. I have had chicks before who wouldn't eat, would you rather I let them starve to death just to give them a few more days to live?

I'm with you on that one!