My 2 year old wants to butcher our rooster!

[AkTomboy]

I just wanted to say you are doing an awesome job with your lil one. I grew up hunting, fishin and raisin our own food so I can remember the days of doing chickens. While I did market animals as 4-H and FFA projects it always amazed me the grown a$$ people who would walk in our barn eathing a turkey leg or burger and then tell the younger kids how they were so bad for killing something they raised and was "cute". Its good for her to know where dinner comes from and no its not the frozen area of the store. My crib midget just turned 16 months today and is already helping feed the chickens by dumping the new food in the feeders. Its good to know Im not the only one around to let my kid see how the food he eats gets to the table. Sorry for the ramblin...

 

[cw]

i have a 4 yr od little girl thats itchin to help take our guineas

 

[bheila]

Quote:
It drives me crazy how sheltered kids are these days. My husband grew up in Minnesota on a huge farm. I never got to experience the farm life as a child. I always felt like I was born into the wrong family and I swore once I had my own kids I would show them what it was like to raise their own food. I want my children to have an appreciation for the life of the animals we raise and they do. We name each and every one of our animals, even the ones we eat

I'm very proud of the way we raise our kids. You should be too

I love when my kids go back to school after summer's over and the teachers ask the students what they did. My kids always tell everyone they butchered chickens

The "city" kids always ask questions.

 

[SpringChickens]

Great job with her. I think it's very important that they understand how life works, and that chicken does not just *appear* at the grocery store.

I've tried to instill that in my two-year-old daughter as well. We recently had a rooster day where we processed 9 roosters, so we've been having them for dinner occasionally. Recently, my daughter and I had the following conversation while eating chicken dinner.

Her: Is that a chicken?

Me: Yes, it is.

Her: What kind of chicken was that?

Me: That was an Australorp rooster.

Her: Oh... is that a *dead* chicken?

Me: Yes, it is dead, sweetie.

Her: Oh... Who killed that chicken?

Me: Dad and I killed that chicken so we could eat it for dinner.

Her: Oh... That chicken is delicious!!! Thank you for dinner, chicken!!

That last part was my favorite... "Thank you for dinner, chicken"

 

[bheila]

SpringChickens-I love having conversations like that with my kids

The thing is, is even though she's only 2 you know that she really means "Thank you" when she said it for the chicken. Our kids are soooo much smarter then people give them credit for now days.

 

[SpringChickens]

Bheila,
They really are. It amazes me some of the things they comprehend and understand. Sounds like you're doing a great job with your daughter. It will put them so far ahead of their peers by understanding how life really works.

Unlike some people who think that we're cruel for eating our own chickens....

 

[agnes_day]

how cute!

 

[bheila]

Quote:
I think it's cruel to eat chicken that comes from the supermarket, JMO

...But I can understand how some people don't have the stomach or courage to raise and process their own animals. It can be tough sometimes.

 

[SpringChickens]

Oh, I agree completely. It can absolutely be difficult to butcher your own animals which you have raised, and I understand when people don't want to do it.

I just don't understand the people who condemn me for doing it... My chickens had a much better life than any that you'll see in the grocery store, and most likely, a much better death as well.

Plus they taste better!!

 

[bheila]

We raise our Cornish like we do our free range hens. They get full range of the pasture. I love knowing how happy they were when they were here.
You're absolutely right, the meat is so yummy

I can't get my mom to eat any of our meat let alone our eggs. She doesn't know what she's missing. That's okay though, more for us

I'd better go get some chores done.