Washingtonians

[FlyRobinFly]

Quote: Well, I'm pretty sure I have neither money nor sense, so there goes that idea!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

So I have a question for all you seasoned chicken guys and gals: Do you keep your chickens after they stop laying, or do you get rid of them, or do you slaughter them for the meat for stews, what do you do? My reason for asking this, even though I'm nowhere near having chickens that would be past laying age, is because I don't think I'm going to want to continue feeding a dozen hens (or get more than that for layers and still feed an extra dozen hens when they aren't productive!) if they aren't giving us eggs. Yes, they're pets, but they still need to earn their keep or they'll be way too expensive to stay with us. What's your take? Thanks!

So far we haven't had any really old ones until now. She's four and I'm sure she will stop laying soon. I don't like meat from "OLD" animals or birds, so, she will be processed and fed to our dog.  She will not be "wasted".

Edited to add: Since they are farm livestock and not pets, we do not get attached to them. They are "food".

True, although I've reached the point that I can think of animals as both pets and food: sixty years of raising meat animals and living with the breeding stock all around does that for some of us.

On the other hand, my eldest hen is the one I got from you (who is doing a spectacular job with the baby SSH's, thank you!) and I expect she may be allowed to totter about through her dottage and get burried with Hermoine who gave us calves up until she was 18 and is in a dip in the middle of the orchard.

I'm shipping cockerels to the auction, and old roos will be compost, I expect, since past some age their meat becomes the color and texture of mahogany and the broth they produce is about as tasty as boiled wood.

 

[pettec63]

Quote: Oh Heck! the Airport?? Piece of cake!! That's kind of what I meant about going out to Wiley city!! It's a fair piece and I need to go to Coastal anyway, and yea, I'll spare you the trip!! LOL!! and ya know it's hot as all get out so it smells like......

Anyway! I told SB to send it my snail mail, no problem, then everyone still has cash in their pocket!!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
They should?? I believe mine did, the first year and just slowed down during the winter of course.

 

[pettec63]

So, I am here in Mill Creek, wa. (Very happy there is this Wa thread) I am a victome of chicken math. I stared out with 5 hens that I got for free. (about 90% of my girls have been free!) They were 5 yrs old. I got to the point of 30 hens and one great roo. Then I got 5 chicks for free, RIR and BRs, they are 10wks old now. Decided that I would like to see what chicks would look like from my own flock, so I bought a incubator and tried. First time I got none. Then I put 30 eggs in to try again, at the same time my Black Cochin went broody and I gave her 4 eggs. I ended up in the hospital for 2 days for surgery to remove a tubel pregnacy ( sorry for the TMI, but talking about it is helping me cope) The day I was coming home I got a call from my Brother in law to let me know that my broody's eggs were hatching, I was so very excited. When I got home (after hugging my kids) I ran out to see these babies, as soon as the first one popped her little head out I just broke out in tears, so happy that I had babies of some sort.

Now when I decided to hatch chicks I knew I was not going to keep all of them, only a few of my favorites. Which was two from the broody and one from the 7 I got out of the incubator. So I put them on CL for free (cause they are mutts and did not cost me anything) Today a lady had her husband come and pick them up, all of them, 6 from the bator and 2 from broody...... I knew it was coming, I am the one who put them up for new homes. But I am feeling so sad now, not really for the ones out of the bator, but the ones from broody that brought me so much happiness the day I came home. As well as every day after. I was not supose to be up and about, I had to just sit in one place, not that I could have gotten up if I wanted to, so I had my amazing DH take me out and put my butt in a chiar where the babies and momma were so I could just sit and watch them. Now I feel like I made a mistake taking babies from momma and myself, even though she still has the 2.

I guess my point in posting this is just to vent a bit and to ask, am I weird for feeling like this? Is it a little over board to be this bothered by somthing I knew was coming? No one made me do it, I just can't be selfish to my girls and cram them all in together.

I really wish that I had friends or family that did the farming thing or even just chickens, but no one I know does and all think I am a bit off my rocker. I am only 27yr old so my friends really think I have lost it. I am so glad that this site is here, cause even if I am not as close to you all as you guys seem to be, I know that for the most part you all understand.

Thanks for letting me vent!

I am sorry to hear about your hospital stay!!

Chickens are very easy to get attached to, and you could be hormonal (sp) because of this, which makes you a bit more sensitive, too! I think you were right to let them go, it's better that the chickens have enough room. And your broody still has two chicks to mother. If you have never been a farmer, then these are lessons you learn, you can't keep everything, and sometimes there are hard choices! You need to rest and recover and you will see, it will be ok!!

 

[VelvettFog]

Oh Heck! the Airport?? Piece of cake!! That's kind of what I meant about going out to Wiley city!! It's a fair piece and I need to go to Coastal anyway, and yea, I'll spare you the trip!! LOL!! and ya know it's hot as all get out so it smells like......

Anyway! I told SB to send it my snail mail, no problem, then everyone still has cash in their pocket!!

You will bring the birds on Friday? My work address is 2520 W. Washington Ave. It is airport property (the building we have even has a hanger). You'll see the big truck and travel trailer parked and ready to go! Hit me up on my cell phone (PM to come) and I'll run out to the truck. If you could be there around noon - that would be awesome!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
Wow! are you serious?? Some BYCers jumped on you for that?? OK???? I guess I just find it interesting, that people can't let others do what they feel is right with their OWN livestock with out making them feel bad!! That kind of makes me angry really!

There are quite a few peeps on here that are into sustainable living and this is one reason we raise chickens!! I love my chickens, but guess what? There are a few reasons why I got them!! Meat is one, I'm sorry if some people don't like that, I certainly don't have a problem with people keeping chickens for what ever reason. And if they feel they can't butcher one they raise, that's ok, do what you want, but, don't make others feel bad ESPECIALLY new chicken people because you want to impose your morality or what ever you want to call it on them!!! To each is own, you really don't want to know what I would say to someone if they ever did that to me!!!!

I am very sorry some one did that to you! it's really not for them to say!! There are some very good you tube videos and Joel Salatin, has the best I think personally! I was a vet tech, believe me, I get the humane treatment thing, and we do our level best to make sure it is! But, you can't even compare the taste of something YOU raise yourself and that you know how is was fed and treated. Someone here once said to me, you gave it the best place to live till it was time!! And that's all you can do!

OH and Firewifejess, you can always, put them on CL for free, someone will come and get them! I just don't know much about rescues ect. and you guys know this is just my 2 cents!! OK more like 20 dollars but you get it!! LOL!!!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
Oh yea, I was gonna add that, old is stringy ect, so yea what TC said!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
And see! Then there is Ron!! And guess what? It's ok! It's ok if someone doesn't want to kill there birds! And ditto on the job thing!

 

[pettec63]

Quote: yep okee dok!! No problem!!