How meat birds have changed you

[Tracydr]

edited, I thought you said you took bute, not banamine, I have no idea what banimine would even do to a human, yikes!bute,-well, that used to be a human drug, caused aplastic anemia. That's where your bone marrow stops making blood cells and you need a bone marrow transplant to survive. It's bad, a lot like leukemia. I won't go into experimenting with other animal drugs when you have no idea what you're doing.
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everyone is entitled to their own opinion...

Here's how I look at it... you were alive when DDT was cool... i was not.. good luck outliving that- as well as aspestodes

Seriously though, I had a chemistry professor in college, put 2 tsp of Sevin bug dust into his coffee every morning, right in front of the class.. said it was as safe as sugar.

These hormones, antibodics, and other things you speak so downly towards... are they any different than medication that humans receive from the doctor? Is the human version of Penn any different than the animal form?

Personally, I've given myself LA200 (burns like an SOB), NuFlor (?? not much), Banamine (one drop will make your whole mouth numb), Ivomec (alchohl in it burns), and Panacur (tastes like strawberries)-- both IM and orally for various ailments and problems. I've inhaled terramyacen powder as well as cow manure. call me crazy.. but I'm alive and kicking...

As I tell my mom, today's not Sunday, and I don't want to hear your preaching.

Sorry, I just don't see it...

 

[galanie]

My parents were of the WWII "chemicals are great" generation. But my mother was college educated and open minded, and never stopped learning till she died at age 80, a little more than 11 years ago.

She was the one that encouraged me most when it came to organic gardening. She was educated in both chemical warfare and organic ways, then made up her own mind. And I haven't forgotten those lessons, nor have I stopped trying to get the best information I can for myself, and look at it objectively. I've edited out her other qualifications, but trust me, she wasn't a dummy.

Now, DDT has been shown to not be the huge Booger Boo that it once was painted as, but I'll leave that to you to look up, I'm not doing other people's research for them. But nonetheless, the organic approach in general is much better than many of today's "old timers" make it out to be. Remember, today's old timers, in contrast to my parents who were born between 1906 and 1919, were educated during the 50's, the years that Chemicals were the Savior, the only reason more Indian people didn't die in the famine, etc etc etc. Their "old timers" were people close to my parent's age. 70? 80? LOL my Dad would be over 100 if he were still living. People living before then didn't even have chemicals to use much. They were proud of "wearing out" farms, as in sucking all the productivity out of the soil, rendering them useless for growing crops.

The only problem is, this view of Modern Science saving millions doesn't tell the whole story so far as it's effect on people. Today's agriculture requires more chemicals than ever before and it started in the 50's. Soil and crops are being treated as though they are inert products of chemical concoctions and they just are not. There are other studies where "science has shown" that organic practices of today are not only able to feed the same millions, they do so without harming the land they're grown on. Or the watersheds that any chemicals will then wash into.

Look at both sides, objectively. Science proves many things, but mostly by manipulating the results they get. I agree 1000% with Beekissed on "science has proven." Science has proven both that man caused global warming, that the globe isn't' warming at all, and that even if it is, man hasn't caused it. Depends on who you choose to believe.

One more thought: kfacres is absolutely correct when he says that organic certification is not helpful. The entire system is slanted to the chemical users.

What has processing my own chickens done for me? Given me a sense of control over my own food. Other than that, little else. I already knew I could do it.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

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I've worked in the ER in two towns with Tyson and a pork factory. Brutal hand injuries and people doing anything to get out of going out of work.

I can only imagine that - but we all must pay the bills some how right? I couldn't imagine having to deal with that threat if severe injury or loss of limb AND be able to do a good job, maintain sanitary conditions, so on...I know I would be way too worried about potential injury.

 

[CheekyMare]

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OT know but, you sound like Juan. I caught him sucking the corner off a cracked car battery the other day...

 

[ladyride]

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This thread has got way off base with organic vs chemicals. So back on topic.
I had never processed a chicken until a few weeks ago many thanks to the instructional people on this site so we would know how to do it properly !! My SO was right there with me as we entered this journey together. We had raised these chicks to processing day they were treated with dignity thought the whole process.
Financially maybe not the best investment but I know where my food comes from, how it was raised, how it was treated. To quote someone else they had a very good little chicken life til one day they didn't.I didn't help with chickens earlier in life but growing up on a farm we raised pigs & cows for food which meant they had to be processed. So I have always know where my food came from even if I bought it in a grocery store. As an adult I was always more concerned about what these animals had eaten during their lives before ending up on my plate. During most of my life I have gotten my meat from local farmers who shared my outlook about raising their food. I am hoping this is a healthier way of living, than factory grown animals. I do know my processing methods are much better than any factory & probably much cleaner.
I feel this is much more responsible approach for raising children. They do really need to know more than Mickey D's. You are doing your child a disservice if they grow up with no concept of where their food comes from. My sister & I have different views on childrearing but on this particular subject we are on the same page.
Do I trust what I have grown more than what you can buy in the store hands down no doubt. My family trust what I serve no question about where did you get or buy this what brand etc. They know .
I guess I was raised a little differently than most I was raised in abject poverty on farm where you grew what you ate , but was pushed to leave to get educated & hopefully have a better life than my parents. I did get 2 degrees not that it is really all that important just 2 pieces of paper. But kept coming back to my roots now I have a small farm & again growing what I eat, being more self sufficient than I had been in a long time. I have the same debt load as most with a mortgage, utilities etc, but no credit card debt not to say I don't have 1 you do need 1 sometimes for emergencies. Also success is what you view as success, it is not the same for everyone which is what makes us all different I suppose in this stage of life I just want a simpler life. I am quite happy with this life even though it can be quite inconvenient having to drive an hour to get to work, shopping,etc.

 

[Tracydr]

Recommend the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle for the OP and others.
For me, I find my home raised chicken fresher smelling and with better texture. I feel it's safer and I know it's non-medicated although not completely organic. The chickens had a good, non-crowded, longer, real chicken life.
I've grown my own beef, veggies, milk so this was a natural step. My parents always bought a side of beef from the next door neighbor when I was a kid, one that I would feed out of my hand. I'm new to meat chickens but not raising my own food. I've had poultry since 1986, cattle almost as long, a dairy cow, even sheep for a few years.

 

[kfacres]

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OT know but, you sound like Juan. I caught him sucking the corner off a cracked car battery the other day...

You know, I guess that's the difference between the city folk, the wanna-be farmers, and the real farmers... Personally, I don't know a single person (of any generation), from a farming background- who hasn't self medicated, or accidentally ingested some sort of medication; it comes with the job and with the duty.

I guess I question many people's on this boards real objectives-- Many of you speak so highly of about heritage fowl, and the desire to continue forward with them... Why not produce your heritage birds, in the same manor as those before us... How many of your grandparents, and great grandparents self medicated? I bet every single one of them.

To the OP-- I'm working on my email to you-- it will explain my background in organics- from writing that paper against organic farming, to my experiences working on the organic farm when I was at the university... and then it will tell of how my background in organics- landed me my current job- as our agency is really striving to promote and understand organic producers. Straight from the head honcho's mouth-- he considers my experience as the leading step for me to quickly become an organic specialist within our area of the agency. BTW, your email will come from my work email- Jody Kabat from a USDA address. Let me know if you do not get it within the next hour or so.

 

[Avalon1984]

Quote:
everyone is entitled to their own opinion...

Here's how I look at it... you were alive when DDT was cool... i was not.. good luck outliving that- as well as aspestodes

Seriously though, I had a chemistry professor in college, put 2 tsp of Sevin bug dust into his coffee every morning, right in front of the class.. said it was as safe as sugar.

These hormones, antibodics, and other things you speak so downly towards... are they any different than medication that humans receive from the doctor? Is the human version of Penn any different than the animal form?

Personally, I've given myself LA200 (burns like an SOB), NuFlor (?? not much), Banamine (one drop will make your whole mouth numb), Ivomec (alchohl in it burns), and Panacur (tastes like strawberries)-- both IM and orally for various ailments and problems. I've inhaled terramyacen powder as well as cow manure. call me crazy.. but I'm alive and kicking...

As I tell my mom, today's not Sunday, and I don't want to hear your preaching.

Sorry, I just don't see it...


X2. I tried Banamine once when I was young, stupid and in a lot of pain. Not to be recommended for human consumption. These drugs are made for horses in the concentration needed for horses, not humans. Not wise, whatsoever.

 

[peteyfoozer]

We raised our first meat birds this year. I had some extra roos, so we butchered those ourselves and found them to be outrageously good. So much better in flavor and texture than chicken we have bought at the store. WE did have the meaties processed tho, as we weren't set up to do so many at one time. Next year we will do our own, and hope to raise 50 in the spring and 50 in the fall. It's great to have chickens. I love that we get eggs, and meat, fertilizer and composting assistance all from the same animals! We like the CornishX due to the quick turn around time, but we also bought some dual purpose birds so no matter what, we will have meat and eggs. They pick the bugs out of my garden. No tomato worms this year! They free range around the yard and they help pick apart the flops out in the corral, from my Jersey cow, which reduces the fly population too. I have goats, sheep, horses and a milk cow, but when the grandkids come, the first thing they run to is the chickens. Now how can you beat that?

 

[Life is Good!]

Have I ever seen a meat bird processed? Nope. 42 yrs young and totally oblivious to actual 'been there' experience. And no, seeing it done on youtube doesn't count in my book! At least until 'smell-a-vision' is invented.

Did my parents ever expose me to this kind of education? Nope. Both professionals who own their own business and spend 110% of their energy towards those efforts, still do. My grandparents (WWII era - both served in the war efforts, now deceased) were not far removed from it, but didn't wish to go back to this. Grandfather was a small town physician for a while just after the war - and Grandmother told stories of payments made in chickens (live and dead, but not yet processed) that she would then have to deal with. She vowed to never pluck another chicken in her life - and had means to make that possible.

Am I out to change my children? Yep. On a whole bunch of levels. Being increasingly self-sufficient is one of those levels. I'm not a 'the sky is falling' kind of person - but I believe the more you know of the 'old ways' and can actually do those things means your likelihood of survival is increased no matter where you are. Will our kids grow up and live here in the USA? Not sure. God might be calling them to missions in foreign countries - and having a wide ranging background will round them out in ways I never was able to experience. Same concept of teaching the boys how to change the oil in the car - why pay someone to pull a plug out?

God gave us 1.78 acres in the center of suburbia to care for and manage. We've bumbled a lot of it (while I was still being that professional) - like taking out three old non-producing apple trees instead of trying to figure out how to rehabiliate them, same of an old plum and many other examples. However, lessons learned and we're now on our own adventure of figuring out what 'edible landscaping' we can do here in suburbia to increase our personal food sources. For example, our 60+ yr old concord grapes provide enough jelly for us for a year, and enough to share broadly with those we love. Our 40+ year old maple trees provide our household with enough maple syrup for an entire year's worth of pancakes...perhaps next year I'll see if we can provide a few jars to close friends and neighbors with maple trees to encourage them to do the same. (It's not hard or complicated at all - just don't leave it on the heat too long, burned maple syrup smell takes WEEKS to get out of the air!) We're looking to plant useful (i.e. garden) varieties instead of ornamentals - all in the name of reducing our dependency on our local grocer.

Personally, I know many of my neighbors and friends are simply unaware or uninformed of things they personally can do to provide for their families. A neighbor planted kale as decoration and was surprised to learn she could eat it! Really. And those five pumpkins rotting on my neighbor's bench have provided a delicious meal for our chickens (yes, I cut out as much mold as possible and gave them the chunks which were still orange). I'll give the neighbor a dozen eggs for their table as a thank you. But a whole group of society is completely oblivious to what is around them which is useable as food.

We started our chicken adventure for eggs (2 pre-teen boyss eat about 4 dozen a week! Eek, that's expensive!). A by-product of that research is to raise an endangered heritage breed, Java's. While a good dual purpose breed, as I understand it, I'm not as interested in keeping this breed for our table also - it's more for providing diversity in the marketplace. But I understand and agree with the idea of letting as many eggs hatch as possible in the spring, then culling the flock in the fall to keep just a few through the winter - to start it all over again. This is likely how we will go about getting meat for our table. With Java's? Not sure yet. Still doing the research.

Expanding on the idea of being increasingly self-sufficent, we're looking into obtaining goats and perhaps bees as well. Will this happen? Not sure yet. One step at a time.

Has what we are doing changed our children? You betcha! Every time I serve up eggs, youngest son (age 10) asks, "are these OUR eggs?". If they're not, he doesn't eat as heartily. Is it all in his head? Likely! Kids! Do they appreciate more the lives which are given to them to nourish them? I certainly hope so.