Hi, I am planning on getting 10-15 meat birds from the co-op this spring, it is my first time ever having chickens, is is normal to be feeling a bit sad at the idea of having to kill them. i am worried that i will get too attached to them, is there any way to minimize this or will i just have to suck it up?? Kind Regards
don't make pets out of them, they are livestock which cause chores to be done, not pets. you have horses to be your pets. that said, my family has made pets out of our chickens, not me i'll eat one anytime. good luck, Jerry
We raise meat birds every year. Trust me when I say by the time they are 8-9 weeks old, you will be ready to be done with them. They can be quite smelly birds. All they do is eat and poop, all day long. They are not like regular laying chickens. Their pen needs cleaning more often, but fresh chicken is well worth the effort.
It is totally normal to be sad.. I have cried all three times when mine were butchered. I personally think that you learn to really appreciate where your food comes from when you raise your own meat. I thank each one of them when i have to do the deed. I hope I don't become cold hearted. I try not to get too attached to my meat birds and remind myself from day one that they are dinner.. I have taught my kiddos to call them, chicken nugget, chicken tender, chicken soup ect. My kids have really done well with learning how to care for them from start to finish and not one of them (i have 5) has turned vegetarian. Good luck and you can do this, it is so worth it to have fresh home grown meat on your table..
