People ever give you a hard time about...

[simplyscrambled]

Quote:
After I blogged about my first processing experience this Spring of my quail and a spare roo, I thought I'd be shunned in my social circle. I was surprised, when even vegetarian friends supported my now raising meaties. They said if you're going to eat meat, that's the way you should do it. Petrelline, I live an hour East of the Bay Area in Davis.

All I have to say is, thank you 'Omnivore's Dilemna'!!

 

[Ibicella]

Yeah, I've been hassled about this before and it's always by people too horrified by how ugly nature really is to be able to face it.

People think that because we butcher our birds, that we must be cold-hearted, cruel, un-compassionate, ignorant, blood thirsty, or all around not care about the animal and what they are going through.

The last thing I want is for any of my birds to suffer. I know full well and am very aware that they have feelings and personalities and they are often very loving, sweet beings. I don't want to cause them pain. Cruelty means you take wonton delight in the suffering of others. I certainly do not.

But I don't see causing death as necessarily being cruel. I "hypnotize" the chickens and then do the "brain stick" method. They shudder, and go limp while having a huge dose of seretonin going to their brains because they are in tonic immobility. Compared to my mother who lingered and died a painful natural death of cancer, I think I'd rather die like the chickens. Death is one of those tough mysteries in life. Is it actually a bad thing? Hard to tell. But I don't really think so. It's the point up UNTIL death that worries me.

It's not fair and it's not fun, but it's not a crime to be hungry. And I'm not getting any free passes in life with the luxery of NOT affecting or killing other beings, even if I'm a vegetarian (which I was for quite a few years till my body told me it wasn't a good diet for me).

You can't tell people who are so afraid of death anything like that though.

 

[magentamomma]

I was actually unfriended on Facebook when i posted a picture of me on butchering day. I raised 26 broilers this spring. It was my first time with chickens at all. My husband did the killing and I did the dressing. My children watched, as did a little friend. It was their choice. I have killed my own birds but i don't like to. I am not strong enough to make the kill clean, so I prefer my husband to do it. I don't know how it will feel to me to have to cull from my laying flock. The only ones so far were from a dog attack, and I didn't want them wasted. I adopted a broiler(long story) and soon she will have to go , because her legs are bowing under her weight. It makes me sad because i have become attatched, but i don't want her to suffer, and the reality is she consumes more than her share of feed, and gives nothing in return. I will make my husband do it though. Mostly my experience with others has been positive. I have had a lot of people tell me they admired me for seeing it hrough.

 

[fitzy]

a few monts ago, i took some quail to a reptile expo....people looked extremely confused. after a coupe hours, i added a sign to my table that said "snake food" and they seemed to get the idea...then they just looked at me like i was running a ring of underage prostitutes! these people will gladly give their snakes baby mice and frozen rabbits, but a quail is outta the question?!?!

i finally started asking people if they were looking for food for their pets or themselves and got a slightly better response

 

[TarzantheChickenMan]

lol just tell em your waiting for the dog to fatten up a little more then watch their eyes bug out!!

 

[Nikki28]

Ibicella

I completely agree.

 

[mvktr2]

Quote:
Did you tell them yes... I would have!

I know it's an old post but I had to. I've enjoyed reading this thread. I am just starting my chicken venture, 7 days away from first hatch! I'm in very rural MS and can't imagine people here having a problem with it as chicken's aren't thought of as pets here. Though I'm sure it'll be odd to some that I eat a 'back yard chicken'. My church folks are mostly elderly so most of them know what God intended extra roosters for so to speak.

Roll Tide,
Phillip

 

[Krodsorin]

Hah, This reminds me of the time when i was 8 in italy, i went to a Horse restaurant...
When i got back home i told my mates, they still havent stopped giving me poop..

 

[GBov]

Quote:
Reading Craigs list adds for horses at $200 makes me wish I had a deep freezer, MUCH cheaper than cows!

Mum said if I ever did to just say its beef or I would NEVER hear the end of it from family and friends

 

[clyde]

If a famine comes, you will be happily eating your chickens while your high brow neighbor is starving, or killing the family cat in hopes of a meal.