Just need to rant; the value of chickens

[RAsChickens]

It upsets me so bad when people don't value chickens the same way a dog or a cat is valued. Like, oh, the chicken is sick or has a scraped foot? Serve said chicken for dinner. I honestly don't care if I'm the only person on BYC who feels this way. My chickens are part of my family and nothing anyone says will ever change that. Every single one of my chickens is loved as much as my dog. Each one has a name and personality. They all get weekly health exams and only receive the best of care. I don't care if I'm the only person in the world who thinks this. It is my opinion and will never change. Thank you.

 

[perchie.girl]

Even those of us who raise them for food feel equally responsible to take good care of our charges. So many of us learn the health issues involved with raising healthy chickens.... and are prepared to do for them as needed.

deb

 

[StephTheChicken]

I totally agree with you and I think most people here will too. The first thing I did when I got my chickens home a few weeks ago was registering them with a vet so they'd have all their details and I'd know where to go if something happened to them.

I once had a pet rat and paid £800 for a surgery to remove a tumour. That was a month worth of wages for me back then. Everyone told me I was crazy but I'd do it again any time. When you take in a pet you're responsible for its wellbeing and that's of upmost importance.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Outside of abuse and neglect this is an area where "to each their own " applues

 

[Kiki]

 

[BarredRockMom]

I completely agree with each philosophy. Spoil, pamper, cuddle and take care if them thru thick & thin.... and those who consider their flocks as food. I understand both sides.

I fall into the 1st category as my girls all receive the very best accommodations, care, organic food, exercise, supervision & love possible. And we don't eat our girls, they are a part of our family.

But ya have to practice reading between the lines of a post. That was obviously a kid posting about his sick bird. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion. No people aren't always going to agree. But not everyone can afford the luxury of caring for their animals like we do. And it isn't always a question of them not caring to do so. Sometimes people do the best that they can and it STILL isn't enough. Even when you find out WHY a chicken died, you may not be able to prevent the same thing from happening in the future. Doesn't mean you don't try or that you're somehow less of a caring keeper to those animals in your charge. Not being able to afford vet care for a chicken doesn't make you callous and uncaring.

You're going to find a lot of opinions here and a lot of experience from which to draw. You will still have to make your own decisions. Firtunately, you don't have to ask anyone else's permission to provide for your flock as you see fit.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

I do both. Raise some for food others are pets. Each there own i guess. But even my food chickens get/got the best care we could give them even if they where only CX. But i just try to forget the factory farm systems that i can not stand to support.

 

[BarredRockMom]

Agreed. Factory farming is generally horrible & I don't support them either. The way they treat animals is awful & the fact that they don't think anything of it makes it that much worse. Thankfully, we can opt nit to buy any of the products that would put money into the pockets of such operations. I was watching some videos on line of how some of those poor chickens are raised & treated both during their lives & as they were rounded up & prepared for slaughter. I'll never look at another package of chicken the same way again. Absolutely sickening, heartbreaking and enough to turn my stomach.

 

[Birdinhand]

I grew up on a farm in PA and understand the mentality of having to be practical and I guess that means something different to different folks depending on one's means, sensitivities, time etc. that said, we have both pet chickens that we will go the distance for and we have meat birds that I also personally work hard to improve best practices for better health, vitality and creature comfort. my father always emphasized the importance of being caring toward even the things we eat. I read "Animals Make Us Human" and do my best to apply the concepts.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Interesting view.
First things first. I've had chickens for 40 years ( few years through out there that I didnt) and never once have I eaten one of mine.
Its just not me but if I were I don't think I'd be eating one that was sick and sure wouldn't eat one because it had a cut. That statement is just being dramatic.
To each their own. Its not a contest and everyone raises and cares and values their chickens differently.
I have a daughter that LOVES farm fresh eggs but since she got into hatching she will not eat them period. She feels that every egg eaten is a potential chick that didn't get a chance at life. Now thats a love for chickens that most of us will never have.
As for chickens being loved as much as a dog or cat. For me I could care less for a cat most times so chickens win. Dogs, not even close. If one of my dogs and one of my chickens were in the road about to get ran over and I could only save one. No thought involved. I'd save the dog, say good bye to the chicken and replace it tomorrow.
My dogs mean more to me simply because they invest themselves into my life more than any chicken ever would. Dogs want to be part of the family. 99.9% of chickens could care less about me. Our dogs protect my family and property. There is no doubt any one of them would fight to protect my wife or kids. No one puts fear into them with our dogs present.
Our dogs love our kids and will happily spend all day playing and hanging out with us. I have watched them play frisbee or fetch with the kids for hours and give me the I'm so tired lets take a break look but as soon as the frisbee is thrown again they're off and running.
I've watch my youngest try to get snacks off the counter that he couldn't reach. One of the dogs came over laid down so my child could stand on top of him and reach the snack then them run off and share it.
A lot of my chickens free range in our yard as the dogs do. When I come home every day all three dogs will be at the gate wagging around happy to see me. Idk how they know but my wife says they will run out there before she ever sees or hears me coming down the road. Only time I have chickens at the gate is if its before their feeding time. The dogs come to say good bye before I leave and hello when I get back. Chickens don't care if I'm coming or going, home all day or gone all day.
I do spend hours a day with the poulty, I go to shows, swaps, auctions anything that involves them. I can talk chickens all day long. I do really enjoy them and always have. But my point is our dogs give so much of themselves to us compared to what the chickens give that they have earned and deserve more of my love.
In a perfect world it would be great to say every creature in my life meant the same to me but in the real world you get what you give and to say the dogs and chickens are on the same level is an insult to my dogs. They got the nickname "mans best friend" for a good reason in my book.