Vegetarian chickens?

[Akrnaf2]

I know they are likely not the real deal, but I may give them a try one day. I'll let you know whether or not it's THEE BEST chicken I've ever tasted lol

To get to the real tast (= 27 euros for 1 kg!) They need to be caponized, free range with alot of insects, and for the last days feed with corn and milk! It seems to much work. ....!

 

[mockingbird]

I think many factory farms are switching to a vegetarian diet not only so that they can market the chicken and eggs as vegetarian fed, but because they can then sell the "chicken litter" as cattle feed again since it would not contain animal protein from the feed.

I find it encouraging that consumers are now questioning,where their food is coming from, what it is fed, and under what conditions it is raised.

As long as the vegetarian diet fed to chickens is meeting their nutritional needs I don't see a problem with it. Same as for vegetarian humans. It is a lifestyle choice.

Backyard chickens will always be healthier and happier than factory raised ones. I personally try to feed mine as "natural" a diet as possible. That includes allowing them to forage on bugs, worms, and other animal proteins in the yard. I don't feel right feeding them chicken or other meat as a staple in their diet (although they may get little bits in leftover rice or pasta.) No legitimate rationale for this it just doesn't seem right to me. I have even seen the chickens fighting over dead rabbit parts in the yard - so I know they do eat meat if left to their own devices - lol! They are opportunists.

 

[FrankHomestead]

To get to the real tast (= 27 euros for 1 kg!) They need to be caponized, free range with alot of insects, and for the last days feed with corn and milk! It seems to much work. ....!

Why caponize? Sounds like what you have to do with hogs
How would that change the flavor if it doesn't for other chicken breeds? they are still chickens, no? If I have to do that then forget it. I'm a low maintenance gal so I'm definitely not going to venture into high maintenance birds hahaha

 

[FrankHomestead]

I think many factory farms are switching to a vegetarian diet not only so that they can market the chicken and eggs as vegetarian fed, but because they can then sell the "chicken litter" as cattle feed again since it would not contain animal protein from the feed.

I find it encouraging that consumers are now questioning,where their food is coming from, what it is fed, and under what conditions it is raised.

As long as the vegetarian diet fed to chickens is meeting their nutritional needs I don't see a problem with it. Same as for vegetarian humans. It is a lifestyle choice.

Backyard chickens will always be healthier and happier than factory raised ones. I personally try to feed mine as "natural" a diet as possible. That includes allowing them to forage on bugs, worms, and other animal proteins in the yard. I don't feel right feeding them chicken or other meat as a staple in their diet (although they may get little bits in leftover rice or pasta.) No legitimate rationale for this it just doesn't seem right to me. I have even seen the chickens fighting over dead rabbit parts in the yard - so I know they do eat meat if left to their own devices - lol! They are opportunists.

Ppl really feed chicken litter to cattle??

 

[mockingbird]

Ppl really feed chicken litter to cattle??

Yep - Google "chicken litter cattle." There are even several studies on the nutritional value. It was thought to be a contributing factor to Mad Cow Disease by some.

 

[FrankHomestead]

Yep - Google "chicken litter cattle." There are even several studies on the nutritional value. It was thought to be a contributing factor to Mad Cow Disease by some.

Ppl still do that? That's disgusting. If I leave the coop door open my dogs go in there and eat the feces will they get mad dog disease?

 

[Then I Will]

Here's my 2 cents on Veggie chickens being healthier than Flesh/grain fed chickens.

Chickens are omnivores.
Vegetarian diet is okay for them because they're killed before they reach adulthood anyway.
Vegetarian diet is cheaper for growers, but more expensive for consumers due to "health" label.
An occasional chicken probably gets cannibalized to pieces in the commercial chicken house now and then and her devourers sold as all vegetarian fed chickens. (Idk, it could happen.)

Why I don't like the Vegetarian diet:
Vegetarian diet is mostly GMO-soy since soy is so high in protein. Which means I would be consuming the byproduct of GMO-grains and soy.
But then I ask myself, is that as bad as feeding chickens the crumbled flesh leftovers of swine, cattle, and other meat animals? Or is it really now worse?

Or how about farmed fish being fed chicken feces?
I just pray over my food and try not to worry about it.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10157306399715557

 

[Akrnaf2]

Why caponize? Sounds like what you have to do with hogs
How would that change the flavor if it doesn't for other chicken breeds? they are still chickens, no? If I have to do that then forget it. I'm a low maintenance gal so I'm definitely not going to venture into high maintenance birds hahaha

The testosterone is making them more "one track mind" and they will put a lot of energy in reproduction and less in gaining buddy mass. Another thing the meat of Capons is much much more tender!

 

[Patinas]

My thoughts on this are that unlike humans who have the ability to choose to be a vegetarian or not, chickens are pure instinct and their instinct is to eat anything they can find/catch. The day I see a chicken not get super excited about finding an earthworm and gobbling it up, is the day I will say..."that chicken chooses to be a vegetarian!"

I don't agree with vegetarian chicken feeding because of the above but as already stated on this thread, maybe not a big deal for chickens raised as meat birds due to the short life cycle. On the other hand, I know I get cravings for a big ol' steak or hamburger and would imagine chickens deprived of non-vegetable protein might crave the same way given that they are natural omnivores. I believe all animals instinctly know what they need in their diet.

I always have issues with humans imposing their lifestyle on animals or forcing an unnatural diet on them to save money. In my opinion, it has a level of cruelty to it that seems unnecessary. As we become more and more aware of what is in our food, I prefer animal protein in which the animal was allowed to eat what it's supposed to eat, not what humans decided it should eat. For that reason, I personally would not buy a "vegetarian" chicken to eat.

 

[Dayrel]

The bottom line is that "vegetarian chickens" by definition must be raised under very controlled and artificial (most likely factory farm) conditions. They certainly don't have access to pastures and freedom where their natural instincts would lead them to excitedly eat as many insects as possible.