Pet chickens vs. food source

[WoodlandWoman]

Chickens that are several years old are just not as tender as chickens that have been raised to be butchered and are only weeks old.

It isn't that layers aren't good to eat, it's just that they need to be cooked longer, in a moist way. If you want to sauté a chicken breast and pop it on a plate right away, a three year old layer isn't the best choice. Get out that crock pot, instead.

It's like different cuts of beef. You might broil a tender steak. A tougher cut, you would cook longer, with moisture. It's still delicious, it just required a different method of preparation. And it was less expensive!

 

[Akane]

Layers also won't have a whole lot of meat. Between the toughness and the lack of meat I think it makes them bad to eat if your planning to use your chickens for some meat. A dual purpose breed would be a little better. If you want as much meat as eggs though many prefer to raise layers and meat birds seperately. The breeds designed just for meat will be ready in a couple months with more meat and tender meat. They won't live well past those few months though and you probably won't see a single egg from them. You also don't get as attached to the meat birds then.

 

[L*A*G*]

it would be very hard for me

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

*L*A*G* :

it would be very hard for me

I agree. My chooks are all members of the family. Named from a very young age and have a mom who's a Vegatarian, I can't see them being anything other than pets until nature decides it's time to leave. Somebody would have to take them over my dead body!

Also, most of my fowl are exhibition breeds, the only stomach they could fill are the ones in my eyes!

As far as being realistic goes, I want more than we have space for. I had a mind-set. Where we live, chickens certainly aren't unheard of but I personally don't know of too many people who have them. No pretty chickens. Layers and meaties. Where's the variety? I get looks all the time when I tell people my chooks are pets. "Pets? They're chickens! How can they be pets?"

It's all a way of life. As far as what's right goes, how hard it is to reverse the rolls depends on the owner.

We aren't farmers. We don't want to be. I can't seriously see myself making any hasty dicisions in a while. Trust me, we have VERY little room for our birds. That means we can only have a few. I keep by this motto, "First come, first served." The chooks here the longest will stay the longest. If ever a poblem, the newbies would have to be re-homed.​

 

[walkswithdog]

Well, I am the mockery of poultry men locally. Mine actually have names and will jump into my arms or on my lap. However, I also don't have a problem culling or selling off excess or unwanted birds. So I split the common types of keepers.

I can butcher with the best of them. But my chickens expect to be petted.

It works for me. Purpose bred animals, are purpose bred, I don't have a problem doing it with affection and respect. It's a hell of a lot better than what commercial birds go through.

And yes, the big dual purpose birds suit any goal of yearly or bi-annual turn around better than strict layers. Here it's partridge rocks, delawares and a couple of BAs and a few turkeys. I'm adding sizzles for broodies and just sheer silliness. Going to check out Dorkings as well eventually.

Good luck.

 

[fasbendera]

I also have both, egg layers and in the spring/summer meat birds. My first hens are due to be culled this year. Although they may not make a good roasting chicken my mom used to can the old hens and they make great soup. Some may be easier to cull because they haven't been friendly and others you may decide not to part with. Decide one chicken at a time. For me the cost of feed v.s. pet status is a consideration. I have a flock of 21 and if I can get enough eggs to cover part of the cost of the feed plus keep eggs in my refridgerator I am happy. I love my girls. Chicks raised by you from a incubator or hatchery I think you get attached to more than one hatched by a hen in your coop. Or hen raised pullet is a wild thing. No problem with her going in the pot in two years.

 

[Wifezilla]

It really gives me satisfaction to know that I have given an animal a good free-range life, and that when it comes time to slaughter, we will be as gentle and considerate of the bird's departure. We have a new appreciation of the chicken we eat at dinner now.

Purpose bred animals, are purpose bred, I don't have a problem doing it with affection and respect. It's a hell of a lot better than what commercial birds go through

 

[EngieKisses]

We are culling almost all of our standards when the fuzzybutts in the livingroom start to lay. Everyone but one cinnamon ameracauna (yeah that might be misspelled). They are not laying very well at all, and two of them are age unknown. We do have a seperate pen for bantam cochins, and the EE that thinks she is a bantam who will remain for their broodiness.
This household sees nothing wrong with using older hens for table birds. We will be using them for chicken and dumplings, and chicken and homemade noodles.
To some, I realize this sounds cruel, but I know that although they are not completing their lives naturally, they did live longer than they would had they layed commercially.
Especially with our current economy, we can not afford to continue to feed the 8 chickens in that coop for only 7-10 eggs per week. That is about what that coop is producing as a whole.

 

[KristenF87]

I'm trying not to be judgmental but some of these posts make me shudder... How could you murder and then consume a pet? I just don't get it...

 

[Wifezilla]

Is eating meat you don't know oout of a styro container wrapped in plastic better than eating meat you know had a good life?

(vegetarians feel free to ignore this post

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