Raising Meat Birds, Respect, etc

[chickenwhisperer]

Quote:
Well said, brings a tear to my eye

I have lotsa chicks, layin hens and cornishx, I like them all.
I am going to eat somes eggs, and some I will eat them.
I enjoy watching them sometimes, and like the "project", and the DIY-ness of it all.
But none of my chickens will have names, and I do not believe in anthropomorphism in regards to an animal that doesnt even need its own head to live.
(weve all seen Mike, and Id be willin to bet that was the ONLY chicken to get a name on that farm . . .

)

 

[dancingbear]

I currently have 48 chickens in the layer flock, (plus 1 roo) and another 8 roos on death row, until I have time to butcher. The extra roos no longer have free range privileges because they were driving the hens crazy, so they're confined until the end. I have a house, a husband, from spring till late fall I have a big garden, 8 cats and 5 dogs. Meals to cook, food to preserve, and many other things to do. I do not have the time or inclination to hold and pet and tame 48 chickens. They are not afraid of me, they run all over my feet when I'm at the coop, waiting for food to fall off of me. They don't seem to crave human attention at all, they aren't like dogs and cats. Except for a couple of them, they'd rather not be touched by people. They do fine with a normal chicken life with other chickens.

Emotionally, for me, it's much better if I don't get attached. They're well fed, well cared for, I still extend respect to them for the role they play, and give thanks for them before I do the slaughtering, or if he's home to help, before my DH helps with the job. He's a truck driver, so I do most of it, these days, though he was once the primary home-butcher. He still is, with larger animals. But I do the chickens, now.

If people want to be friends with the chickens, I can see why they would, I just don't feel it's necessary. Some of them do get names, though, especially the laying hens, since I don't intend to eat them, usually. It's just so much easier to say, "Butterscotch is broody again, already", than "You know those 2 little brownish-caramel colored hens with the black lacing around the necks? No, not the ones with the feathered legs, the other ones...well, anyway, one of them is broody again already".

 

[Sjisty]

My meaties get the same treatment as my "pet" chickens. Some will get names if they have something that sets them off from the rest. I know from the beginning that they are designated for eating, so I have no attachment to them. It helps that they are disgusting smelly pigs that only know to eat! They only free range a small distance - they are too afraid they might lose sight of the food dish.

 

[jjparke]

I don't get chummy with my meaty's because they are not very social. All they want or care about is food. Food food food that's it. I don't name them or interact with them.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Sorry, my mind went blank after I saw this part.

 

[aclee]

Quote:
Sorry, my mind went blank after I saw this part.

Actually it's an even 40, and they are only a week old...one big box. It's an 8 X 12 laundry room though

I don't expect the arrangement to last for very long

I also, in my purchasing frenzy, forgot we'll need freezer space for these sucks...in the spare freezer...that still full of grass fed beef...opps!