Incubating birds just to kill the unwanted chicks.

[firedove]

Our NHF&G purchases pheasants from farms to be released into local fields every spring because ring-neck pheasants can rarely survive a New England winter without the intervention of people. They then charge hunters to go out and have the opportunity to shoot 10 during the season. The extra cost included in purchasing the license goes to F&G for programs that promote a healthier natural NH. The various states' wildlife management organizations are not just about hunting. Without hunters most of the US would have no preservation programs, far less healthy populations of the various native species, and much less wild areas to enjoy. Most of the programs that cover that kind of thing are done by F&G or WM. Hunters pay for them every time they buy a license, buy ammunition, or guns. I can't say 100% but I think all hunting items' prices include a little extra for the various state wildlife institutions.

So you can try to demonize hunting or the growing of game birds for sport but you really need to look further into it.

As far as I'm concerned, if I had an extra pen I would love to raise some pheasants to eat. Would I still buy a pheasant tag and try my hand at hunting some, probably. I do what I can to support wildlife by supporting NH Fish & Game.

In case you are wondering, as a non-hunter you can still support your state's Fish & Game (and likely the same types of organizations, like the DNR). They will take donations from the public. Unfortunately those same people who complain about hunters killing wildlife rarely pony up their own money to support Fish & Game and support the conservation and health of those same animals.

All that said, I think offering those pheasant hens at $.35 a piece before just killing them is a good gesture. Instead of telling them what they are doing wrong, maybe you should help sell those chicks if you think that saving them is so important.

I could go more into why hunting is helping our native wild species and I am very tempted, but this is not the time or the place. If anyone would like to know why I firmly support hunting, and why I hunt myself they can feel free to send me private e-mail.

 

[AK_Button_Mama]

I guess I am a murderer for selling my extra male quail to a man to feed his falcon with. I have no other use for male quail except to eat them myself. this man is carring for a falcon they got to eat too!!!

I have not been a member of this website for long but it will NEVER cease to amaze me how people come to a website that has a DISCLAIMER about us all raising chickens to eat/ do what ever with and every couple of weeks it seems some newbie has to post about some video on youtube about chicken farmers, and how chick are abused in the hatcheries and BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! I am so sick of all the rigamorole.. for godness sake was rase food for our families if you dont then WHY are you here on a flippin chicken website.. are you poaching your next peta raid?

Some times there are casualties in a business. raising animals is NO different that the fella who lost his job last week. some animals have MORE value in a farm setting that others! plain and simple!

I am by no means TRYING to be a jerk here. it just gets really old being told over and over by some peole that my culling a animal is wrong. that eating meat is WRONG. that hunting for moose is wrong. that wearing fur is wrong... what makes it wrong? it is a way of life for us in Alaska. If we couldnt hunt or wear fur some folks would DIE in the winter up here! try living some place where its regularly-30 degrees (or nome alaska where its -80 degrees some times) and tell me that fur doesnt keep you warmer than man made fibers!

Ok I am dont ranting I am sorry if I ruffled feathers it just gets old after a while!

 

[firedove]

Amen AK_Button_Mama! Right on point (unlike me who gets distracted easily).

 

[CARS]

Amen!!! And if you ruffled a few feathers... well this is a forum that likes to eat eggs and meat. If god didn't want us to eat birds he wouldn't have made them out of meat.

(ya, I know... I am probably going to be put in time out for that one.)

 

[CARS]

The bottom line is management.

If you don't get it you never will. It really doesn't matter if it is a pet store rat or a flock of geese. It needs to be managed.

Hatcheries have to cull and I guess the word that nobody wants to hear is kill unwanted chicks all the time to fill their orders. Who can control the sex ratio???

You want them shut down??? Then there is no day old chicks for us!!!

 

[Judy]

Come on. Potatoes are usually alive when you cook them, even from Wal Mart, just treated not to sprout. Seeds and nuts and many veggies are new plants in potential. Life eats life. You are not left with much if you try to live on what could not produce another life. Why is a cow or chicken more valuable than a potato? It is easy enough to demonstrate that potatoes also have feelings. And why is it better to drink cow's milk than to eat the cow?

OK to have such limits, if that is what you feel, but not to impose them on others. Get over it.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Eggsactly.

Morals are about humane treatment, not about what one eats.

Plus, if you eat the meat and waste the fur, that also sounds immoral to me.

 

[Fancie]

I used to do taxidermy on ducklings and chicks. I often worked with "culls." I enjoyed it. My work was awsome. But the hate mail I got was agonizing. It lead me to quit. I hope to pick it up again... but right now.... wish more people understood the bigger picture. Not every animal was born to live. They die for one reason or other.

sorry had to add my 2 cents.

 

[gypsy2621]

Beautiful arrangement btw, very nicely done !

NH releases both Cock and Hen Ring necks.
with the sole purpose of having them establish a hardy winter breeding stock.
last fall I had a coyote trap set up in case of marauding coons and Mr dumb bird and Mrs dumber bird strutted right into the trap on their own, talk about total disbelief,
I had to go out and cover the top with a trap in order to keep them from bashing their brains out while I propped the door back open, eventually they strutted back to the marshy area.
it was kinda funny in a way.

I have been on the phone with F&G constantly these last few months asking questions and getting permits in order to raise pheasant. and yes NH you have to have a permit to raise ring necks. they are a non native species.
as soon as the pens are built and permits are in place F&G will then buy birds from me, I cant remember what they pay per bird but they want both hen and cock.
I am not in the raising of them for monatry gain I would gladly hand them to F&G for hunting if the money from stamps goes to the approprate funds.

 

[ilovechickens]

It is the cycle of life, I raise chickens, raised sheep, cows, they all had names and ended up on the dinner table or if defected I guess they were dog food. I just went to the dual bird egg/meat to make sure that those that had to be culled I could put in the freezer. There are a lot of hungry people out there now, I would like to raise a bunch of meat birds for the local food soup kitchen, I just ordered 35 meat birds for my family. We were given our critters for enjoyment and nourishment. The little mice running around in my coop are a tasty treat for my chickens, and sometimes my chickens are a tasty meal for a family of foxes, or raccoon's. They all got to eat, I think that we could put those extra roos (aka packing peanuts) to good use and raise them for our local soup kitchens or for families that are struggling. I guess that is my take, buy those female phesants and raise them for others that need food. Just so you guys no, I cry everytime I lose one of my critters, that is okay, but again they brought me pleasure now they are nourishment for whoever got it, whether my table or a fox den.