How many people eat there chickens on this form

[TheSpiceGirls]

My chickens are pets. I don't have what it takes to raise meat birds. But I do eat chicken. I buy it from Whole Foods. Yes, it's more expensive. But it was raise more humanely and sustainably.

That video of Sparboe Farms where McDonald's was getting it's eggs just breaks my heart. I can't support organizations like that.

 

[triplepurpose]

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Good luck!

 

[1 hen and 1 roo]

You know everyone has fa eeling one way or another as to eat or not to eat their chickens. There are people who will not eat eggs from farm raised chickens but will from store bought chickens. That really puzzles me?!?!?

Our intentions when we got our first chickens was for exhibition only. Said we would never kill and eat a chicken we raised.
Well, our opinion on that has changed. Well, what made it change? Well, circumstances did. We had mean roosters, we had too many roosters, we couldn't afford the feed for all the show birds, we had to kill a few due to sickness or ones who had recessive genes pop up and would not be for breeding. Boils down to choices made from circumstances for us.

We must remember that God created each of us and all the animals. He gave the animals to man to care for and for food. He also made the plants (herbs, veggies, fruits) for our health (food consumption). Chickens are for the most part dull purpose: meat and egg. Some are only good for meat and others for egg and others neither. We have to remember that the families in the Bible raised their food and often times raised the lambs for sacrifice in the family home before they were killed.

I believe that we as humans often place animals in to categories: pets, meat, egg, work, etc.
Like Horse, dog or cat. I do not believe that I would ever eat these animals. I can not imagine eating something that we in America raise for an intended purpose (working cattle, pleasure riding, etc). Now, if I was one who felt eating dogs was something that I could do then there is an abundance of dogs in this world that could be eaten. For me, I do not feel like that will be a choice I will ever run across (at least I hope not).

Still goes back to everyone has their own feelings on whether to eat or not to eat. If you feel that God gives you the freedom to eat a chicken that you have raised, than eat it. If you feel that God has not given you the freedom to kill a family pet that you raised and eat it than you should go to the store and get your chicken meat for your family to eat there. No one has the right answer for you. It is what you feel personally works best for you. Circumstances may over time change your feelings. There is plenty of other food choices out there to eat and still be healthy whether you eat your own chickens or not.

We currently do not raise any of our chickens for meat purposes but will if the need arises eat our chickens.

The best thing to think about when raising your chickens is to provide a safe, clean and friendly environment for them whether they will have a short life or a long life. Take care of what God has blessed you with. If you can not take care of them, then eat them or give them to someone who can take care of them.

 

[BusyBlonde]

We had an original flock of 10 golden comets. 2 years later, they really weren't laying much. Got 20 Barred Rock chicks, 19 made it to adult-hood. We had 9 roosters, and 10 hens. We processed 6 roosters, and all of our golden comet hens. It's life on the farm - they have to earn their keep here. We have 16 BR chicks that are 3 weeks old, looks like 10 are hens. 5 roos will be processed, a local BYC member wants a roo for her flock, so she's welcome to one of ours. I also have 15 eggs in the incubator. The roos will be processed from that batch, too.

It's not "pleasurable" to slaughter any animal. However, we do know how our animals are raised, what they're fed, etc. When people say that they don't know how someone can't eat their fresh eggs, but can't eat 'our' chickens - don't be a hypocrite. We know where they come from, how they're treated, and that they're humanely processed. I'd much rather know where my food comes from. It's not on a styrofoam tray in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. Yes, it's an animal I raised. Raised with a purpose. And I won't apologize for that.

 

[mammat]

I dont. I eat chicken but not the ones I have raised from babies, named and that live in my backyard.

 

[Evelle]

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nore can i that is just horrable isnt it!!

 

[lavenderorpgirl]

Just my lil ole 2 cents -

I don't eat our chickens, nor do I eat their eggs. They are pets and I have named them, I would never eat something I have named, just not me.

I think it is perfectly fine for others and I think as long as their lives are humane, happy and healthy and their subsequent deaths are as quick, humane and as painless as possible then it is ok for those wishing to do so. I'd much rather someone eat a chicken that has been well loved, cared for, been able to free range / have lots of room to scratch and just be a chicken as that is MUCH preferable to being in a small battery cage laying eggs till the cows come home and then ending up in someones soup.

We rehome our roosters and screen each home before they are shipped - usually anyone covering $70 - $90 in shipping and agreeing to chat with me via phone for an interview and screening isn't going to eat one of our birds. I would not kill a rooster if he were dangerous or mean, I WOULD have him humanely euthanized by our vet, even if he pecked the begeesuz outta me.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi

 

[GAchick]

I have 9 hens 2-3 years old which are being butchered next weekend. Maybe an addition 3 'others'.... Reason? I have 9 baby chicks which just hatched out under 4 different birds (all silkie, or silkie crosses). I also have 3 BO's just hatched this spring, and two EE's from spring. A lavender silkie roo, which has a free pass for life, and 4 blue silkie hens. Very few eggs right now. Feed is 14 dollars a bag. I don't mind some small 'finished product'. It's only me and my DD that I'm feeding. Silkie/LF crosses are plenty big enough. (Straight silkies are like oversized quail).... We thank each bird as we prepare to slaughter. We try to do it with as little fuss, fanfare, and stress on the birds as we can... And that being said... I have no issue with those of you who would never do it..

 

[GoldenSparrow]

I guess I cant do it because I have a small flock, and am very close to them. I am always out there with them.

if I had tons of chickens all free range, I suppose I could eat them.

Even if there life was short at least it was happy. the chickens you buy at the store, their lives are just so sad.

 

[debs_flock]

I have processed and eaten my own chickens and rabbits in the past. The situation hasn't arisen yet this time around as I only got back into chicken 6 mos. ago.

We do raise our own sheep and have the ranch butcher come out for processing. I've also eaten pigs my son raised in 4-H. The major difference is when it's a pig with a name, I can't waste ANY of it. Store bought, I can scrape leftover bits into the trash. When it's been raised and named, I can't do that. I'd feel that Duncan (or Tux or whoever it was) died in vain.

The kids always recognized that the animal is lavished attention while they are being raised instead of stuffed into a stockyard. It's the quality of the life they led.

Deb