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.
