I can't cull! What is wrong with me???

[mom4morecritters]

I suddenly feel like I am in the middle of a CCC meeting (Chicken to Cull Chicken)!

It feels good that I am not alone!

I grew up on a farm. At one time or another we had ducks, pigs, horses, sheep, rabbits, and chicken. I had to participate ONCE when we butchered the chickens. My grandparents milked cows for 40 years. They had pigs too. Grandma had chickens and was known as the "Egg Lady". My dad still farms. He only raises cattle now. You'd think I'd be a little better at this stuff, but noooooo!

I am going to put an ad up at the feed store for "Free" Bantam Roos. Thanks for the idea! I told my dad I have no clue who to give them to, he didn't have any ideas either. Thanks for the help, Dad!


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My husband told me not to name them too! LOL! I am going to call someone we know who butchers and ask him for some ideas.

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You are so right... either attacks me or one of the other chickens. That's exactly WHY I've had to create a bachelor pad! The girls I have are too few compared to the number of boys who wanted to get their game on with them!

Thanks for the support, and the ideas!

~Anne

 

[tfpets]

We have a local Swap Meet that has a livestock area, the locals sell poultry and other stuff, I just took my excess roosters to a man we have talked to there alot, my husband explained my population issue (8 roosters too many)...he took them off our hands for free, why not, he'll make a dime, and I get rid of the boys! I can eat meat, but I cant personally kill anything? Who knows, there may be someone willing to take them to Swap Meet for you all at once?
Tina/tfpets

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

We named all of ours, although they are named Soup, Pot-Pie, Chicken "Fingers" Malone, Stew, Roast, and Salad.

We talk to the kids all the time about culling the girls after so long in order bring in the new baby chicks and they get excited about the new ones. They know that when this happens we will be eating the chickens as that is what we have them for. Eggs, and when they are done... soup. We have brought them up to know that it works this way, the cow we eat, the chicken we eat, and yes... we eat Wilber!

We have three boys (13-9) and a 5-year-old daughter. My daughter loves to call "her" chicken "Here Soup, come here soup.

Maybe you could get togather with someone to cull thier chickens and give them a hand before you do your own. Maybe a bit less personal? Don't feel bad about being chicken, it is a serious thing to kill an animal for food and should not be taken in a "fun" stance.

 

[americana-chick]

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you should try selling them. you dont absulutly have to kill your chickens.

 

[Jarhead]

I am a hunter so maybe this is different for me. I feel the same about my livestock as I do animals I hunt. When I hunt I only kill what we will eat - never do I take my limit just because it is how many I can legally take. I also say a little prayer thanking God for the gift and thanking the animal for what they will provide for me and my family. I always try to use all the parts I can so as not be wasteful. I take pride in animals I raise for harvest (yes most get names) and those animals are loved. I feel a comfort from eating food I have cared for and have grown myself (this goes for veggies and meat). I don't feel mean in any way when I butcher something I raised myself. I always thank God for the animal and thank the animal just like I do when hunting. Then when it is time for a special meal with that meat we say thanks again. This was the way I was taught when I was a child. It still works for me today.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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I'm only going to say this one thing, one time, and then I'll get off my soap box.....

People tend to get into this "Wonderful World" of chicken raising because they see cute little Silkies. Or they see a brooder full of cute little chicks scurrying around with all the new fluffy down feathers.

But they never, EVER think about the possibility that they will one day have to cull a bird for any number of reasons (injury, illness, sustinance....)

This part of the poultry world, that ISN'T discussed nearly enough in my opinion, is sometimes a necessary evil. Nobody likes it, because if we would we'd all be freaks of human nature who are incapable of human emotions.

So there isn't anything wrong with you. There are many, MANY more folks out there who are just like you and CANNOT do it.

But, if you're a responsible chicken owner, you will work yourself around the idea and realize one day that you are doing the right thing for the animal.

There.... I'm stepping down now.

 

[Jarhead]

PouletsDeCajun - I agree with pretty much everything you said. I think culling is not discussed enough on this forum or the web in general. Most people do just focus on cuddly and cute. However every book I have on poultry has a section about culling and butchering. I think that many people get into poultry it and just conveniently Skip those chapters in books (everyone should be reading some books for info, not just relying on this or any other website). What everyone needs to realize is those chapters are there for a reason.

I think of butchering and eating a chicken I have cared for as respecting what God and my animal has provided for me. They are here for a reason. When we treat them with respect and love by giving them a rich and healthy existence, they return that love and care back to us in the form of food, whether it is eggs or meat. It is a part of the wonderful circle of life. If you see how the chickens live in a mass production facility you will feel proud you are able to give a wonderful creature a better life, and a respectful death. The same applies for any animal we raise as food.

I think the bigger issue is most of us have been removed from the land, where just a couple of generations ago all these things were part of everyday life. I for one consider myself lucky for being taught these lessons as a child. My wife grew up a city girl so she had a harder time with these issues. She trusted me enough to let me show her that it was not at all about violence and being mean (which I think is most peoples hang up). Once she saw that I was respectful to the animals (whether hunted, fished, or farmed), then she opened up to it. Now she even helps me sometimes.

 

[Emzyyy]

Nothing is wrong w/ u.

 

[spook]

Find a Chickenstock or put a sign at your local poultry barn. Often someone is looking for a roo. Also, contact your local poultry clubs/4H clubs/extention services. I gave 5 roos away in 2 months (luck I assume). Also, perhaps you should look at the question "whats wrong with me" to 'whats wrong with those that can kill birds' (BTW, I dispatched my meat birds, but as far as a layer or roo, nope, no way, nadda).
Good luck and put up signs at your local store, farmers markets or grain stores!
Sometimes they allow sale birds at fairs. Worth a try!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
I'm only going to say this one thing, one time, and then I'll get off my soap box.....

People tend to get into this "Wonderful World" of chicken raising because they see cute little Silkies. Or they see a brooder full of cute little chicks scurrying around with all the new fluffy down feathers.

But they never, EVER think about the possibility that they will one day have to cull a bird for any number of reasons (injury, illness, sustinance....)

This part of the poultry world, that ISN'T discussed nearly enough in my opinion, is sometimes a necessary evil. Nobody likes it, because if we would we'd all be freaks of human nature who are incapable of human emotions.

So there isn't anything wrong with you. There are many, MANY more folks out there who are just like you and CANNOT do it.

But, if you're a responsible chicken owner, you will work yourself around the idea and realize one day that you are doing the right thing for the animal.

There.... I'm stepping down now.

I'll take this to the next step. If you can't cull a roo or sick bird then you should not have chickens. Period. Sorry, but that is reality. It sucks and it's hard.