Would you give them away?

[aart]

I gave away 3 live cockerels just few weeks ago,
to an Amish woman who fed her family with them.
I didn't have room in my freezer,
and she was more than happy to slaughter them for a fresh chicken dinner.

Sold 3 cockerels a couple months ago, not sure why they wanted them.

The last 3 went onto my grill and into my freezer.
~6 older hens will go the same routes here before winter.

I sell, give away, or slaughter a dozen or so birds a year....
...and hatch a few or more dozen chicks every year.
It's part of the life cycle of which we are a part..
....if we eat chicken and eggs and are willing to accept the realities of that.

My chickens are for food, my dog is my pet.
Not that I don't enjoy the birds enjoying the nice life they have here,
not that I don't have affection and concern for them(or any living animal)
until that 'one bad day'. My sense of Reality outweighs my sense of Romance.

 

[Saaniya]

I never will give away my chickens even my roosters are my kids
I raise them like my own kids sometimes they crow loud but that's their nature just like dog barks & budgie sings

 

[BuffOrpington567]

If you had (or have) chickens would you give or trade them away? You might under certain circumstances or you may never imagine doing that because you are attached to them..

Explain your vote below!

I would never do it to hens, only a rooster I had more than one or if they weren't friendly.

 

[jolenesdad]

I rehome attitude problems, after a one week followed by a two week separation doesn’t make a difference. Don’t have the time.

 

[SueT]

When I had my first chickens and I was flush w eggs, and hadn't yet maxed out my coop space, I would not have considered giving chickens away. As time went on, I have realized that somethings gotta give if I want to perpetuate production of those wonderful fresh eggs that I value so highly.

 

[Shadrach]

I wish I could give more away.
I've given quite a few away over the years. I try to give away pairs, usually a pullet and a cockerel who are brother and sister.
It's a logistics nightmare with my view of how to manage the chickens here. I like to give every hen the chance to sit. I do control the quantity of eggs she can hatch.
I lose quite a few to predators, but even then there are usually more chickens than I can realistically house, feed and provide healthcare for.
I can 'hold' about 30 chickens but around 20 is the number that works best here.
With 20 chickens I can keep 4 cocks and most of the time things run smoothly.
I eat those I can't give away. Sometimes when I've looked at the conditions people who want chickens intend to keep them in, eating them seems the kinder option.

 

[meetthebubus]

My sense of Reality outweighs my sense of Romance.

Well that's a nice quote for the "yes" side

But like many when they say they would never give up hens or any chicken it's bc they consider them pets not romantic about it imo

My chickens know their names and come when called they also cuddle with me and come running with glee trying to get at the treat bucket

I love chickens, and I in my mind can see everyone's point of view on this just my heart feels different when it comes to my own

I started chickens thinking I'd have meat and egg birds but since having them, I don't eat chickens any longer that's just my choice though I don't think wrong of the opposite, my family still eats chicken....it's just a choice for me makes me sad lol

 

[aart]

any chicken it's bc they consider them pets not romantic about it imo

Love can be blind

 

[meetthebubus]

Love can be blind

 

[WVduckchick]

I've given away many, many chickens... males and females. I especially like giving them to kids that want to use them for 4H, etc. I love it when mom/dad sends me pictures of the kids' with their chicks and ribbons!
I sell lots of birds too and lots of hatching eggs, so I have to keep my flocks replenished. I have so many females now, and many are broody types, and I enjoy watching mommas with babies, so I mostly let them sit. I try to control how many they hatch though. I prefer to let the girls raise them, and keep the best for my selfish self, and sell a few extras. But I always have way more cockerels than I can keep, so I mostly have to give them away.