Why Do People Buy Live Chicks From Breeders and Farm Stores‭?

[MissChick@dee]

I know you love your chickens, I read your posts.
Honestly, I’m not having a go at the chicken keeps as such, even those that keep them in runs and coops. The right coop and the right run may be fine for a lot of breeds. Lots of breeds aren’t equipped for free ranging any more, mores the pity.
I’ve written in so many posts now that while I would much prefer chickens to be free range I realize it just isn’t possible for may people who will care for their chickens for as long as it takes.
It’s the industry and the commodity view of chickens that I have a problem with. As I wrote above, I don’t expect many to agree with because the industry gives them what they want. Unfortunately humans wanting and believing they should be able to have what they want with little consideration to what is good for the chicken is a vice the industry feeds on.

I’m responsible. I buy the right breeds. Mine have the best of both worlds free range and a run with 50 sq foot per bird. See...I get how horrible the “industry” can be to ALL animals. Chickens are however different. You can’t adopt a battery cow...they process the entire animal. BUT you can adopt a battery chicken.
I do not know the ends to your means. Meaning what do you want/think you’ll accomplish with your book?
If I had to pick a battle it would be for the chickens/chicks that are already here. I’d pass on the joy of raising them. The care that they would need (that’s why I joined BYC) and how to make responsible choices.
So if you had one sentence to describe what your goal in writing this book is...what would it be?

 

[Shadrach]

I think comparing hatcheries to illegal trappers is a stretch.

If someone wants chickens and can properly care for them, why shouldn’t they get to have them? More chickens kept by small flock keepers means less eggs purchased from stores which means less battery hens. The more meat chickens raised by individuals and families means less chickens in factory farms. That is an overall positive effect.

It would be great if everyone could free range their flocks but that’s just not feasible. Some don’t have the space but most of those folks provide fresh foods and other forms of enrichment to keep their birds happy. Some can’t because of predators and they have to keep them safe. I would rather a flock be confined to a run than be picked off by predators.

To be completely frank you seem to have a very negative opinion of those who don’t manage their flocks the way you think they should. You are of course entitled to your opinion but some of what you write, or maybe it’s the way you write it, is insulting to those that keep backyard flocks. People join this site because they care about their birds and saying that they shouldn’t have them because they can’t provide a more “natural” life is a huge slap in the face.

and saying that they shouldn’t have them because they can’t provide a more “natural” life is a huge slap in the face.

Perhaps you could point me a post where I’ve said this.
Just above you is this post

I’ve written in so many posts now that while I would much prefer chickens to be free range I realize it just isn’t possible for may people who will care for their chickens for as long as it takes.

Yes I would prefer chickens to have as much freedom as possible. I can't see why anyone should have a problem with this.

 

[Shadrach]

I’m responsible. I buy the right breeds. Mine have the best of both worlds free range and a run with 50 sq foot per bird. See...I get how horrible the “industry” can be to ALL animals. Chickens are however different. You can’t adopt a battery cow...they process the entire animal. BUT you can adopt a battery chicken.
I do not know the ends to your means. Meaning what do you want/think you’ll accomplish with your book?
If I had to pick a battle it would be for the chickens/chicks that are already here. I’d pass on the joy of raising them. The care that they would need (that’s why I joined BYC) and how to make responsible choices.
So if you had one sentence to describe what your goal in writing this book is...what would it be?

I'm going to have to think about this. I've been asked before and have been unable to do it in one sentance.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I'm going to have to think about this. I've been asked before and have been unable to do it in one sentance.

Mine would be easy.
For people to make responsible choices while discovering the joy of backyard chickens

 

[Shadrach]

I’m responsible. I buy the right breeds. Mine have the best of both worlds free range and a run with 50 sq foot per bird. See...I get how horrible the “industry” can be to ALL animals. Chickens are however different. You can’t adopt a battery cow...they process the entire animal. BUT you can adopt a battery chicken.
I do not know the ends to your means. Meaning what do you want/think you’ll accomplish with your book?
If I had to pick a battle it would be for the chickens/chicks that are already here. I’d pass on the joy of raising them. The care that they would need (that’s why I joined BYC) and how to make responsible choices.
So if you had one sentence to describe what your goal in writing this book is...what would it be?

It's not quite right but it's close enough for now.
I'm glad you asked me because it's something I need to have clear in my mind when I write the introduction.

To try and persuade people that chickens are not a sub species.

 

[MissChick@dee]

It's not quite right but it's close enough for now.
I'm glad you asked me because it's something I need to have clear in my mind when I write the introduction.

To try and persuade people that chickens are not a sub species.

Well ....that doesn’t sound like a catchy title for the top 50 must read. Doubt if Oprah will have it in her book club. LOL
Have you ever thought about doing a comparison study? I mean right now you’re views are one sided.
I know I would be interested in that.
Otherwise it’s just your observation with out knowing really what it is like to raise a backyard flock.
People are just gonna say...you don’t know what your talking about. And they would be right.
Now you write that book and your observations would have people thinking. One way or the other. Right now it’s way too bias for people to want to read. Be kinder and the world will be kinder to you. A paradox yes it is.
(Paradox=something that is seemingly impossible yet it is true)

 

[Shadrach]

Otherwise it’s just your observation with out knowing really what it is like to raise a backyard flock.

It's not about raising a back yard flock so this shouldn't be a problem.
The book is based around eight years experience of taking care of free range chickens.

 

[Shadrach]

Well ....that doesn’t sound like a catchy title for the top 50 must read. Doubt if Oprah will have it in her book club. LOL
Have you ever thought about doing a comparison study? I mean right now you’re views are one sided.
I know I would be interested in that.
Otherwise it’s just your observation with out knowing really what it is like to raise a backyard flock.
People are just gonna say...you don’t know what your talking about. And they would be right.
Now you write that book and your observations would have people thinking. One way or the other. Right now it’s way too bias for people to want to read. Be kinder and the world will be kinder to you. A paradox yes it is.
(Paradox=something that is seemingly impossible yet it is true)

Have you read any of my stories or any of my articles?
The core of the book is based around the stories.
You might like them. There's a link in my signature.

 

[Shadrach]

@MissChick@dee
If you do read any of the stories read the first and last.
If you read any articles read 'Why do we make a stting hens life so difficult' and the one about the egg song.
You can come back and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about after if you wish.

 

[roosterhavoc]

@Shadrach I have read all of your stories. Honestly there’s nothing new there. There’s thousands of people that raise chickens similar to you but they don’t sit and overanalyze everything. They don’t simply because it’s not needed. The chickens do just fine free ranging and coming back to their coops to lay eggs and sleep for the night.
You mention the origins of chickens in your articles. Why don’t you try raising gamefowl. They are far stronger and more disease resistant than the birds you currently have.
People have raised gamefowl totally free range on walks for a very long time. As I said I do believe your trying to reinvent the wheel here.
Where you are located your system may work perfectly but someone who receives multiple feet of snow in winter it could be a disaster.
Everyone’s location and space is different. There is never going to be one system that works best for everyone.
I have many free range birds that were hatched on the ground, raised there and sleep in the trees.
I’ve never taken a chicken to the vet and don’t plan to.