NATJ,
To each his own; once I got my first chicks, May 24, 2020..not that I'm keeping track (hahaha), I could not in good conscience eat chicken any more. I realized that they are "people", with their own individual quirks and personalities, just like me.
And, just like me, they are just trying to do their best to stay alive, and weather their stormy lives. Bill Bryson in "A short History of Nearly Everything" said it quite well, I think: "Life just wants to be; but it doesn't want to be much". When he made this comment he was discussing lichen. LOL
Before I sound terribly noble, before I stopped eating chicken, I rarely ate "animal protein" anyway. I'll eat eggs, milk, cheese, etc. But I draw the line at killing things. And that includes SPIDERS! (O.M.G. I've really stepped over the line there. Not that I eat them or anything.) Oh, and I really can't stand fish. So. There you go. I respect your POV, but I do not choose the same path; I do like your way of thinking. You are eating animals. You kill them, pluck them, etc. etc. It's not just picking up a blob of pink in a styrofoam package.
Now, on to my bachelor's band.
I have a variety of fences areas on my mammoth farm of 7 acres. I want my hens, and yes, they will take priority. I am thinking of creating a separate area for my gang of roosters. And they will be very special boys. I believe I'm going to stick with English Orpingtons, and I will continue to order from breeders, as opposed to hatcheries.
I adore my first breeder that sold me bebe Silver Laced Orps. NOW, I'm looking for Lemon Cuckoo Orps. They are sooooo beautiful.
I will cheer you on! Good luck!
But I recognize that some people to do not like to eat birds they've raised. (I prefer to eat chicken I raised myself, so I know they lived a good life before butchering.)
