My Chickens are not Pets!

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
I am not against folks eating chickens if they respect and care for them well. I also agree its very healthy to have human friendships and I know sometimes you have to work to keep those friendships going. Friendships are wonderful and help keep you grounded. I appreciate everyone's opinion and feelings and cannot tell them differently. I agree that animals/chickens are not substitutes for human companionship but I also believe humans are not substitutes for pets. It has been proven over and over again that having a pet lowers your blood pressure and heart attack victims who have pets have a much lower chance of a second attack. Having a pet can help with a person's confidence and give that person something to talk about enthusiastically. They can comfort and help through a death or other catastrophic occurrence--sometimes better than other humans.

Not everyone wants a pet and that is certainly fine. But to tell others they are a cop out is incorrect as it negates the person's feelings which no one can do. Whatever a person feels is what they feel and they are entitled to that. You and I own our feelings. Chickens certainly cannot give you a place to stay (unless you want to live in a coop!) but are they friends? Well, yes if you think they are

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

Chickens can be pets. Chickens can be food. You can eat chickens. People can be pets, People can be friends, You can't eat people.

 

[Mom 2em All]

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I find your opinion very interesting. I respect every one who has the view that their chickens/cow/goat/pig/dog etc are food sources and not for companionship- but I wonder why it is so hard for some people to give that same respect to people who find companionship with their animals, instead of using them for food sources. My own family members raise our beef and pork, and they themselves consider the animals just that- food sources. They also tease me because my chickens and ducks are pets and companions, not food.

While my pets cannot do some of what you have listed they have also never:
betrayed me, slept with my spouse, stolen from me, talked smack about me behind my back(well, maybe in their own language- but it never affected our relationship), they have never cared if I was dressed up, dressed down, dressed at all for that matter, never compared my lifestyle/parenting/working ability to that which is socially acceptable, never passed judgement because my house/car/clothing do or do not fit into the society's view of "upperclass, lowerclass, middleclass, etc." They have never built themselves up while tearing me down, they have never ever hurt my feelings intentionally, or lied to me or about me. They offer companionship and comfort in their own way when I have been feeling down, have been a highlight to my day- nothing better than sitting out back and watching them after a long stressful day at work..they may not hug me when my world drops out from under me- but they do allow me to pet them, feed them, watch them- and I am free to talk to myself, talk to them if I choose, and they never care. Never once have I ever caught any of my animals rolling their eyes when I am talking- and never once has any of them ever interrupted me when Im talking to tell me that I am blocking the television,,,lol.

Its great to have human friendship- and I do have that, and its great to have a spouse, I have that also- but there is nothing like having companionship with an animal- whatever the species- and to know how comforting that is, in its own way.

 

[OliviaDeHav]

Right now we only have 6 and they are for eggs. There is one who might be a roo and we have talked that he will be dinner "maybe" if he is. The intent of the chickens was for eggs and eggs only. But even though all of mine have names - I think of them as God's provision for our family. We KNOW what ours are eating and how they are living.... with the recent egg issue in the news, is it no wonder we all are trying to raise our own food or are going back to the local farmers! My hubby and I were just talking last night about how we will probably need a larger place at some point for the chickens... or getting a larger flock in the spring, keep the best layers, and the others for meat come fall/winter. I'm sorry, but this country is weird with animals.... maybe it is like this other places?? But, we do the strangest things with our animals!!! They live better than most people! They have jewelry, clothing, fancy beds, while there are humans living on the street with no food or shelter.... Granted, i talk with my girls, give them treats (leftovers mostly), sit and watch them like some do fish in a tank... i have been trying to get a "special needs" chicken to be accepted by the flock - she is not working out and we feel sad for her, but she is either going, or needs to be "taken care of".... I can't spend what little energy i have on a chicken... as sweet as she is... my health (which is NOT good!) is more important than a chicken fitting in with the others. I did give it my best shot though...
Anyway... I guess i am somewhere in-between, but more on the utilitarian side of the fence.... To be honest, most people drive me nuts with their animals and how they are with them... If society would put HALF this effort into their own children, they'd not be so messed up!!!
If others have thier chickens as pets, that is all their business how they are with them etc.... It is not up to me to judge. But, i do find that it is those that spoil and treat them better than most humans get treated that will judge others... which is difficult on here at times.... I asked a question awhile ago about how the chicks went from being easy to hold to impossible when they were 2 weeks old... There were so many replies about how i was not holding them enough, and to get them and bring them in the house and sit them on my lap while i watch TV etc... First off.. how do they know if i am not holding them enough!! they are not here in my home!!! Second... sorry, the babies are already taking my brand new 3 season porch over (we've not been able to enjoy that room at all this summer) - I am not brining them into my house to watch TV with me!

Wow, that felt good to get that off my chest! Thanks for the opening!!!
OH on a weird side note... our doctor names their thanksgiving turkey so they can give thanks to God for "George" "peter" "harry" ......

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
AMEN sister!!! LOL...this cracked me up because it's so TRUE!!!

 

[AllTheseCreatures]

Mom 2em All wrote:
The truth.

I have chickens that are egg layers and they are not pets. I have animals that are pets. I would like a fancy chicken someday to raise as a pet, I think that would be lovely.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Mom2emAll, fantastic!!

I keep my birds as pets who also contribute eggs to the household. I also have cats. They contribute companionship and hairballs to the household.

I don't eat my chickens. I rarely eat any other chicken, either. I'm working my way toward being vegetarian, because I agree with the idea that I should be willing and able to kill my own chickens if I want to eat meat. I only eat red meat when it is served when I am a guest. I do fish, and can gut my own catch. If I could hunt, I think that would be fine. Something about the animal having a fighting chance...fair play and all. My chickens trust me. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel. So, I can't do it.

But, this is my own personal choice. I think everyone should be able to make these choices for themselves. It's not a matter of skill. I do think that everyone could learn to swing a hammer, or grow their own broccoli. But, taking a life is a much more complex ethical decision.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Mom2emAll--

 

[chickerdoodle]

Mom2emAll--I totally understand and agree! My friends even gave me a chick shower!

We adore all our pets and having lost our nearly 16 year old dog last month I found all our relatives and friends know how much our pets truly mean to us. We received so many cards, flowers, custom memorial stones for our garden ( Emma loved being in the garden) and numerous phone calls with condolences. Even those at work gave me a beautiful card signed by all. We had her since she was 7 weeks old. Did we feel silly? Did our friends and family think we are silly? Absolutely not. They know love is love--not pet love, not people love.

Psychological studies and brain studies have shown that losing a close pet you had for just a few years evokes an emotional distress quite similar to losing a close relative. People open up to those who do not judge. Dogs for instance are pure joy, pure acceptance. Pets need you and worship you. Pets, including chickens, show you its important to live life today--not yesterday and not tomorrow--for tomorrow may never come. Wisdom like that is hard to find in a person.

 

[galaxyflyer1]

I only wish that I could raise animals for food also, and not be such a wimp and feel sorry for them or become attached to them.

I am a 45 year old male and have had a problem with killing any animal that has NOT threatened me, my family or property (as long as it does not suffer). When my 3 hens stop laying, I guess I will just let them graze in the pasture during the day and let the "nature police" get them. I hope.....