I did it...I butchered a chicken...and I feel mixed emotions

[leasmom]

That's true...I guess its different when you're doing the killing, you have to remember it. I know Ill get over it, I just keep seeing it in my mind...

 

[Ugly Cowboy]

Well, it'll get better in time. It never bugged me, cuz I grew up with it. But I had my little cuz watch me do that (he's 8 years old and a city kid) and the first time he saw that he bawled like I had killed his folks or somethin! Well, I made him do it several times (he's gotta toughen up somehow) and he's pretty good at it now, it dont bug him near as much as it did, anyway.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I'm proud of you. It is unfortunate that the knife was not sharp. That would have been alot harder to deal with, but hindsight is always 20/20. If you ever have to do it again, you will know better.
Killing is never "easy" and your first kill is always the hardest. People always have different reactions to their first, and sometimes many subsequent kills. some are very emotional, some remorseful, some, like me, feel glum, with little emotion. To me, it is necessary, and knowing I am providing for my family make it worth it.

Looks like you did a good job.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm always amazed at the great number of people who have never killed an animal for food. I, too, think its important for people to understand from where their food comes. I think it gives them a greater appreciation for their food supply, for the animals themselves and for the work involved. Its not a pleasant job, but someone has been killing and cleaning your meat all these years. That's food for thought! Pun intended!

Congrats on your first real made from "scratch" meat! May you have many more! Looks as if you did a fine job...

 

[miss_thenorth]

Quote:
I don't know, but would assume, just from my circle of friends/acquaintances, that the great majority of people have never killed an animal for food.

 

[Beekissed]

I was raised in a different circle of friends, I imagine! We mountain folk are pretty much raised killin' meat, so it came as a big surprise to me that so many hadn't. No big claim to fame to be sure, but we always took it for granted that people did the same, somewhere along the line. Big shock to find out there was a whole world of people who depended on someone else to provide their meat for them. Shows just how far America has come from its roots and how dependent people have become on a commercial food source. Makes folks very vulnerable, I would say. Sad, really.

 

[tinners204]

You are right but people better start getting use to it, who knows the next pesident could be worse.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Quote:
I agree totally--that you have a different circle of friends and the rest. I grew up in a very populated part of the province., lots of towns and cities. My husband discovered hunting when he was 22. It is misunderstood in the cities, and frowned upon by many I find it surprising that alot of people think meat comes from the grocery store. So with that mentality, they surely aren't thinking about killing their own meat. I agree, sad.

 

[Nuggetsowner:)]

I think you did a fine job. I am sorry that it was hard for you. I grew up fishing and hunting and raising some meat. However when my mother and her second husband got divorced we no longer lived that lifestyle. I did not raise chckens agin untill about 1 1/2 years ago. Since then I have done 3 batches. It was hard for me too the first time. More because I do get attached to all the birds I raise.

 

[chickenannie]

You will be sure not to waste the meat, since you know how hard it was to take it's life. That's how I feel... so much more respectful of the meat because I know what it was once. I was much more wasteful with store-bought meat.
And get sharp knives. I felt the same way you did last weekend, even though it was someone else who came over and butchered one of my chickens for their family's meal. I didn't do it, but I was present (and very curious) and I felt sick to my stomach when the bird died. Like I said, it teaches you respect for food, like the Native Americans said prayers to the animal's soul when they killed it for food. They didn't waste a thing.