Why?????

[Puck-Puck]

Though I haven't raised meaties yet (that'll be next summer), I feel that, being close to one's animals, one takes responsibility for their whole life, including the end of it, whether that is for table or to put them out of pain if they have somehow come to grief. Yes, one can become emotionally attached to one's animals, whether production animals or pets. In the case of injury or illness, it still comes down to getting over our emotional preferences for the greater good of the animal. In the case of meat birds, it is a case of remembering whether we do the slaughtering or someone else does, whether we watch or we don't, a creature is nonetheless killed for us to eat. Doing the killing personally keeps us realistic about and taking responsibility for our personal place in the food chain.

 

[twentynine]

Why do you even ask the question? No answer you get will likely answer the question to your satisfaction. That leaves the view that you ask the question merely to incite hard feelings.

If you are "thinking" of entering the meat area of raising chickens please let us know, if you are here to incite bad feelings--- well you can really answer the question yourself can't you?

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
I was just curious of what people thought of it and why they do it. That is all. It helps me learn more about it. Is there anything wrong with that? I certainly don't think so.

 

[dadof4]

Quote:
I smell a seriously locked thread with a question like this....but I'll bite on this bait. I can't imagine why anyone has a problem with this concept! With all the threads and debate over commercially raised meats~cruel confinement operations that breed disease and contaminate the meat with medications~I can't believe anyone has to ask that question.

We kill our own naturally raised and humanely treated chickens so that our families can eat meats that won't eventually kill them. We kill our own chickens because they are primarily an animal raised for egg production and consumption. We kill our own chickens because it is the sensible and humane end to our chicken's life at our home....why rehome your chicken to an uncertain life and death? Why let your chicken live into an old age that may be painful and uncomfortable, to die naturally by organ failure or other illness that may, or may not, be painful until they eventually die?

I kill my chickens for various reasons and they all make extreme good sense to me and my family. My chickens free range and live a great life of safety and great food, fun and sun until they are given the quick hand of death by the person who has cared so well for them. That we should all be so lucky in our own life to live a great life being what we were meant to be and then become repurposed for another creature's life.

There are some people who feel that any other end for a chicken is foolish and unnecessarily cruel but you don't see us creating a thread asking "WHY don't you people eat your own chickens?????? Why can't you take responsibility for the creatures in your care?????? Why do you even obtain these animals if you are too weak to give them the hand of mercy when it is their time to leave this world?????"

Time to let it go and let everyone do their own thing, huh?

A perfect answer.
I will say this as well. I have a child with autism. He can not eat processed food. We make everything for him-meat included. Anyone who says they don't put chemicals into commerical animals is a liar. I have proof.
I find it kind to know that I can raise something, care and love it and then let it serve its intended purpose. One way or another something must die so that you may live. I hope you look into processing your own meat. I have found some awesome individuals on this site that will help you along the way. Good Luck.

 

[M To The Maxx]

Thanks for all the info guys and gals. I have learned a lot more about meat chickens and butchering these chickens. I shouldn't have opened my mouth the way I did. Maybe I will do it my self. Even though this topic has not had a lot of responses I think it has run it's course. Thanks!!!! Have a nice day!!!!

 

[speckledhen]

Closed at the request of the OP. Maxx, this is the Meat Bird forum, buddy. The obvious answer is they cull birds for meat. And usually, they raise them specifically for that purpose and don't get attached or interact with them too much.