Sad and grossed out :(

[featherz]

I am a vegetarian but I occasionally read a thread in the meat bird section because, as someone else said, humane culling is knowledge that's needed for every chicken owner, even if you aren't doing it for food. And thankfully it's a separate section so most of the meat threads are kept there so I don't HAVE to read it if I don't want to.

(I, also, have no problems with people raising their own food humanely - it's not for me, but it's 1000000 times better than buying the poor factory birds!).

 

[BusyBlonde]

This forum is not just for "Pet" chickens, it is "BackYardChickens". That's different things to different people. There are a lot of us who come here for information that doesn't pertain to making a chicken a pet. I have 42 chickens right now - 13 8-month olds, 16 8-week olds, and 13 2-1/2 week olds. The hens are for eggs, the roosters (with the exception of of our lead roo and backup roo) get processed for food. When the hens are no longer productive, they also get processed. If it was my first time processing chickens, I'd WANT to be able to find a place that could tell me how to do it, and yes, I would want pictures as I'm a very visual person.

I grew up raising animals for food - cattle, pigs, chickens - right now, we only have chickens as livestock. I treat them humanely, and I know that they're raised on good food/pasture. The meat we get tastes a lot better than what I can buy at the grocery store. It is not a 'happy' occasion to take an animal's life for food, but we do it with the least amount of stress and pain that we can. The "Meat Bird" section, and some other threads on here, are meant to be helpful to whatever kind of chicken/birds you choose to raise.

If you want chickens that are pets, that come in your house, wear diapers, watch tv - go for it! If you let them live out their life at your home, as long as that may be once they quit laying, I respect you for it. Mine need to earn their keep. 40+ chickens eat a lot of feed!

I did read all your posts. I guess I'm one of 'those people', LOL. I learn new things on here daily, I just do things a little differently than you do.

Sorry you wandered into that part of the forum. Glad you're enjoying your chickens!

 

[CMV]

I enjoy a healthy debate!

OP- If the Meat Birds ETC section grossed you out you better stay away from the Predators and Pests section, as well. The folks over there are a tough crowd.

Good luck.

 

[cassie]

Welcome to the real world. A lot of people have the same view about rabbits as you do about chickens. Some chickens, and rabbits, and other animals are pets and some are dinner. Around here, pets are pets, and food is food. We don't eat pets and we don't make pets out of food. When I was raising goats, some were pets and they died on my place of old age. But some, the wethers mostly, ended up in the freezer. Either mine or someone else's. The ones we ate supported the ones we didn't. As for the chickens, we have had some as pets. One in particular kept us amused with her antics for many many years. But others go in the pot. Personally I really like to raise the Cornish X meat chickens. I like to watch them grow and I give them as good a life as I can until they are killed. I raise them a little longer than most folks because I like big roasters. I have a niece that considers me to be an axe murderer because I raise and process my own chickens. I do what I can to encourage her view of me, although I did point out to her I don't use an axe.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

Quote:
Not wrong... Just misinformed. And it is ok

. But I was just giving you my opinion.


My kids have their pet chickens (and really they are mine as well) so my opinion is that they can be for both.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

Quote:
Not wrong... Just misinformed. And it is ok

. But I was just giving you my opinion.


My kids have their pet chickens (and really they are mine as well) so my opinion is that they can be for both.

I meant misinformed about this website only being for pet chickens. I have found lots of great information on all aspects of chicken rearing and then somehow researched ducks (bought too many and love them with the chickens). And then got talked into turkeys. Now my hubby is talking about goats!

. I am refusing to look up the information on them

.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

When I decided I was ready to butcher my first chicken, I was very grateful someone took the time to take and post those pictures. I had no idea what I was doing and they helped me tremendously. I understand the whole pet side of chickening, I have birds I would never dream of turning into food. But I also think chicken from the grocery store is tasteless, mushy, and well.....just plain gross. BYC is for all aspects of raising chickens, even the not so nice side of it. Sorry you were offended by the meat bird section, perhaps it needs a warning label or something...

 

[ChicknThief]

Quote:
The pics are quite helpful actually. Helps us to dispatch the birds in the most humane way possible and helps prevent "mess ups" that could cause the birds unnecessary pain. And if this bothers you, I cannot begin to fathom why you clicked on something called "meat birds" to begin with.

You keep your birds strictly for pets, but I am sure we would all appreciate it if you would refrain from making those of us that raise birds for meat to be monsters.

As others have said, I am sorry that you were offended and shocked. Next time you visit the meaties section, do so with an open mind. And remember that regardless of how it's done, the chickens raised and slaughtered by us are healthier and happier than ANY chicken you buy from the store.

 

[Symphony]

It's not horrible when they kill a Jumbo cornish cross, it's horrible to raise one. I'm so upset about how their bred to be meaty, and they live a life of pain because their so big, that killing them is the best thing.

I'll never kill my layers, even when their not laying, the most I'll do is send them to someone else to kill then eat. So I'll never buy a Jumbo cornish cross. But we have to get Jersey Giants, to eat as it's hard to buy good meat for us, and I can only make friends with the breeding hens and roo.

 

[ChicknThief]

Quote:
Just so you know, JGs take up to 2 years to fully flesh out. Not saying you shouldn't go with them, just that it will take a loooong time.

And CXs do get miserable if they are allowed to live too long, or if they are improperly fed. But if you feed them right and time the slaughter correctly, their lives can be just as happy as any other chicken, if significantly shorter.