Why have chickens?

[Matejka]

I have chickens for many reasons. I enjoy listening to them talk. I like watching them forage and eat. I like learning about how animals interact-with each other. I like watching their reactions after predator attacks-thats a learning experience-not always a pleasant one. I like hunting for eggs. I like eating chicken and cooking with the meat and eggs.
THERE ARE NO OR VERY FEW ANIMALS THAT DO NOT EAT MEAT.
Even cows and deer eat meat.

 

[ErnieBerley]

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.

I used to eat 4 eggs daily, every day without fail....I got chickens and fell in love with them as pets, and I have quit eating eggs altogether...and i've never tasted their eggs... i know that's strange, as these eggs are much much better than anythng you can purchase - all organic foods, mixed grains, seed, berries, herbs - but something inside me changed.

 

[aart]

and i've never tasted their eggs

Really?! Why not?
What do you do with the eggs?

 

[guntha45]

? We don’t have socialist control. We are a democracy with a multi party government (at the moment 2 liberal + 2 christian parties). And we have a king that officially has no influence at all in our government. If you refer to Europe. That’s a democracy too, with at the moment a mainly socialist/christian government with little influence on how countries operate. They make the outlines and laws to protect our environment and civilians.


? You twist my idea of being humane to elderly and animals completely. Its humane to let elderly live a long and happy life even if they need care.

I dont mean to slam, just try to let you understand that there are people in this world who have another perspective.
And I stop reacting if you don't come with arguments that are incorrect or misinterpret my thoughts.

The question was ‘Why have chickens?’ Not ‘how can I kill chickens?’ And I wouldn’t even have read this thread if OP started with the second question.
I have chickens because they make me happy and I try to give them a long and happy life.

I have no problem with people having chickens as pets. I wasn't trying to twist what you said, it was a misunderstanding, please forgive me.
True, your government is not a purely socialist government. It is a social democracy, similar to where my cousins live in Norway. Pure democracies allow 51% of the people to oppress the other 49% of the people with taxation and regulation. The USA is a constitutional republic, although they are trying to make us a social democracy. Excessive regulations, control, and high taxation of the people is not what us rural people want. I have spent time in Norway, Germany, and Ukraine(mostly Crimea). I found that urban people do not understand rural people and vice versa. My previous wife was from Simferopol, Crimea. Only after being with her for awhile did I see the disdain and lack of respect that she and others from urban areas in Europe have for rural people, the very people they depend on in order to eat! Their self perceived sense of moral superiority makes them think they can tell rural people how to do the very things they themselves can not or will not do. I have observed over time that urban people from USA are that way too. They will move up here to rural Maine to escape the urban jungle, because we have a safer, freer, more content life here, then they try to change things to be more like where the came from, the very place they escaped from...
Have chickens as pets, not a problem, people have the right to do that. Many of us rural people have them for that too but we also have them for eggs and meat. That's why we have chickens. I'm not about to tell you it's wrong to have chickens only as pets, that is your choice. Those of us that have them for eggs and meat don't want to be told that we are wrong for what we are doing by those who buy their food, depending on others to provide it. I, and many like me, prefer to be as self sufficient as possible, providing for ourselves more than just an income to survive.

 

[BDutch]

Thank you @guntha45 . Its sometimes difficult for me to find the right words (being Dutch). So probably its not you're mistake you misinterpreted what I said.

I do sort of understand people who live rural , have farms etc. I am a farmers daughter but somehow I didn’t fit in. When a pig was slaughtered I was hiding, hoping I wouldn’t hear the screaming and avoiding the looks of it. When a chicken was chopped his/her head of I was disgusted when it’s body was running around for quit a long time. When a horse broke his ankle it broke my heart , it had to be culled. As a child I wanted to be a vet. Just until I realised you can’t always cure them and have to kill animals too.

I like to grow my own veggies and we have fruit trees and bushes to harvest fruit every summer. I like it that my chickens give me eggs. They are not real pets imo. I don’t let them into the house and don’t cuddle them. But I love to watch them, It makes me happy to see them free ranging in the garden.

 

[guntha45]

Thank you @guntha45 . Its sometimes difficult for me to find the right words (being Dutch). So probably its not you're mistake you misinterpreted what I said.

I do sort of understand people who live rural , have farms etc. I am a farmers daughter but somehow I didn’t fit in. When a pig was slaughtered I was hiding, hoping I wouldn’t hear the screaming and avoiding the looks of it. When a chicken was chopped his/her head of I was disgusted when it’s body was running around for quit a long time. When a horse broke his ankle it broke my heart , it had to be culled. As a child I wanted to be a vet. Just until I realised you can’t always cure them and have to kill animals too.

I like to grow my own veggies and we have fruit trees and bushes to harvest fruit every summer. I like it that my chickens give me eggs. They are not real pets imo. I don’t let them into the house and don’t cuddle them. But I love to watch them, It makes me happy to see them free ranging in the garden.

I understand what you are saying. I am very happy you have the space to have a garden and fruit trees. I also have those. Love your chickens, fruit trees, and garden. Enjoy life. All the best to you

 

[ErnieBerley]

Really?! Why not?
What do you do with the eggs?

Give them to elderly people in my community.... I just lost taste once i raised them for pets

 

[guntha45]

Give them to elderly people in my community.... I just lost taste once i raised them for pets

It's wonderful to be helping out the elderly, good for you

 

[docteurshepherd]

completely agree, I also do my own butchering, I also feel one should have remorse.. or at the very least not enjoy it and take it seriously. I recently had to butcher a couple of roosters and boy.. it doesn't get easier does it. It's unfortunately necessary at times though.

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

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.

I couldn’t agree more, and I am in exactly the same mindset.