I have some concerns about supporting hatcheries...

[pascopol]

Quote:
Absolutely, the Animal Rights nazis (mostly vegans hiding their agenda, wanting rest of us to live on tofu like them), are taking every opportunity to stop raising animals for food, trying to prohibit movement of animals, mandatory registration (NAIS) etc.

If you have concerns about male chicken treatment you have 3 options:

1. Hatch your own.

2. Buy "straight run"

3. None of the above? Then shut up.

 

[Andora]

Quote:
Absolutely, the Animal Rights nazis (mostly vegans hiding their agenda, wanting rest of us to live on tofu like them), are taking every opportunity to stop raising animals for food, trying to prohibit movement of animals, mandatory registration (NAIS) etc.

If you have concerns about male chicken treatment you have 3 options:

1. Hatch your own.

2. Buy "straight run"

3. None of the above? Then shut up.

Wow that's a little harsh for a thread that was posted out of genuine concern, just asking what other people thought on the subject...

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Absolutely, the Animal Rights nazis (mostly vegans hiding their agenda, wanting rest of us to live on tofu like them), are taking every opportunity to stop raising animals for food, trying to prohibit movement of animals, mandatory registration (NAIS) etc.

If you have concerns about male chicken treatment you have 3 options:

1. Hatch your own.

2. Buy "straight run"

3. None of the above? Then shut up.

Wow that's a little harsh for a thread that was posted out of genuine concern, just asking what other people thought on the subject...

Wow that was a little harsh calling someone harsh for giving his/her opinion, or is this a dont post if you dont agree with my opinion thread??

If you dont want the opinion of other posters regardless of what side of the question they stand on dont ask for opinions.

 

[Wifezilla]

Direct? Yes. Harsh? Nope. It's just reality. You either buy straight run or hatch your own. Any time you just get a girl, there is a boy out there and something has to happen to it.

 

[BeardedChick]

Quote:
... it's the same if you have cows, milk goats, etc.

 

[Wifezilla]

Exactly

 

[Indiana hens]

If more people would order roosters they would not throw them away. There would be no more ugly videos. I love hatcheries!

 

[TubbyChicken]

Quote:
This is a big part of why I'm also turned off of the idea of larger hatcheries...(and we also adamantly avoid Wal Mart!)

As for the fairness of complaining when I order or want sexed chicks...Well, yes. I do think it is fair. I naively made no assumption about what happened to male chicks. Being fairly new to chickens, and only having mine in limited numbers as backyard pets/layers I would have assumed a few things had I thought more into it...

I knew that some could be used for pet food and assumed that the vast majority were humanely euthanized and used...I also made the foolish assumption that ordering males would be significantly cheaper and that people who had the ability to butcher their own birds would do this with some degree of regularity, to keep their family fed...(That's what I believe I would be doing if I had the ability)

Although I have a problem with all the waste that I saw I also have a HUGE problem with the idea that these animals are being killed and tossed away inhumanely...these big hatcheries have the resources to do humane disposal of the unwanted males, but that is clearly not the case, based on my research. (I'm sure that statement does not apply to all hatcheries, but since it's impossible to distinguish which exact hatcheries are continuing these practices, I would prefer to spend my money with local breeders or with hatcheries that focus more on quality than quantity)...

I'm well aware that something must happen to the unwanted males...but I'm not willing to accept and contribute to hatcheries who dispose of males inhumanely...I'm not upset that they are being killed...sure, I wish that weren't the case, but if it has to happen, if there isn't use of some sort, I would hope that the hatcheries would kill the males humanely.

I see a lot of defensiveness over my post and that concerns me...I shared a desire to know more and find out about hatcheries that sold as straight run and paid special attention to their stock...I solicited advice and shared my dilemma, which caused an unexpected reaction...I know that many people here feel that their birds should be kept in minimal conditions, such as sq. ft per bird, fresh food and water, most are against debeaking, some feel strongly about allowing birds to free range, providing strong predator proofing, some people here have baby monitors in the coops, many have fought to keep their birds and institute laws that would allow them to do so!...Why then, would it be controversial for one to question the method of disposal of unwanted chicks and seek another option?

 

[TubbyChicken]

Quote:
Absolutely, the Animal Rights nazis (mostly vegans hiding their agenda, wanting rest of us to live on tofu like them), are taking every opportunity to stop raising animals for food, trying to prohibit movement of animals, mandatory registration (NAIS) etc.

If you have concerns about male chicken treatment you have 3 options:

1. Hatch your own.

2. Buy "straight run"

3. None of the above? Then shut up.

(Bolding mine)

As I stated...I was clearly UNeducated about hatcheries and how they work...being new to owning chickens I was unclear and thoughtless in my pursuit of acquiring my own flock.

Likewise, you seem clearly uneducated about vegans based on your generalization, and your comments and comparison to nazis is more than harsh....it's absolutely offensive.

Furthermore, the options you presented were exactly the reason I started this thread...with the exception of one..."shut up"...No. I don't think I will, and it was rude and inconsiderate to pop into a thread I started out of concern, seeking the opinions of the more experienced and post aggressive and offensive comments. I have no problem with people having different opinions, I accept that not everyone knows, cares or believes that there may be inhumane disposal of male chicks. Many people in this thread have voiced their opposing views respectfully and I appreciate the information and insight they have provided...

This is a public forum and I addressed this thread to the members here hoping to gain insight and find out if anyone else shared my concern. I've seen several great options, listened to those who disagree with my findings, understand the concern of the sources of my information and appreciate those who responded respectfully and kindly.

 

[Iceblink]

Please don't flame me for this, you are more than welcome to do whatever you feel comfortable doing, and I agree with you in principal, but I have to point out that a lot of people who are literally backyard chicken keepers (like me) can only have a very limited number of chickens, HENS only. If my only option were large amounts of straight run chicks or hatching eggs, I wouldn't be able to have chickens.

As far as using the males for meat, unless you are talking about raising them, which would be very expensive and really downright inhumane sometimes, (as only roosters raised together would fight constantly) that would be a bad idea nutritionally for pets. Chicks at that age are mostly fluff and chirp. They really have next to no nutritional value for dogs, as they cannot digest feathers.

I know of some Zoos that take chicks as snake food, and some bird of prey centers that take chicken heads for food, maybe that could be a useful option.