How many people eat there chickens on this form

[peteyfoozer]

The way I see it, raising and butchering our own is more humane than not. Everything is going to die. It can either be by old age and suffering, disease, ravaged by predators or humanely dispatched by our own hand at the optimum time. I will use them well then, as that was their purpose.

 

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

When I was young Close to 30 years ago I worked for Holly Farms and they were bought out by Tyson and stayed a bit longer with them. Big business in the south. I got to see everything from hatching and shipping to slaughter and packaging. I promise if you eat chicken you are better off to eat your own. The vids that people post are nothing to someone that has been there for a few years.

 

[Ronald72067]

Quote:
You got that right I help mom and dad in law raise Tyson chickens.

 

[P-Funk]

I'll eat one of my girls whenever I decide to eat my horses, dog, cat, or budgies. It isn't going to happen.

 

[ozark_chickies]

Quote:
Not to mention, the sick birds USDA lets slip down the line, or the deregulations that let good looking meat be trimmed off a diseased carcass.

edit to add: not slamming usda but the volume of birds processed means some will get overlooked.

 

[kota1369]

In my case I chose not to eat them mainly because OH is not interested in eating our "yard chickens". My 5 girls have an area in my back corner which is about 12'x45', in other words spoiled rotten. In that area I have a 5'x26' rabbit shed where the rabbits are in hanging cages and the chickens get to forage in there and they love it. This is fenced off from the rest of my yard. Like so many others here they are named and even know their names. When I have them free ranging in the back yard I open the back door and they run to me like puppies. They follow us around the yard and try to help with chores. They even will hang out with my pack of 4 dogs and myself. I can leave them out with my crazy, squirrel obsessed rottweiller as she runs from tree to tree staring at the sky like a fool. They are out of their area anywhere from 2-8 hours until the snow flies. So, needless to say they are part of the "pack" so to speak. This summer the 3 new girls would fly over their fence into the big yard about 2 minutes after I let the dogs out. Its like........ "everyones up! lets join them!" As babies those 3 saw the dogs ALOT.
That is why when I need to cull one I freeze it for a while. The dogs know them. I personally would not have a problem eating them but I would be the only one in the house.

I think it is easy to make them pets as mine are to. But, I was also raised where we cute up 1/2 beef or 1/2 hog after it was quartered up. I remember that as a kid. Then when I got to be around 20 I had a great neighbor guy who took me out deer hunting and taught me how to hunt, gut, butcher and cook venison. And that was 27 years ago. We are still friends. I remember the first deer I shot. It took many many many days of waiting for the perfect shot, so I had a good experiance. I have to smile at myself now. So, on that note. I say, try to find someone to help you through the process and teach you. Learning to butcher a few animals could be handy some day. And learning to dispatch them could also be important. An accident or a preditor attack could leave an animal terribly wounded that needs to be dispatched. So, knowing how to humanely do it, instead of $70 bucks at the vet clinic to be euthinized.
And I love being able to have meals right out of my back yard. One day, I will have a place where I can have my "yard chickens" and my meat chickens. OH doesnt have a problem eating ones that start out as meat animals.
Also, butchering of chickens and of rabbits is not as bad as some may think.
The nice thing is, we can have chickens! And I feel very good to know my animals live a great life and the ones that need butchering have one bad second with me. I wish all my food was that lucky.
sorry......... I got to rambling I see.

p.s. Cage free chickens can also mean....... 20,000 of them crammed into a barn.
free range chickens can mean they are in a pasture of mud not free to explore to eat bugs, weeds and grasses.

 

[fowlsessed]

I don't.

 

[CheekyMare]

I will.

 

[Avalon1984]

Quote:
Not to mention, the sick birds USDA lets slip down the line, or the deregulations that let good looking meat be trimmed off a diseased carcass.

I process all of my excess dual purpose roos. I hatch them, they have a peaceful life, get good food and end up being good food for my family.