There is nothing that annoys or ticks me off more!!!

[hecatesmoon]

Its ok, Rocky. My mother is absolutely horrified with what I am doing and tells me, "oh you can't do that again!" And "don't ever let the kids see!" She hates what I am doing. One of my sisters is a little shocked too and doesn't know how I could choose to do this. You could explain it all day long, but people are so far removed from the old reality that they can't absorb it. That said, if there was ever a time where people had no choice again, you could bet they would get in touch with that reality again real quick by any means neccessary, humane death or no. Despite how people might try to make you feel about it, purposely or not, what you are doing is keeping alive a way of life that most have forgotten, and that's important, because if the poo ever hit the fan, everyone would need people like you to show them how to live!

 

[luvmyEs]

Its ok, Rocky. My mother is absolutely horrified with what I am doing and tells me, "oh you can't do that again!" And "don't ever let the kids see!" She hates what I am doing. One of my sisters is a little shocked too and doesn't know how I could choose to do this. You could explain it all day long, but people are so far removed from the old reality that they can't absorb it. That said, if there was ever a time where people had no choice again, you could bet they would get in touch with that reality again real quick by any means neccessary, humane death or no. Despite how people might try to make you feel about it, purposely or not, what you are doing is keeping alive a way of life that most have forgotten, and that's important, because if the poo ever hit the fan, everyone would need people like you to show them how to live!

Sounds like my mom and aunt! Strangely or maybe not when I mentioned giving away my hens done laying to my grandmother she said "You are supposed to eat them"

 

[hecatesmoon]

Personally, Luv while I am fully aware that I'm not going to make money on my chickens, I would like to come out as close to breaking even as I can so if I eat them, after collecting eggs, rather than buying them as a grocery item, I consider that as a little more saved on my feed bill. If were to sell or give them away once they aren't producing they are probably still going on the buyers dinner table anyway so why not on mine especially considering what commercial birds go through and the prozac, antibiotics, and arsenic I would be eating with those birds and their eggs? Plus I just think its good to have these skills and I don't want to depend on the commercial food industry any more than absolutely necessary. We prefer to use money for other things rather than use it on things we can do ourselves.

 

[jamesbwood]

That makes a lot of sense to me.

I'm personally not there yet but we are moving in that direction. Actually, I have no idea where the "crazy" idea to get chickens came but I'm very glad I got some and found this group. We are no where near the level of self sufficiency you are, but we do have a garden, are planting fruit trees, have bees now and are enjoying the journey.

My wife and I are both biology types so we seem to have a knack for some of this, at least for noob city slickers that are learning as we go.

 

[hecatesmoon]

Oh we aren't near self sufficient! Food wise we will be by next year and there are some other things I will learn to do over the summer, but otherwise no. We can't afford solar lights and a major rain harvesting system. As long as there are cars to drive, electricity to use, and cable tv we will have it and use it. We started out really poor though so we have lived without electricity for awhile more than once as we couldn't pay the bill, there was a time when I didn't have a washer and dryer, when we used wood heat etc etc etc. Basically, we can or shortly will be able to feed ourselves. I will know how to make lye to make soap and other little skills by summers end. We are backing up motorized or electric run stuff with manual stuff. We will only be fully self sufficient if the poo hits the fan, and we are back to candle light, oil lamps, and flash lights, and if the water stops running and we have to haul it in buckets from outside. Lol Otherwise, no. Not self sufficient!

 

[jamesbwood]

Sounds great to me. Besides, those candles cost a lot more than the electricity for a light bulb and don't put out as much light (but are more fun). I'm not anywhere close to being food self sufficient but we are becoming more self sufficient - it is always nice to have options.