ForFlocksSake
Songster
We can't have a rooster where we live so you can imagine my disappointment when I realized one of our TSC pullets was actually a He. The plan has been to wait until he started crowing and making his presence known and then harvesting him. My husband has absolutely no issues with the process. He has been a hunter and chef his whole life. He sees chickens as fun animals to watch but essentially they are food. I am also a hunter but have never actually raised livestock myself. Dogs and cats are the only animals ive raised so it's hard for me to separate pet from livestock.
This morning heard a very distinct (though croaky) crow coming from the chicken run as I walked out there. He's been making little hoots here and there but this one was clear. I know that means it's the end of the road for him. I don't necessarily have an emotional attachment to him, but I just feel so guilty. It's basically my call to tell my husband when its go time, so even though im not the one physically ending its life, I am sending him to slaughter. I need to get past it as we have also decided to rotate out the hens every 2-3 years in order to keep young healthy layers, but this first one is tough.
How do you move past the guilt of raising something for food? does the guilt ever subside? I love having these birds. It's been such a joy for me to tend chickens, but man is this a catch 22.
This morning heard a very distinct (though croaky) crow coming from the chicken run as I walked out there. He's been making little hoots here and there but this one was clear. I know that means it's the end of the road for him. I don't necessarily have an emotional attachment to him, but I just feel so guilty. It's basically my call to tell my husband when its go time, so even though im not the one physically ending its life, I am sending him to slaughter. I need to get past it as we have also decided to rotate out the hens every 2-3 years in order to keep young healthy layers, but this first one is tough.
How do you move past the guilt of raising something for food? does the guilt ever subside? I love having these birds. It's been such a joy for me to tend chickens, but man is this a catch 22.