I am such a softie... Should I turn vegetarian?

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
They think the fuss is over how dirty her nice dress will get or that her neat braids may come undone.

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I'm not saying animals should or should not be eaten because of how they behave, or the nature of the animal. I'm saying they are not the way they are portrayed in movies and stories. People start feeling guilty about eating meat after growing up watching Disney and that sort of thing.

I would never describe a predator as "evil". I'm a defender of predators, as a necessary part of the ecosystem. Without them, we'd be up to our armpits in prey species, which multiply a lot faster, because they're part of the natural food supply.

I know that some pigs (maybe due to the nature of certain breeds) can become pets, and show a high degree of cooperation and intelligence. I also know that pigs are omnivores, and many of them will eat anything, including people, and one should be cautious with them.

 

[Ibicella]

Quote:
Pigs scare the dickens out of me. When I was young and working on a farm in the summers, there was a 900 pound hog named Portia that was meanest thing ever. We were told that under no circumstances were we EVER to go into that pen without supervision, and the kids weren't allowed to slop her.

One day we had to sell her piglets, and we had to lock Portia up in her pig house while the piglets were gathered up for the buyer. That pig threw herself against the door squealing with rage. We had four kids and two adults leaning as hard as we could on the outside to hold that door so it didn't shatter. Everytime she hit, one of us would go flying.

And we were told by the adults that if she did get free, make straight for the fence and get out as fast as you could. Don't stop to help anyone, don't look back, and don't do anything but get yourself over the fence.

I have no illusions to this day how dangerous pigs are. I've met some very wonderful, gentle, and intelligent pet pigs, but I told my fiance that when we start raising pigs, we are doing a buddy system with them. One to work, one to spot.

 

[cassie]

In the natural scheme of things, animals either eat other animals, get eaten by them, or both. That is just the way it is. Very few animals die in their beds of old age. In my small ecosystem I have to eat some of my chickens in order to be able to afford to feed the rest. In other words, the death of some benefits the others. In the natural scheme of things the same thing is true. In a way, the whole concept of animal rights, (as opposed to animal welfare) is a lot like the concept of communism (to each according to his need, from each according to his ability). It sounds great. It just doesn't work.

 

[RocketDad]

Quote:
Honesty with one's self and one's relationship with whatever "higher power" you need is paramount. If we remember to respect and honor the living beings we eat, we are better for it.

"Life feeds on Life"
Tool

 

[GardenWeasel]

This is a very simplistic thought. When I go fishing and we clean the fish I can't eat it right away so we filet and freeze. In about a month I am able to prepare the fish with a better enjoyment. Don't know why but it works for me.

 

[yotetrapper]

Ok, I didnt read all the replies, but I will share with you my experience. Not a sentimental person, I've hunted trapped, and fished my entire life. I thought this chicken killin would be a cake walk. Until I killed my first one. I knew my chickens would have to be culled eventually, but when the time came the extra roos went to a neighbor and not the freezer. Then, I got a mean hen. She would viciously attack the younger pullets. I caught her once, and marked her, well the next day I saw her attacking another pullet and that was it. I snatched her up, grabbed an axe and went to the chopping block. Since I killed her, I had to eat her. I didnt know nothing of tough old chickens, and she turned out about like shoe leather. I managed a couple bites (forced myself) seeing the chicken she was the whole time. Ok, well now I had killed one. And the next batch of young roos was growing up quick. Time came, and I steeled myself for it, and went whacking.

Now, this right here is what helped me overcome my adversity to eating MY chickens, so pay attention, lol. I killed them, processed them, and left them in the freezer for about a month! I ate no other chicken during this time. After a month had passed, I was craving chicken. During this time, the scene of the butchering faded from my mind. When I cooked the chicken, I was able to eat it much easier, 1) because I was really craving chicken and 2) because I hadnt just killed them the day before. The second chicken was easier yet, and by the third it really made no difference whether the chicken was mine, or store bought.

Agreed, though, on broilers. If your goal is to get chickens to eat, definitely get some broilers, as like the OP said, you have no choice but to kill them!

 

[Buster52]

I was unlucky and lucky with my first batch of roosters. They were leghorns.

Unlucky because they are so scrawny with so very little meat on their bones.

Lucky because they are so dang mean. If you have 7 young leghorn roos and aren't ready to kill the little &$#*%#@s by the time they are 18 weeks old...

[See? Sometimes emotions can actually help.

]

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
That's a fact! When I get a bunch of young roos terrorizing the hens, it makes it easier to off them. And the hens do not miss them, they go back to being their normal, calm, placid selves.

 

[estpr13]

Quote:
Quote:
The mean ones tend to taste better for some reason. Perhaps yotetrappers "distanceing of the act" doesn't take as long with the mean ones.
These are good insights.