My Chickens are not Pets!

[SkyWarrior]

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And you and I will agree to disagree.

I have seen more sentience and more compassion in some animals than I have in people. Just because they are the non-dominant species doesn't mean they don't have a spirit or a soul. Assuming humans do.

I believe that we have a duty to care for our animals kindly. And no, I'm not a vegetarian -- I believe in eating meat. Whether a god or some twist of fate put us at the top of the ladder, is immaterial. If I have a spirit or soul, I'm pretty sure they do too.

 

[mistyfeather]

ALL animals are ours to eat or take care of . . . we just need to treat them with compassion. Animals don't have a "Spirit", they don't go to heaven. GOD placed them here for us to have dominion over . . . again, with compassion.

i feel sad for you, as someone with a deep conection to nature , all animals have spirits, i hunt and can butcher my own chickens and thank them for what they give up so i may live.untill you realize they have a spririt you are missing a huge (important)part of life . we do not have dominion over anything , we live together

 

[austradork]

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This is exactly how it is for me too. My five girls are pets through and through. Sometimes, when they look up at me, it's so apparent that there are little chicken beings inside of all of them. I love them to death. Like the poster above said, the eggs are just a bonus. The true pleasure for me comes from watching their funny antics. But in the interest of full disclosure; I'm biased - I've been vegetarian since I was 15! (I'm 26 now).

 

[clothdiaperingmom]

For those of you who say "No way, Im not eating my chickens, I will buy them from the store"...check out *LINK REMOVED by Staff* Im sure its not just for KFC. Imagine the chickens you buy from the store since all they are bred for is meat and profit!
After watching the videos on ****, I couldnt even make myself buy a chicken at the store (mine arent quite old enough yet)!!!!!!!

There is no way I (or dh) can harvest ours. I have someone lined up to do it for me. But Im already contemplating watching the next time, and helping the next, till I can do it myself.
And because I plan on processing all xtra roos along with the meaties, I dont only have to order pullets if/when I order.

As far as hens when they are done laying, I have no idea what I will do with them. Until we move, I dont have the room to add new layers while keeping the retirees. Guess I will figure it out when I come to that point.

And awhile back, my dh had to go to Perdue Farms to do floors. They were butchering/processing turkeys while he was there. Horrible, horrible stuff he told me. And he hasnt eaten a store bought turkey since.

 

[schellie69]

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I have, Knoxville is trying to pass a law now to allow people in the city to own chickens, the rules are if it comes into effect is you can only have 1 chicken per so many square feet, only have hens, can't sell eggs for profit, and you can't cull your chickens. It was in the knoxville newspaper so I'm pretty sure its accurate information.

That has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard!! I'd be moving!

I understand that one Wolf Woman, I did not believe it when I read the statue but it says they can be for egg laying only, you can cull if they are sick or injured but you can not use the meat. DH and I are looking to move after he finishes school, we will be buying a farm so we can raise our own food. Most of my family thinks it is stupid also that we can't eat our chickens when they stop laying. Hopefully by next spring I will be on my farm. I think the law is to protect animals from cruelty I am not sure on the processing deer I am not sure on that I think that falls under a different stature,

 

[TheMainException]

My chickens are pets and I love them dearly. Having said that though, I do plan on eating them once their egg laying days are over. I'd like to keep one or two of the roos if the flock can handle it and they aren't mean to each other or too loud since they provide protection to my free range hens. My mom keeps asking me "So you really think you'll be able to kill them when the time comes?" I think I can if I don't think about it too much. I was sad when I lost the one to disease, but this is life. My chickens are to provide me with eggs, meat, entertainment, eat bugs, and keep the compost and garden in good shape.

Eating chickens bought from the store makes me slightly sick. Knowing the kind of disgusting treatment they are given and they horrific lives they live...I can hardly believe we are permitted to eat that kind of crap. It's so disgusting. Same with beef and other kinds of meat. The conditions are not sanitary in any way and more than cruel.

And to anyone living in a place where you can't cull old hens: Can't you say it's sick? Who's to know what you are doing if you are quick about it? Go someone else to do it if need be.

 

[woodmort]

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You and I must have been separated at birth

Except I started as a teenager killing roosters for the family freezer.

On basic law of the universe--if you're raising it to kill and eat, don't name it.

 

[X2Farm]

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Thats exactly how I see it...

We've gotten into (err, gettin into, since our chicks aren't even here yet

) chickens for the more utilitarian aspect of it, the more self-sufficient lifestyle aspect. We hunt/fish as well, and have no qualms about butchering time.

Any birds we get with the intention of eventually havin em for supper will not be named

 

[Beekissed]

My chickens aren't my pets either...nor my friends. I enjoy raising them and feel a sense of responsibility for their good life but I don't get mushy about their purpose.

I raise a flock for food and for the added benefits of manure for the garden, bug control, and seeing pretty fat girls on green grass and I just like animal husbandry. I like being a good steward of the land and of animals.

I feel closer to God when I am caring for his soils, lands, and animals. I marvel at the unique and intricate way he made every creature and thing. It makes me smile to see the miracle of baby animals doing just what God gave them the instinct to do....I never grow tired of it.

I am raising a dual purpose flock and culling for egg laying, hardiness, meatiness and broodiness. I hope to incubate my own flock's eggs next year and place the chicks under broodies so that I will have the desired genetics that I'm wanting.

Pets are a luxury that some folks cannot afford...but this doesn't mean I don't enjoy my chickens as much as the next person. I just enjoy them when they are dead also!

 

[joedie]

So far, I only have layers and they are a year old so I haven't had to think about what to do with them when they stop laying. I don't think I'd have any problem with eating them, they don't have names and I raise cattle for our consumption so I don't think the chickens are any different. But, I don't really know how to process them. Right now, I order meaties from the Amish, they raise them and dress them out for the same price that I could raise them myself so it's just less work for me. For me, the chickens are amusing to watch but certainly not pets.