Is it morally right to breed more chickens????

[FourPawz]

Quote:
You invested a lot of money in your dog (Bull Terriers don't come free) and you obviously are proud of your dog. It's sad that your friends have been brainwashed by activism to believe you've done something wrong. You're proud of your canine friend and it's painful when your friends, instead of being glad you have such a neat dog, give you grief. It's too bad that folks don't remember that a large percentage of animal lovers think of man's best friend as a family member - would they say hurtful things about a human member of your family?

 

[FourPawz]

Quote:
Through the years I've had the pleasure of making a number of long-time friends through our dogs. I've kept dogs for my puppy buyers instead of having the little dogs boarded and it's always amazing to see them come back home, greet their mom and their "cousins" and greet our family like long-lost friends. Dogs have amazing memories.

I no longer breed, as I've got a number of really old dogs. Two are 17 years old, next in line turns 15 in a few months, there's a 13 year old (he came back when his owner died) and the "puppy"(LOL) is 9 years old. So much for the wives' tale that purebreds aren't healthy. The Shepherd in my avatar turns 5 this year. When the old dogs go to that big doghouse in the sky I may purchase a dog from a breeder friend, or if I find the right one, I will look for a rescue perhaps. All I have to do is make it known I'm available and I can foster a rescue again without delay.

As for chickens, I have 7 already. Six are hybrids, then I have a young Welsummer rooster. In addition, I have 20 BBS Orpingtons incubating, due to make their entrance around the 10th of July. I'm looking forward to the hatch like a kid.

 

[Winsor Woods]

The chicks that the hatcheries can't sell, they kill, freeze and sell for animal food. Some of them go to pet food processing plants but many of them are sold as snake food, or falconry food, etc. So they are not going to waste if they are not 'adopted.'

The other aspect to consider is sustainability. Who would you rather rely on? Some hatchery miles away that you give your money too (you money leaves your local community) or rely on yourself to provide for you flock's needs? There are so many other factors that come into play here as well. You're not just relying on the hatchery, you're relying on the Post Office to deliver your package too. With our global society on the precipice of Peak Oil and an impending global financial/economic collapse, you're doing yourself a favor by learning the skills needed to be self sufficient. So for me, your question has more to do with what gives you and your family resiliency and less about whether or not there are homeless chickens in the world.

Dan

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

IMHO: Chickens that need homes are pretty different from dogs or cats. Chickens are eaten by people and are often used as feedstock for many other animals. Dogs and cats... not so much.

We'll probably never eat our own chickens, but we don't have issues with people eating theirs (or, even ours if we so choose). In this economy, a lot of people are hungry and even an old hen would be welcomed by many to fill the empty spot. As long as people are allowed (legally or ethically) to eat chickens, then I don't see any problems with raising, and caring properly for as many as you want.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Quote:
You invested a lot of money in your dog (Bull Terriers don't come free) and you obviously are proud of your dog. It's sad that your friends have been brainwashed by activism to believe you've done something wrong. You're proud of your canine friend and it's painful when your friends, instead of being glad you have such a neat dog, give you grief. It's too bad that folks don't remember that a large percentage of animal lovers think of man's best friend as a family member - would they say hurtful things about a human member of your family?

well its funny because i tired to go though a bull terrier rescue beofr ei bought him, but they wouldnt adopt to us because we didnt have "bull terrier experience" so we bought our guy as a puppy.

i love ALL dogs...in fact i love ALL animals, and all of my animals have extremely happy lives. the darn dog is so freaking spoiled, as are the cats, as are the chickens...that should be what matters!

anywhoo, your extinct dogs article hit home with me because the english bull terriet actually comes from and extinct breed, the english terrier. i LOVE pit bulls, but will be sad when every dog in america is a pit mix

its like losing tigers, or pumas, or lions, and having just one mix breed of them all. god i hope i dont sound too stupid with this post, haha

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Quote:
Amen, why should I have to take the leftovers of someone else's irresponsibility just because it's "PC" I have purebred dogs and purebred chickens. I like to know what I'm getting, what to expect from them as far as temperment and activity level etc. I don't have the resources to waste time and money on some unknown, unhealthy animal because someone else wouldn't, so don't get down on me for being the responsible planning one. You wouldn't believe the amount of flack I got for buying a purebred puppy after months of research!

Breed all the chickens you want, don't let anybody else force their agenda on you.

amen! i chose this breed because
a) i was intrigued with frankenweenie as a child (haha)
and b) i needed and active dog that could deal wish harsh winters and summers and protect my house from burglers and varments. tthats what this specific breed provides. if people were just mor e responsible about breeding, then our shelters wouldnt be in the shape theyre in.
for instance, RESPONSIBLE breeders make sure their pups go to good homes only, and offer to take the pup back if it doesnt work out. imagine if thats how it was with all breeders?!

 

[oesdog]

Thanks folk for all the feedback!
I blocked the sender and am never asking that site for advice again!
I am taking my chick to the Vet today to get his eye sorted. Hope he will be ok.

As for all you folk who mentioned Dogs - well the guy on my Avatar is Murphy. He is an Old English sheepdog.
He is a rescue and spent his whole puppy time 18 months locked in a shed. The only excersize he got was chasing a 4x4 which taught him to chase cars.
So he came to me without toy or blanket. As I rescue OESDOGS! He is my 3rd. He was aggressive and unsocialised so he probably would have been put down.
Now he is a lovely 5 yr old - neutered of course!!!!!!!!!!!! He is happy and socialised - and even has another little dog living with us now and they are inseperable.
Only lasting thing is Murphy is terified of thunder! So we have to run get him and we all hide under a blanket until its gone!

Yeah I will continue to grow my own chickens. -

 

[Keara]

I am going to add a small twist to this conversation. I agree it is better to breed your own and/or, buy from a local breeder because It cuts down on the hatcheries business.

BUT, and this is a big BUT..... If you can not consider killing your own meat, or giving your unwanted birds to someone who may kill it for meat.... Please do us all a favor and do not breed. Feral chicken populations in some southern states are getting out of control because people are just dumping unwanted animals. Even here in the north it can be a problem in the warmer months.

 

[Oven Ready]

That will teach you for cheating on your BYC family

I wouldn't be surprised if the lady in question was an undercover BYC agent, relentlessly abusing you at whichever website you visit to make sure you never leave this flock.

 

[oesdog]

I wasn;t leaving this flock! Only just joined you all and actually I do cast my own net wide to get all the knowledge and learning I can.
That includes BYC. Happens to be my favourite and the only Forum I actually belong to - so that is kind of a bit unfair !!!!!!!!
Also have no intention of releasing to the wild any of my birds! If they are surplus they will go in the freezer. I have no problem killing , plucking and preparing a chicken for the oven!!!!!! I have done it and will do it again! After all the nice comments and support I recived I was a bit sad to get that. Thanks for the thoughts though.