Why have chickens?

[guntha45]

I have had to take a pragmatic approach to having animals. I'm a softy on the inside and have been heartbroken before with the loss of pets, that's why I don't have any now. Although I truly care about my birds I go into it knowing that all of them will be gone one day, one way or another. My birds are a source of enjoyment, watching their silly antics, but they are also a source of eggs and meat(that's why I got them). It is the cycle of life. Although I don't enjoy doing it at all and it's emotionally difficult for me, I do my own butchering. No one should enjoy taking life. Whether it's hunting or butchering one should feel remorse in killing, but not so much that it keeps you from being able to do it while providing for yourself, family, and loved ones. While my birds are here I enjoy them, protect them, and take good care of them until it's time for them to go, one way or another.

 

[Callender Girl]

I understand what you're saying in my head and I respect your decision. I, on the other hand, could not butcher one of my animals. I am, increasingly, eating less meat because I feel like a hypocrite for eating creatures someone else had to butcher -- and often, in what I think are non-humane ways. I grew up in the country and we always had beef and pork in our freezer, and I still like the taste of meat. But I am having some serious talks with myself about the decision to eat something when I wouldn't kill it myself.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I can understand both of your perspectives. I've been putting off taking care of my cockerels for one reason or another. I decided today was the day, but I don't have a cone which is the method I've chosen to use.... Tomorrow's another day...

 

[Acre4Me]

Whether it's hunting or butchering one should feel remorse in killing

Not necessarily. The animals I care for live a good life, and the end (if being butchered) is quick and without drama. Remorse indicates a wrongdoing, something bad. Humanely butchering an animal for yourself or others isn't bad, so no remorse.

Thankful for the meat is the thought that I have.

 

[corriemartin]

My chickens also have other jobs--for this winter, it's scratching around in and fertilizing my vegetable garden. I have an electric net fence surrounding it, and they spend their days outside doing their job.

We fully intend on butchering our excess cockerels and aging hens once the time comes.

 

[ariri30]

I have had to take a pragmatic approach to having animals. I'm a softy on the inside and have been heartbroken before with the loss of pets, that's why I don't have any now. Although I truly care about my birds I go into it knowing that all of them will be gone one day, one way or another. My birds are a source of enjoyment, watching their silly antics, but they are also a source of eggs and meat(that's why I got them). It is the cycle of life. Although I don't enjoy doing it at all and it's emotionally difficult for me, I do my own butchering. No one should enjoy taking life. Whether it's hunting or butchering one should feel remorse in killing, but not so much that it keeps you from being able to do it while providing for yourself, family, and loved ones. While my birds are here I enjoy them, protect them, and take good care of them until it's time for them to go, one way or another.

Thanks for this. I currently have 6 cockerel that I need to take care of but every day I say tomorrow and tomorrow never comes. I’ll do it Wednesday. Two at a time

 

[ariri30]

I can understand both of your perspectives. I've been putting off taking care of my cockerels for one reason or another. I decided today was the day, but I don't have a cone which is the method I've chosen to use.... Tomorrow's another day...

What is the cone method?
I’m going to google it

 

[corriemartin]

What is the cone method?
I’m going to google it

It's really pretty easy, but it's probably a good idea to learn how to do it in person (rather than just on a YouTube video). Offer your services as a helper to someone else. We have a neighbor who always puts out a call for assistants, and they always get a crew of people who want to learn how to do it.

 

[BDutch]

I have had to take a pragmatic approach to having animals. I'm a softy on the inside and have been heartbroken before with the loss of pets, that's why I don't have any now. Although I truly care about my birds I go into it knowing that all of them will be gone one day, one way or another. My birds are a source of enjoyment, watching their silly antics, but they are also a source of eggs and meat(that's why I got them). It is the cycle of life. Although I don't enjoy doing it at all and it's emotionally difficult for me, I do my own butchering. No one should enjoy taking life. Whether it's hunting or butchering one should feel remorse in killing, but not so much that it keeps you from being able to do it while providing for yourself, family, and loved ones. While my birds are here I enjoy them, protect them, and take good care of them until it's time for them to go, one way or another.

I can’t kill intelligent animals. And as I think about the animal I am eating the meat doesn’t taste well anymore,
Therefore I find it even worse to buy killed animals in the shop. Because they didn’t have a good life and the killing in the meat factories is often inhumane, That’s why I became a sort of vegetarian (I dont feel as much for fish so I can eat that).

If I have too any roosters I give them to someone else who is happy with him/them. I can’t have roosters because of the noise they make too early in the morning (except late autumn and winter). In general people don’t want my bantams for meat because there is so little flesh on their bones. The ladies can stay until their natural dying day. Some like them as protectors of their flocks. Others went to a new home for breeding purposes.

Thankful we don’t have to eat meat is the thought that I have.

 

[guntha45]

I understand what you're saying in my head and I respect your decision. I, on the other hand, could not butcher one of my animals. I am, increasingly, eating less meat because I feel like a hypocrite for eating creatures someone else had to butcher -- and often, in what I think are non-humane ways. I grew up in the country and we always had beef and pork in our freezer, and I still like the taste of meat. But I am having some serious talks with myself about the decision to eat something when I wouldn't kill it myself.

The choice is yours about eating meat or not but I don't think that just because you won't kill it yourself is reason enough to not eat it. After all, you probably live in a house you didn't build, you use water and flush the toilet without being a plumber, you turn on the lights and use electricity without being an electrician, and you probably drive a vehicle without being a mechanic. Point being, people have different abilities and gifts. We all depend on others to do things we can't. I am blessed coming from a family that had many talents and grew up learning how to do all the things I mentioned, growing up in rural Maine with limited income necessitates learning and being able to do a variety of things or you go without...