I've been reading along. I am one who butchers the chickens. We also send pigs to the butchers and for the first time sent a couple goats to the butcher. I am very much an animal lover and I don't eat meat myself. Chickens are great in teaching the harder life lessons. They are great at dieing, whether from sickness or from predators. After a few years of dealing with unpleasantness on occasion, and very well knowing how meat animals are treated at factory farms, I took the plunge and learning how to process roosters. I do not name animals that are for food. I take care of them, heck I've even brought meat pigs to the vet before if they needed it, and I enjoy them while they are alive. With roosters, I have either gotten them sexed for free from people or I have an autosexing breed, so I know who the roosters are at hatch. Roosters turn into a-holes during their teenage years, right around butchering time, so nope, I don't feel bad turning them into food after they've pecked and scratched me. I couldn't justify my uncomfortableness at taking an animal's life (that's the only hard part for me, cleaning isn't so bad) with the treatment of animals at factory farms and I frankly can not afford farmer's market meat, so it was the logical thing to do. The first time, I sure did flinch when my friend was showing me how, but I grit my teeth and learned. I didn't cry. I had already cried enough over past animals that I actually had an attachment to. So, I haven't found it all that hard to detach myself from the animals that are for the freezer and the animals that are pets. I still don't like it all that much, but this is just my experience. And if you had asked me a few years ago if I could do it, I would have (and did) say NO WAY.Very interesting points of view everyone. I really appreciate the different viewpoints. This has been a really good “debate”. Sorry to the OP for thread stealing.
As far as my emotions, I wear my heart on my sleeve so I have been told. While my son gets his cues from me, I’m not sure it’s a bad thing. Therefore sending our little cockerels away to be butchered or rehomed if possible.
For those who say they don’t become attached to the males how do you do this? From what i understand you cant tell gender for a few weeks. By this time you can bet that my kids and I will have named and snuggled all of the chicks probably more than necessary. Full disclosure, our hens get daily kisses from my little man.