Protesting backyard chickens as cruelty

[jessa]

Quote:

Shelters are already overrun and understaffed and under budget.

Shelters do not have the capacity or resources to take care of everyone's abandoned dogs and cats --- let alone work as urban farmers to take care of everyone's abandoned hens.

Go volunteer at a shelter -then come back and make a response.

 

[bugglesmommy]

Heck, PETA thinks that owning CATS AND DOGS AS PETS in cruel and that they'd rather be extinct then owned by us. I am not shocked that some people may find chicken keeping cruel. I bet in the case of catastrophe where food suddenly became scare, a lot of those "it's cruel" roosters would be crowing a whole 'nother tune. As long as the animals are kept clean and healthy and butchered swiftly and humanely, FARM ON!

 

[realsis]

One word.....RIDICULOUS! What the heck! this makes me sick! I love my chickens like family! How dare them speculate! IGNORANCE! This is simply RIDICULOUS! Shame on them! SHAME!

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

Shelters are already overrun and understaffed and under budget.

Shelters do not have the capacity or resources to take care of everyone's abandoned dogs and cats --- let alone work as urban farmers to take care of everyone's abandoned hens.

Go volunteer at a shelter -then come back and make a response.

I live in Omaha and I am on the list to adopt for anyone who turns their chickens in to the Humane Society,......haven't been called yet......so guess there is not a problem here. But then again, we have no problem in the Midwest to butcher the excess.

 

[jessa]

Quote: This is very admirable of you. You should contact any nearby farm sanctuaries-if there are any near Omaha- most likely they are in need of responsible hen and rooster adopters.

If you were near us, we have dozens of abandoned hens and roosters in need of good homes.

 

[jessa]

Quote:
No one has said everyone is cruel to their backyard chickens. If you are a kind, responsible chicken caretaker-which is seems like you are-then you should consider adopting a chicken or rooster from a sanctuary that is overburdened by people who don't love their chickens like family as you do, and have given them up for whatever reason. There are many homeless chickens out there who need good, responsible homes like you.

Just like dogs and cats-some are well cared for, others are not. Also-just like puppymills-even if the owner takes excellent care of their dogs, the puppymills are still a cruel industry.

There is more than meets the eye to any industry-and if you read through all the backyard chicken info-you'll realize that no one is pointing fingers are you personally.

 

[jessa]

Heck, PETA thinks that owning CATS AND DOGS AS PETS in cruel and that they'd rather be extinct then owned by us. I am not shocked that some people may find chicken keeping cruel. I bet in the case of catastrophe where food suddenly became scare, a lot of those "it's cruel" roosters would be crowing a whole 'nother tune. As long as the animals are kept clean and healthy and butchered swiftly and humanely, FARM ON!

Again-no one has specifically said that the act of keeping chickens is cruel. In fact-I actively advocate for people to keep chickens b/c we need more *responsible* people to adopt our sanctuary hens and roosters.

People are opposing the entire industry-not just the act. I know this is complex to think about, but please do. As people breed more animals this only means more abandoned and neglected animals. Not by everyone, but by some. Just like dogs and cats. There aren't enough homes for all the dogs and cats that we humans have bred-and now it's coming to the point where there are not enough homes for all the chickens.

And-for fyi-the majority of people who advocate on behalf of animals are not affiliated with PETA in any way-in fact, most oppose PETA. I don't know PETA's stance on chickens or dogs or cats. But I do know what our sanctuary is dealing with on a daily basis. Abandoned chickens and roosters who have no where else to go. And more and more keep coming in every week.

 

[Mychicagoladies]

Shelters are already overrun and understaffed and under budget.

Shelters do not have the capacity or resources to take care of everyone's abandoned dogs and cats --- let alone work as urban farmers to take care of everyone's abandoned hens.

Go volunteer at a shelter -then come back and make a response.

Your point is understood that the shelters are overrun, and I agree with that. Many people get pets that they don't think through just "look at that it's so cute". My piont is that it is not only chickens that are causing the problem at the shelters, but it seems that the cities are always banning them and most people that keep them for the right reasons (food and pets) are loosing what in some cases keeps someone from going hungry. Are they going to ban all of the rabbits people buy their kids for easter because they think it's cute, or cats that start to pee on everything, or puppies that get too big and too much work for the owners to take care of. Most likley they won't. Most people in cities don't know much about chickens, and before anyone buys any pet they should do the proper research. I am lucky to have a friend with a farm who was able to give me all the info I needed before I started my small flock all of the good and the bad. I don't mind getting a little dirty because the reward I get is worth the work. The same with any pet if you can't take care of it you shouldn't have it. Sorry for the long rant I just wanted to make my point that it doesn't matter what kind of pets you keep it depends on what kind of person you are.

 

[jessa]

Your point is understood that the shelters are overrun, and I agree with that. Many people get pets that they don't think through just "look at that it's so cute". My piont is that it is not only chickens that are causing the problem at the shelters, but it seems that the cities are always banning them and most people that keep them for the right reasons (food and pets) are loosing what in some cases keeps someone from going hungry. Are they going to ban all of the rabbits people buy their kids for easter because they think it's cute, or cats that start to pee on everything, or puppies that get too big and too much work for the owners to take care of. Most likley they won't. Most people in cities don't know much about chickens, and before anyone buys any pet they should do the proper research. I am lucky to have a friend with a farm who was able to give me all the info I needed before I started my small flock all of the good and the bad. I don't mind getting a little dirty because the reward I get is worth the work. The same with any pet if you can't take care of it you shouldn't have it. Sorry for the long rant I just wanted to make my point that it doesn't matter what kind of pets you keep it depends on what kind of person you are.

Yes, I agree with you completely- people should do research before taking on a new animal-and it's not the type of pet, it's the type of person.

I believe the reason the majority of cities ban urban hens is due to potential safety hazards and nuisances though- smell, increase pest attraction, chances for salmonella, objection to backyard slaughter, noise, etc. etc. Overrun shelters is likely not much of concern for many cities (b/c government shelters are rarely no-kill, so just euthanize "excess" animals).

It seems the overpopulation problem is more of an issue that's concerning nonprofit organization shelters and sanctuaries. It would be absolutely great if everyone kept their hens forever, but a good percentage of people don't. Even in cities where it's perfectly legal and a ban isn't to blame (like my city for example), abandonment rates are still extremely high. I've heard of sanctuaries whose chicken abandonment rate has increased by 500% percent over the last decade! Their chicken rescues were once only due to cockfighting, but now are due overwhelmingly to urban farming.

And then, even with responsible owners, there is still the case of the roosters. Many chicks end up being roosters and people can't keep them in cities for obvious reasons and don't know what to do with them. So they abandoned the animals to us. We have far more roosters than hens! This is also one major difference b/w other pets. Imagine if no one knew the sex of their puppy until 6 months, and that every male (which would be half of all puppies) immediately must be killed or sent to shelters? Think how much higher the abandonment rate would be then, yikes!

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

Yes, I agree with you completely- people should do research before taking on a new animal-and it's not the type of pet, it's the type of person.

I believe the reason the majority of cities ban urban hens is due to potential safety hazards and nuisances though- smell, increase pest attraction, chances for salmonella, objection to backyard slaughter, noise, etc. etc. Overrun shelters is likely not much of concern for many cities (b/c government shelters are rarely no-kill, so just euthanize "excess" animals).

It seems the overpopulation problem is more of an issue that's concerning nonprofit organization shelters and sanctuaries. It would be absolutely great if everyone kept their hens forever, but a good percentage of people don't. Even in cities where it's perfectly legal and a ban isn't to blame (like my city for example), abandonment rates are still extremely high. I've heard of sanctuaries whose chicken abandonment rate has increased by 500% percent over the last decade! Their chicken rescues were once only due to cockfighting, but now are due overwhelmingly to urban farming.

And then, even with responsible owners, there is still the case of the roosters. Many chicks end up being roosters and people can't keep them in cities for obvious reasons and don't know what to do with them. So they abandoned the animals to us. We have far more roosters than hens! This is also one major difference b/w other pets. Imagine if no one knew the sex of their puppy until 6 months, and that every male (which would be half of all puppies) immediately must be killed or sent to shelters? Think how much higher the abandonment rate would be then, yikes!

I don't see the problem with accidently getting a rooster in the mix.....chop its darn head off, pluck it, and just like magic......DINNER!!!!! And if you're over run with roosters at your farm, butcher them, that's what farmers do and then donate the meat....I'm sure the homeless shelters will appreciate the fresh meat.