Vegans of BYC!!

[WIchickMama]

Haven't been here for awhile, busy closing down the garden and watching a broody! lol Hope everyone is well and life is good. Here comes the hard part of the year for us to find 'good' fresh (preferably) local veggies and fruit. The fruit is zero as far as local, the veggies we will have to eat the root cellar and canned veggies from fall.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Haven't been here for awhile, busy closing down the garden and watching a broody! lol Hope everyone is well and life is good. Here comes the hard part of the year for us to find 'good' fresh (preferably) local veggies and fruit. The fruit is zero as far as local, the veggies we will have to eat the root cellar and canned veggies from fall.

true! We didn't harvest much this year from the garden, apples, a few courgettes (zucchini for all you american folks), and tomatoes. The carrots didn't do so well, but we got a couple and the animals had the rest.Not a lot this year, and nothing to store. But we manage to get quite a lot of selection at the stores, so that's something.
Winter is the time for spicy butternut squash soup, baked potatoes, and chickpea curries!!!!

 

[BelovedBirds]

I know this thread is mainly for discussion about food, diet, and lifestyle, but since animals are a large topic point, I kinda wanted to have a ramble and introduce y'all to Bonnie!

It's no secret that the main reason I am vegan is for animals, and environment-- so whenever I see animal cruelty, I would happily jump in head first. Most of the time, I see it online and its outside of my reach, but a couple months ago I saw an ad, for a bunny, for free. And I didn't like the images that ad had up. A little guinea pig cage, an indoor petstore bought cage, outside, with no waterproof cover, no predator proofing, no hides, no toys no hay.
And the description of a 10 month old fairly timid and "wild" bunny, free. The kids had gotten bored with her. Took a lot of persuasion to get my folks to agree, but I went ahead and visited. I didn't want to make the owner uncomfortable, but I asked the basics, vaccinated, spayed, microchipped? Nope, nope and nope. The conditions were even worse when I got there. No water, no hides, no toys no hay. Only muesli for food. I said I'd take her and they said they were just glad she "wasnt going to be snake food" (a common outcome when you give small animals away for free, here).
She bit them multiple times drawing blood while they caught and mishandled her. They placed her in the carrier and she was shaking the entire way home. My folks set the ground rule that she was not allowed indoors, and I planned to rehome her asap where she could be penned indoors, lots of room and attention.
Two days later I get her checked out at the vets, they vaccinate her, and let me know that she seems okay generally. I am still waiting on booking her for her spay.
She has a nice little set up outside, out at sunrise into her pen, tons of hay and toys and chews and space to run and hop and binky. She goes into a little hutch at night for her own safety.

I tell you, honestly, she hasnt bitten me once. occassionally she grunts and charges, but calms fast, this is just territorial behaviour which will calm once she's spayed. She lets me stroke her, occasionally she says no and hops away. It took some time to get her to eat ANYTHING but muesli, she refused vegetables, pellets and hay for days. Shes now on a better diet. She is such a sweet and clever girl, she hops into her hutch at night, knowing her routine. Shes confident and curious and friendly. She was called Pinky, but I changed it to Bonnie.

Just a reminder that rabbits are incredibly clever animals, and deserve enrichment and space, she went from sitting in a cage, to running and hopping and flopping all day. So much energy!!!
In truth, I dont think she's going anywhere. But if she stays she'll need a better set up. A pen attached to a small shed, so that she doesnt need caging at night, and has more room and a warmer space for winter.
It'll take some time to work on. But look how beautiful this girlie is!!! She turned 1 year this month.
If theres one thing I firmly believe in, its adopt dont shop. I used to work in a pet store, and I just think its a shame to breed so many babies when there are so many gorgeous bunnies already in the world needing saving.

 

[Nyhillbillies]

What a wonderful story & introduction to your new angel!! Thanks so much for sharing! It’s easy to tell - You’re a great mama. She’s so pretty!

 

[Nyhillbillies]

true! We didn't harvest much this year from the garden, apples, a few courgettes (zucchini for all you american folks), and tomatoes. The carrots didn't do so well, but we got a couple and the animals had the rest.Not a lot this year, and nothing to store. But we manage to get quite a lot of selection at the stores, so that's something.
Winter is the time for spicy butternut squash soup, baked potatoes, and chickpea curries!!!!

When’s dinner?!?

 

[BelovedBirds]

What a wonderful story & introduction to your new angel!! Thanks so much for sharing! It’s easy to tell - You’re a great mama. She’s so pretty!

Thanks! She really is.
She had a rough day yesterday shortly after I made that post-- a huge storm came on very suddenly, it was quite scary! I rushed outside, grabbed the ducks and put them in their house quickly, since they were almost blowing away. And when I got to Bonnie's pen I couldn't find her! The wind was shaking the pen, blowing everything over, thunder, lightning, the whole thing, very aggressive. The pen is sheltered, but the rain came at all angles.
Eventually I found the poor wet bunny cowering behind the hutch, took a bit of effort to catch her, but got her safe and warm in no time.
She's just fine this morning, and is more affectionate than ever before for some reason, but goodness that scared me! I was wondering whether I needed to do any big winter proofing on the pens, I've made up my mind, definitely needed!

 

[Callender Girl]

Kudos for rescuing Bonnie! She's lovely.

I haven't been here for a while, so I just saw the photos of Dougie and Sprightly -- who I've read so much about. They are beauties!

I made my first chickpea curry yesterday and was pretty pleased with the result. I have gotten a bit lazy about cooking and too often have bought/eaten premade vegan options. It's been unseasonably warm. but as the weather cools, I will bake and cook more often which will improve my diet -- and warm up the kitchen!

 

[igorsMistress]

I’m not vegan or vegetarian, but I find the topic interesting. I do limit meat for myself to one serving a day, but use the eggs from my flock. I started keeping chickens for their help with keeping weeds down and fertilizer, eggs were a bonus. I’ve processed my own chickens for the cook pot as well. However, I know what they eat and how they live out their spoiled lives. This is only to get rid of extra roos from hatching by broody hen so not happening a lot. No run, free reign of the yard and no overcrowded conditions. I also don’t like the cruel conditions our feed animals are kept in, so try to buy from local sources whenever possible, ie people we know. I’d rather pay a little more and know the animals were well cared for.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I’m not vegan or vegetarian, but I find the topic interesting. I do limit meat for myself to one serving a day, but use the eggs from my flock. I started keeping chickens for their help with keeping weeds down and fertilizer, eggs were a bonus. I’ve processed my own chickens for the cook pot as well. However, I know what they eat and how they live out their spoiled lives. This is only to get rid of extra roos from hatching by broody hen so not happening a lot. No run, free reign of the yard and no overcrowded conditions. I also don’t like the cruel conditions our feed animals are kept in, so try to buy from local sources whenever possible, ie people we know. I’d rather pay a little more and know the animals were well cared for.

It's great that you treat your animals well!
The fact of the matter is that farming *can* be humane, and often is for homesteads, though is usually not when commercial. It's important to aknowledge the good farmers, and the homesteads who really care for their animals.

The thing with vegans, is that not all of it evolves around humane treatment-- I think all of us here, vegans, vegetarians, meat eaters, would agree that animals should be treated humanely. And we would all be disgusted by animal cruelty.
The bit that we disagree on, is animal rights, we believe that an animal's life matters more than flavour, and that plant based is generally healthier. However, we appreciate that this isn't always possible. People, especially here on BYC, live all around the world, and a plant based diet isnt always going to be practical, or healthy. Eating meat for necessity, to feed yourselves and your families, I have no issue with at all. I think its always admirable to use less animal products, and use more cruelty free products whenever possible, though!

With an excess of roosters, thats a difficult situation. And slaughter could be a solution to it, if its done humanely. Personally I would opt for keeping a bachelor flock or trying to rehome, but I know that isnt always possible.
If ever I keep chickens, I'd definitely buy an unwanted rooster from someone!

 

[igorsMistress]

It's great that you treat your animals well!
The fact of the matter is that farming *can* be humane, and often is for homesteads, though is usually not when commercial. It's important to aknowledge the good farmers, and the homesteads who really care for their animals.

The thing with vegans, is that not all of it evolves around humane treatment-- I think all of us here, vegans, vegetarians, meat eaters, would agree that animals should be treated humanely. And we would all be disgusted by animal cruelty.
The bit that we disagree on, is animal rights, we believe that an animal's life matters more than flavour, and that plant based is generally healthier. However, we appreciate that this isn't always possible. People, especially here on BYC, live all around the world, and a plant based diet isnt always going to be practical, or healthy. Eating meat for necessity, to feed yourselves and your families, I have no issue with at all. I think its always admirable to use less animal products, and use more cruelty free products whenever possible, though!

With an excess of roosters, thats a difficult situation. And slaughter could be a solution to it, if its done humanely. Personally I would opt for keeping a bachelor flock or trying to rehome, but I know that isnt always possible.
If ever I keep chickens, I'd definitely buy an unwanted rooster from someone!

I believe that nutrition is also important, and we have the teeth to tearing meat for a reason. Our bodies are meant to obtain nutrients from many sources, not just plants. Many sources of vegan protein are highly genetically modified and soy has been shown to have an impact on estrogen levels.

Regardless, I think you’re all awesome for loving the animals and you have my support for that reason. Not to mention there are some pretty awesome meatless meals that I thoroughly enjoy.