My chickens are animals I tell you. ANIMALS–slightly graphic – no pics

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Today I sent two roos to freezer camp. The first I processed behind my house in the open. The second I process inside of a 6 foot pen (thank you dh for the suggestion).

I had been outside for a bit. First roo almost completely plucked. I must confess, I am a slow dry plucker – the smell of wet feathers –ewww –

Dogs are laying in the shade – they have little to no interest in the process – they were earlier drawn by the upset roos and came to check on “their” chickens.

So around the corner of the house comes my splash Rosecomb – DoodleRoo – I think he can SMELL me when I am downwind of him. He loves me and just knows it is his job to escort me when I am outside. Following DoodleRoo, my favorite hen (shhh, I did not say that) Sweet Amelia (EE).

Goodness gracious, DoodleRoo saw what I was doing (first time ever for him) took one look at the feathers on the ground and proceeded to call the rest of the flock over for brunch. Here I am, getting ready to cut with chickens flocking to my feet, tasting the splatters on my clothes, fighting over blood feathers – a full out feast. I call Hannah, border collie, over and make her lay by me. Chickens climb over her to get feathers.

Not really wanting them to eat the feathers, I leave the area and walk for the rake. I think I will rake the feathers and pick them up. Coming back to the area, I see Smokey Blue (blue Rosecomb roo) fly up to the cutting table and abscond with my plucked bird! Ok he only attempted to abscond – the plucked bantam roo still out weighted Smokey Blue.

Animals I tell you!

 

[rhodeislandredraiser]

I understand your astonishment. I have 19 chickens and 5 turkeys. I did have 25 chickens and 6 turkeys. One day I came home after running some errands to find that one of my turkeys had been killed and the chickens had picked it clean to the bones. Atlhough I don't have a problem with culling a chicken, I do have a problem with any creature being tortured. It was very upsetting.

 

[Lunachick]

Um, savage world we live in......

 

[fasbendera]

I have my flock of 20+ hens and I raise 100-200 meat birds a year. When processing day comes the hens are lined up along the fence for any stray feather or byproduct that may stray their way. They will eat anything even their coop mates.

 

[Barred Rocker]

Well they say birds are decendants of the dinosaurs. I guess some things never change.

 

[Chotii]

I've seen pigs do the same thing. Okay, they're not chickens, but I was appalled, I tell you, when the portable butcher's truck would come to our property, shoot a pig inside the pen, cut its throat, and the other pigs would SWARM over to drink that blood while the dying/dead pig was still thrashing.

And pigs are intelligent creatures. So they say.

 

[Tuppemor]

Both chickens and pigs are also omnivore scavengers. Nature isn't always pleasant..

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I had to laugh at the chickens. When I was done plucking the second roo, and took him to the table to finish cleaning/cut up - two chickens flew onto the table, ready to taste the roo.


Pigs - yes - they can be scary. When I was little (over 30 years ago) a farmer near us raised pigs, and we would get a piglet or two from him each spring. One morning while feeding the pigs, he stepped into their pen, had a stroke and was disposed of by the pigs. His poor wife found what was left of him.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

wow

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

thats really sad