Am i the only one who has never ate a homegrown chicken?

[4H kids and mom]

lunachick...As of now I am planning on culling them myself. That may change. I know of a place about 15 minutes away that will cull them, dress them, clean them, USDA inspect them, and vaccuum pack them for a price. I'm not sure how much, but if it isn't too costly, I may just have them do it. That way, I can sell some (since we'll have so many extra) since they've been inspected. If its too costly for the number I have, then I will do the deed, when time, myself as the DH will most likely not be here to help. Oi...

it was a great lesson for my daughter in where food REALLY comes from. I think it's terribly sad how many people are so removed from their food. Even if it's not overly prepared and processed, it comes from hundreds of thousands of miles away by truck, on a little styrofoam tray.

stacyneil....Here! Here! I couldn't agree more. I was beginning to feel like a fool for even posting here. Thank you for letting me know I'm not the only "weirdo" that will eat an animal I have raised.

However, I am not a cruel person, and I do have a heart. Thats why I am distancing myself from the Cornish. I dont think of them as cute little fuzzy chicks, and I dont hold them or cuddle them. I feed them, and they eat. They run from my hands, and thats the way I want it. If I am not attached, it will be easier to do when it comes time to do it.

Originally, we were going to get some geese, but then DH said we would be eating them, and I couldnt bare the image of culling a goose. So...no geese. I dont think of geese of being bred for eating though, whereas some people might.

We all have our own opinions and our own ways of doing things. I dont think of myself as a "proper" farmer either, since I have named our hens and do enjoy sitting on the lawn with them on my lay and cooing to me. I ADORE my ChickenDuck! No doubt about that! He is THE sweetest roo I've ever had chance to know, and he will NEVER have a place on our table (though I may joke that if he's mean, into the pot he goes, or something like that. We could never eat him, really.) but if I had to cull him to keep him from hurting someone, himself, or to end his pain I would do it in a heartbeat, crying my eyes out the whole time. So I guess I'm not "proper" on farming either.

I love keeping chickens. I love sitting there listening to my boys strangled screachy new crows and laughing while I crow back to encourage them. My neighbors driving by must think I'm crazy!

BUT....on the other side of that coin is the knowledge that I have accepted that these animals are here for food purposes. Love them I do, but to a point.

Its knowing where to draw the line thats hard. Some cant do it at all, some choose not to, and some have no problem doing it. Me, I fall somewhere in the middle. I know where to draw it, and do draw it, but I do it heavy-heartedly and looking the other way. Does that make sence?

I dont want you guys to think I hate my chickies! I adore them! 'Specially my ChickenDuck! Thats my Boy! But, I do see the line and I walk it very carefully.​

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Quote:
To give you a little history I meant my wife while I was in China years ago and we were married. As a young lady she worked in a chicken processing plant where everything was done by hand, then was promoted to an office job with the government as a food inspector and also owned a couple of major restaurants there along with some other ventures. In China most of the food is fresh and alive before it is served to you, which they prefer. Anyway my wife is very petite and has no problem handling chickens so this should work for anyone. She is very proficient and knowledgeable in regards to preparation of chickens and vegetable, fish and meats dishes.

First thing in the morning she puts the chicken in a holding pen that will have water available. Later on she will use a cleaver, which will be sharpened, with each use. She picks up the chicken upside down by the feet with one hand with the other she takes the head and lifts it to the feet, holding the head and feet in one hand neck exposed she slices the chickens throat and bleeds it in a bowl. The chicken will struggle for a very short time maybe flap its wings then you will notice the waddles and comb become colorless as the blood drains out. The blood will coagulate in the bowl. Next she will heat some water in a pan on the stove not hot but more warm and dip the chicken into the warm water then plucks the feathers, which come out easily. The whole chicken is very clean, and then she will remove the internal organs, which she washes in an oil and sea salt solution and rinses. She keeps the chicken whole, which is practiced in their culture and is cooked that way, age isn’t a consideration because she will cook it in a pot utilizing the broth and butchering after it has been cooked. I have mentioned before that my wife and I prefer a leaner chicken that is not soft and has low fat so they will be tougher. We will butcher the rooster when they start crowing at about 6-8 months and the hens if older will just have to be cooked a little longer.

 

[Saltiena]

Quote:
YA!

GOOD JOB lol im a vegan also too as well

 

[buc]

Saltiena, do you eat the eggs?

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

A vegan is someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals.
Veganism, the natural extension of vegetarianism, is an integral component of a cruelty-free lifestyle. Living vegan provides numerous benefits to animals' lives, to the environment, and to our own health–through a healthy diet and lifestyle.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

The private college where my wife works practices Veganism and Vegetarism(Wholesome Foods)and Biodynamic Farming & Compost Preparation.

Biodynamic Gardening
Biodynamic agriculture recognizes the basic principles at work in nature and applies this knowledge of life forces to bring about balance and healing in the soil. At a time when new synthetic chemicals are being injected into the environment on a daily basis, Biodynamics works to counteract the unbalanced state of modern agricultural practices by utilizing a "whole systems" approach.
Biodynamics is the oldest organized organic approach to farming: farms and gardens have been in operation in many countries and climates since the 1920's. Biodynamics is built on the premise that the more self-sufficient a farm is, the healthier it will be. The aim is to have a great diversity of plant and animal life. At the heart of Biodynamics is the use of special preparations in homeopathic doses that enhance the life of soil, plants, and animals.
Rudolf Steiner laid the foundation for a new way of thinking about the relationship of the earth and the formative forces of nature. He showed how the health of the soil, plants, and animals depends on reconnecting nature with the creative forces of the cosmos. The practical methods he outlined were intended, above all, to revitalize the natural forces, which are rapidly becoming depleted through modern agricultural techniques

 

[SkeeredChicken]

It's alot easier to eat store bought chicken. Me and my sister have the same opinion. We can't eat anything we knew in life. It makes it a whole lot harder when you raise them as pets.

 

[Chicken_Addict]

so do u eat urs then? or do u just have them as pets?


whoops my bad i misread that lol .........just forget i even asked hehehe

 

[magikchick]

I just got my chicks, but have started to ponder this question. When I was growing up we always had chickens. We ate the eggs and culled the roosters for meat. My grandmother taught me how to kill and clean them.

I think I will eat some of them. But the one I have now are going to be for eggs and yes pets. But we'll see when the time comes if I can bring myself to kill one or take it to be processed.

 

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

I have never even thought of butching the chickens I have had. The thought of it about makes me sick.

My chickens were my pets. I called them and they would come to me. I could hand feed them. They would follow me around outside clucking to me. They are not just dumb birds like many people think.

But I feel like a hypocrite saying that because I do eat store bought chicken. I just cant eat an animal I take care of. It seems barbaric. I know they had to do it back in the old days or they could have starved, Im sure glad it is not so much like that anymore here.

I wish I could afford to be a 100% vegatarian . I limit my meat a lot but who can afford to buy tons of fruits and veggies when you have a 1 income family and kids? It is a shame the unhealthy foods are so cheap while the healthy foods cost a fortune.