Who gets the alcohol, you or the bird?

[saddina]

The mash grains they get are cooked before fermentation, in the wort making stage. It's like pre-beer oatmeal and they love it.

Have the beer yourself, the chicks won't appericiate it.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I have a cockatiel that loves to drink wine and champagne.

Won't touch soda.

 

[PurpleChicken]

I used to always have a drink or two or five before culling. It numbs
you a little but now I find it's a more spiritual experience to cull sober.

Alcohol may numb the negative emotions but they are still there and
will come out in other ways.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[saddina]

Agreed PC, even with my comfort level with knives and various pointy things I wouldn't process after a drink.

 

[weaveagarden]

These days I rarely have a drink at all, and neither do my parents who will be my helpers on the day. I do think a nice bottle of wine may find it's way on the dinner menu that particular night.

One of my native american friends from a tribe here on the coast said that they used to have a (thank you) ceremony after the harvest of fish and other meat animals. Sadly, he says that now days the youngsters aren't interested in doing the ceremony. Another tradition bites the dust I guess.

I read about a blue corn ceremony that was used by one of the tribes in the southwest in a book that I read many years ago. The example was for a deer hunt.

I will probably just come up with something that feels right. I am not convinced that the chickens won't benefit from a little intoxicant. But most likely I will not employ it.

I did find it interesting that someone did years ago. I don't know if it was a wide spread thing, or just an isolated practice.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Before dispatching any of my chickens I'll usually say a prayer of
thanks and gratitude to God as I understand him.

"Thank you God for these animals you have provided, their lives,
and the food they will provide my family.
Thank you God for giving me the means to raise them properly with
love and care.
Please give me the strength and conviction to do what I'm about to do
and make their deaths painless and peaceful.
GOD, You Rock!"


Being grateful and acknowledging the significance of these creatures
is important to me. I suspect the Native Americans felt the same way.

 

[CARS]

After a full day at work I come home to do the evening chores. After that a few beers in the barn watching my flock.
I have offered every bird in there a drink at one time or another. Chickens don't really care for it but my turkeys just love a cupped hand of beer to peck at!!

I don't think that drinking before operating sharp objects is a great idea. Save the celebration for afterwards, your mediacal insurance premium will thank you

 

[jaku]

We drink some beers while processing, but find it hard to "safely" hold onto them with chicken gut covered hands. We make due though.

 

[weaveagarden]

I am really appreciating all of the chuckles, and the sage wisdom. Thanks.

Sharp objects and booze not a good combination. And the females in my family seem to be particularly prone to knife and hand accidents

, so if I decide to use any alcohol myself I promise to make it a ceremonial sip only until after the processing is finished.

 

[hamlette2002]

I have really appreciated this thread. I don't look forward to the day I need to send my little gals to their next incarnation, but my goal is to provide them with the happiest, healthiest lives until then. I don't know what better way to show them my gratitude for lives spent providing me and my family with sustenance and joy. <3