Not pets

[Christine buhlman]

So this is just me being curious. I joined this site a while back and I think that I might not be the best navigator here. I got chickens to feed my family and to provide us with eggs. In turn I will feed them and treat them humanly but I wont coddle them or order chicken bling from Amazon. They are just part of my outdoor pantry. I'll feed medicated and kitchen scraps and anything else they want to devour if it's laying around my yard. I am wondering if this site is more for chicken pet ppl. I find myself reading about someones poor baby girl that hasn't been feeling up to snuff and I catch myself thinking well make soup out of it and don't waste anymore feed. So obviously I dont have a heart, but could someone point me towards the forums for other hearless chicken keepers that dont see them as pets pls.

 

[D-Bar-B]

Good morning. I'm not sure where to point you for the forums you're looking for, but hope you stay here at BYC. At this point, I do consider my chickens as pets and enjoy watching them (kind of like getting lost watching an aquarium)...but I also know that when they stop laying eggs (I only have hens/pullets), they will probably become Sunday dinner.

I don't think you're heartless...just being honest and practical about why you have chickens. I hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[Pork Pie]

I’m not sure your management approach precludes your active participation here on BYC. Avoiding responding to threads / posts where peeps yabber on about their birds being pets etc is easy enough - I’ve managed for 4 years

 

[Stiletto]

There's a meat birds forum on this site: Meat birds ETC

Maybe taking a look through the individual forums that interest you will help? If you look at the "New Posts" there may be too much of what doesn't appeal to you to wade through.

 

[fldiver97]

There’s a ‘Meat birds’ forum you can check but as Pork Pie mentioned... hopefully there are posts you find helpful/interesting or enjoyable and I’m sure you have knowledge to share as well

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

Hello! Welcome, and please do stick around! There are many very knowledgeable pragmatic chicken keepers on here... after awhile you'll get a feel for what threads you gravitate towards.

As your focus is meat and eggs, the Managing your Flock forum has lots of help about integrating new chicks/chickens, etc: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/managing-your-flock.2/

Also under Misc, there is a DIY/Self sufficiency forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/diy-self-sufficiency.16177/

I personally enjoy the wisdom of humane, pragmatic chicken keepers, and find that helps me have a balanced view of my "outdoor pets"

 

[Christine buhlman]

Thank you all for the feedback, much apriciated.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine are a mixture of purposes.

I enjoy the eggs, some go to the freezer, a very few have earned a stay of execution.
A great broody hen for example.

My choices don't mean I cannot give good information for those seeking it.

I offer help when and where I can.

 

[PirateGirl]

I think you will find a mix of both on this site. Some people have more birds than others. Some live in suburbia, some in the country, some collect chickens as eye candy some raise them for more utilitarian purposes. I think you will be able to find good things on this site that can benefit your flock as well. The emergency and disease forum is helpful if you need to deal with an outbreak of something in your flock (as opposed to just one poorly bird who can become dinner). The predator section can be useful. I particularly like the articles and builds that can be found in the learning center. People have come up with some really clever solutions to no-freeze waterers, high volume feeders, auto doors, etc. I would just be sure when you post anything where you are looking for feedback that it's in the appropriate forum. There's even recipe contests that pop up from time to time and gardening and homesteading topics. I've learned tons about composting here for example. I admittedly lie somewhere in the middle, my birds make me breakfast, I adore them but would never pet, hug, or walk a chicken on a leash. The only time I really touch my chickens is to catch them when the dogs alert that the fox is back at it again There are a lot of people on here with a lot of different backgrounds and a lot of knowledge. Enjoy exploring the site!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/learning-center.11/