Not getting emotionally attached

[terri9630]

We kept to the minimum contact route. The kids knew we were going to eat them and play with the layers instead.

 

[joel david]

I agree that it has to do with mind set. If you make the decision to raise food, truly deiced that that is what you are doing and when it comes time go to "work" know that it is part of the deal and stick to it. I would also imagine that for a lot of people it helps to have some one else helping both from the emotional and production point of veiw.

 

[suzettex5]

Quote:
I've never heard of someone getting sick from eating poultry! What a bummer. Have you tried eating fresh, organic chicken that has no hormones, antibiotics, growth hormones, etc? Is it a meat thing, or is it a 'what they feed the animal' thing? Just curious....

When you say whole, do you mean innards and all? I dont think I would give my animals all the guts, but I think some folks do with no problems. A butcher can give you all the insides back if you ask, and they can leave the animal whole, except what you ask them to remove.

What are you using to hatch 100 eggs out of? Must be a big incubator, lol!

 

[scubaforlife]

I hunt so gutting an animal was tough the first time, now its a procedure.

If you are worried, find someone close to you that does their own and help out, it will toughen you up. (you can go to a farmers market and ask to help/learn) If you are feeding them to animals you can give them the whole thing alive or dead, it doesn't really matter. In nature no one steps in and cleans them.

I go out to the pen and see my birds getting bigger and know I am doing the best for my family, if you love your animals and respect their role, you can do it.

 

[malignstar]

I was a vegetarian for 9 years so my body is just not acclimating back to meat again. I can eat some seafood in small amounts but poultry, pork, beef, etc I get very sick from it. I've tried it prepared every way and from every type of source.. nada. It's a darn shame. I wanted to eat some of my quail for sure!

The only things I don't let my dogs and cats eat (the cats will eat them in smaller critters but not 8 week quail, chickens, ducks, rabbits) are the stomach and the intestines, simply because I worry about parasites and because they love to make a gross mess on the kitchen floor.

Waverli (the cat in my avatar) loves to "finger paint" with the contents. Eck.

As for the incubator, I'm leaning towards a Hova-Bator 1602N. I can fit more eggs without the auto egg turner but I'm not sure I have enough time to turn every egg several times a day. It fits 1230 quail eggs, or 50 duck/quail eggs. I think 50 chicks would be enough the first round but I want atleast 100 quail. My crew will go thru them fast!

 

[joel david]

I would not feed my dogs innards for fear of giving the a parasite.

 

[orrismb]

I'm pretty new to this, too, and I have some of the same worries. On the other hand, I'm really excited about growing my own food! I've got 8 young chickens which are heavy layers. I've named all of what-I-suspect-are-roosters 'Dinner.' The pullets are named 'Breakfast.' That way, I'm constantly reminding myself that I will, indeed, be enjoying those males in a soup or on a plate. The females will be delivering my breakfast. Hopefully, but the time it's time to butcher them (in a couple of years,) I won't be so new to the idea of butchering.

 

[malignstar]

I guess I could name mine "Dogfood"

 

[mrsp523]

I too am raising meat birds for the first time. What is important for me to remember is why I'm doing it. The crap/poison that is in the meat section at the store is not what I want for my family. And I can only imagine how they are treated!! I know what I'm eating this way and they are treated decent. Me and my daughter hang with them briefly each day, give them fresh food and water, and do not get emotionally attached. They do not have names. Today we tried to figure out how many were roos. My daughters next statement was "So we will be eating 5 roos, and 3 girls". She's catching on, not bad for our first set. (shes 9) These little guys grow quick. I picked one up today (there 3 wks) and thought wow...what a difference from the layers. Hefty little guys and gals.

Good luck.

 

[vfem]

I name all mine 'Nugget' and its much easier now!

No really, names are bad... and 100 chickens fit better in a freezer then your yard.