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

[1cock2hens]

someones full of something, doesn't smell like BYC spirit *cough* roosterhavoc

 

[Kiki]

someones full of something, doesn't smell like BYC spirit *cough* roosterhavoc

No more bades for him.

 

[1cock2hens]

No more bades for him.

that illusive spelling badge may not be in your future

 

[Kiki]

that illusive spelling badge may not be in your future

I have an excuse. I'm on my phone.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I have an excuse. I'm on my phone.

That’s no excuse.

 

[Shadrach]

I hate editing. For some unknown reason once I start tinkering with a paragraph it doesn’t flow the way it did.
The stories about the chickens here, the core of the book, need to emotionally engage the reader. Some seem to work better than others, but I don’t know what the key is.

 

[townchicks]

Kill the rooster because you want to eat it by all means but to kill it because you can’t control it is, well, words fail me. It certainly isn’t farming as I know it, nor does it show a great love and respect for the species in general. It is not surprising that Bee no longer posts here.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on this one, 100%.You know my chickens are pets, you know they will live out their natural lives with me, I can't personally kill and eat a hen, just because it no longer produces eggs. That being said, I think aggressive, dangerous roosters are a whole different thing. Chickens as we know them are a domesticated species, many different breeds, selectively bred to fulfill many uses. None of them are natural, there would be no chickens at all, where you or I live, if humans had not domesticated them. As such, traits that are good or bad are passed to the offspring. I think you would agree, perhaps, that birds with crossed beaks, or crooked legs, or otherwise have genetic disabilities, should not be bred, for fear of passing those on.These things do not confer good quality of life for most birds. Aggression has been proven in many species, to be passed to offspring. There are those on this forum that contend that an aggressive rooster can be "trained" by kicking, hitting with sticks, chasing and other techniques designed to "teach respect" This makes me cringe. That may teach the rooster to stay away from you, but from fear, IMO, not respect. An animal living in fear is not quality of life either, IMO. We have created these beings to live in close proximity to humans, and I think we owe it to them, to continue to breed only those that can handle it physiologically. Given that, and the fact that we as a species kill and eat chicken regularly, I think that to kill and eat an aggressive rooster is a kindness, both to the individual and the species. Birds living in fear of people, and people living in fear of birds, is not good for either. Better a kind and respectful death, than living in fear and physical pain from constant beatings.

 

[townchicks]

make that, psychologically, not physiologically. Tried to edit, but not happening.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on this one, 100%.You know my chickens are pets, you know they will live out their natural lives with me, I can't personally kill and eat a hen, just because it no longer produces eggs. That being said, I think aggressive, dangerous roosters are a whole different thing. Chickens as we know them are a domesticated species, many different breeds, selectively bred to fulfill many uses. None of them are natural, there would be no chickens at all, where you or I live, if humans had not domesticated them. As such, traits that are good or bad are passed to the offspring. I think you would agree, perhaps, that birds with crossed beaks, or crooked legs, or otherwise have genetic disabilities, should not be bred, for fear of passing those on.These things do not confer good quality of life for most birds. Aggression has been proven in many species, to be passed to offspring. There are those on this forum that contend that an aggressive rooster can be "trained" by kicking, hitting with sticks, chasing and other techniques designed to "teach respect" This makes me cringe. That may teach the rooster to stay away from you, but from fear, IMO, not respect. An animal living in fear is not quality of life either, IMO. We have created these beings to live in close proximity to humans, and I think we owe it to them, to continue to breed only those that can handle it physiologically. Given that, and the fact that we as a species kill and eat chicken regularly, I think that to kill and eat an aggressive rooster is a kindness, both to the individual and the species. Birds living in fear of people, and people living in fear of birds, is not good for either. Better a kind and respectful death, than living in fear and physical pain from constant beatings.

You know, I can’t actually disagree with you. There are studies showing that aggressive tendencies may be inherited. I haven’t read one on chickens but I’m quite prepared to accept that this is the case.
Maybe I’ve been lucky. I’ve lost count of the number of roosters I’ve had here, but I’ve yet to have one I needed to kill in order for me to feel safe and go about the usual chicken tasks unmolested.
I’ve had two roosters try to flog me since I’ve been here. It took a while but they never did it again; a bit like Beekissed’s post. I didn’t have to hit them, hold them upside down, kick them or mistreat them in any way. You know I wouldn’t, so this is just by way of explanation.
Should I have bothered to ‘adjust’ their behavior? I can’t answer for others, but for me it was well worth the effort. Both the initially aggressive roosters bred. Cillin, the rooster you have seen in other threads is the son of Major who was the first rooster to try and flog me.
So far, he’s been fine. He’s a couple of years old now and a dad.
The other rooster Notch has been and probably always will be a pain in the bum. However, Notch’s aggressive behavior diverted to other roosters when he realized I wasn’t impressed. Keeping him alive probably cost a young cockerels life. Not because Notch killed him but because the cockerel took refuge in an unsafe area and got killed by a weasel. Later Notch fought every other rooster here but eventually got beaten on two occasions. He is still a pain and a bit of a bully towards some of the lower ranking roosters but he is fantastic with his hens and never bothers me. I made a choice. I’ll never know if it was the right choice.
There are many ways to adjust a roosters behavior. I write about them in my book. None involve any form of cruelty. I find the kick and beat them lobby equally disgusting. Unfortunately rooster training requires time and effort and some understanding of why the rooster may behave as it does. Imo, not many people are prepared to attempt to understand from the roosters point of view. Many may laugh at this comment but they’re killing roosters while I’m not.
Let me ask you a question. You are very fond of dogs. If you had an aggressive dog would you shoot it, or train it? (I know you love your chickens as well)

I generally agree with your comments on genetic abnormalities and even psychological problems and I wouldn’t let a chicken with these conditions breed. I have a baby killer hen. She’s a complete nightmare. She wants to sit on every pile of eggs she sees. She’s a great broody. She gets up to eat and bath daily, protects her nest well but when the chicks arrived she threw them around the coop and pecked their eyes out. It was horrible and when I put the chicks out of their misery I was tempted to do the same to the mum because I was angry and upset. I didn’t. This hen is still alive today. I just don’t let her sit.
I’m lucky, I’ve never had to deal with any major physical genetic problems. The chickens here seem disgustingly healthy if a bit strange.
I wouldn’t let a chicken with sever genetic abnormalities breed but I don’t think I would kill them provided they could eat by themselves and integrate into a group without problems.

 

[Duck-duck-goose]

Lol "illusive?" Its spelled Elusive!
You shouldn't throw stones from glass coops.