Confession...

[sleuth]

Confession...

I don't want to raise chickens or rabbits for meat for 3 reasons:
1. The kids want to name all the animals and it will be hard to explain why Lucy went missing. And Bobbie. And Gertrude. And Matilda. And...
2. I don't care much for butchering and I can't imagine it would be cost-effective to pay someone else to do it.
3. I don't like to eat meat on the bone and it's hard to raise a boneless chicken. If you're going to suggest butchering my own chicken and making it boneless, see #2.

 

[Cindlady2]

When I was a kid, between the neighbours and an uncle that butchered chickens, I learned to toughen up and even helped with the process since I was 6 . However when it was my own birds, it was a little rough at first. I knew these birds from chicks after all. A few I was happy to dispatch, like the mean roos! But, there were a couple of fellows that were a bit deformed. A crooked beak on one and crooked toes on another. Being one that goes for the underdog I wanted to keep them, but I knew that they would not be best choices for the good of the flock. Some were very pretty, but of no other value. I finally had the husband of my son's friend come and do the deed for his pick of 3 that had to go. I will admit, I did give a last minute pardon to 2 of them.... sometimes you just get a 'feeling' that they were meant for something better. One is now living on a VERY nice farm and is the proud daddy of his first 8 chicks. The people I gave him to just love him and say he's even good with the kids! The other I still have. Maybe he's meant to take his daddy's place, we'll see. Anyway, yes, it can be hard. But yes, you and your kids can get over it. It's something people have had to deal with since man started domesticating animals. ALL LIFE FEEDS OFF OF DEATH. Even plants. BTW.... I know this will rub some people the wrong way but.... I am Pagan. Before I take a life for food I thank and bless it. I served it's purpose in the circle of life, I feel it should have that respect.

 

[Emerald]

If you really don't want to raise animals for meat then don't.

Just grow veggies and fruit and trade for meat if you want.

Ah, but I do... it's got to save some $$$, right? and you get healthier meat.
It's convincing the family that is the hard part, and figuring out the best way to avoid the bloodiest aspects of it.

We had some of the same issues at first. I cried for a solid hour right after emptying my stomach when we did our first birds and I didn't even watch. That was just choosing out which roos had to go. I passed out the 2nd time because i tried to help. So I understand. Honestly you get used to it. The kids get used to it. My very very tenderhearted son will pick out roo's to dispatch without even a blink now. He understand roos have a limited purpose and when you have too many they gotta go. We are about to do meaties I am ordering all males. The kids are trained that we keep the girls and boys serve their purpose. Chicks don't get names until they have a gender. If they want to name a roo it has to be a food name. He even helped pick out a duck to butcher for a family in need we know. He went out and said " that one has bad legs and a huge breast, that one should go. They can eat for a few days off that one." This is a boy who will cry over worms drowning on cement.

Hugs sweetie! it is hard.. I can shoot rabbits that are wild and I can butcher out deer but my chickens.. not yet.. I'll clean them if someone else does the deed but so far I can't. but I grew up with family that had big farms and we learned early not to name the animals. Babe the ox (black angus beef steer) was very hard to swallow..
Now if it was the only food we were going to have that week I'm sure it would be totally different. I'd just do it and probably cry the whole time..

 

[baymule]

Cindylady2, you don't rub me the wrong way. I am Christian, I don't care if you are Pagan or not. I value YOU. I also have respect for the life that gives up it's life, that I might live. I pray and give thanks for that life when I take it. So we are not that different, are we?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

LOL - in many ways I don't blame you!

There are no rules that say you MUST raise your own meat. Lots of SS'ers don't have the ways/means/desire to do so!

If you really do like the idea of home raised meat and you simply don't want to butcher you might be able to find someone to do it for you in exchange for some of the meat.

When we butcher chickens there are times when I simply skin the bird and slice the breast meat off of the carcass, cut off the legs, thighs and wings, and toss the rest to the pigs. Then I have boneless breast meat and will use the bone-y pieces in soup which I will debone after cooking.

Certainly not trying to change your mind - just offering an idea.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Hi, don't know where you live in Ohio, but I know several processors in central and eastern who will do chicken for $2-4 per bird, depending on how much you want them to do for you.

My meat birds cost me $10-12 total each. Cost effective? Don't compare against store-bought factory chicken. There is a company nearby that is selling "farm-raised" chicken for about $40 per bird when you price it out by pound. Same cornish-x's, same processor, more or less the same feed (I asked them). $10 versus $40 seems cost-effective to me.

With regards to #1, every kid is different, even mine had mixed reactions, by the third batch, all was well.

you can do this.

 

[Hinotori]

If you really don't want to raise animals for meat then don't.

Just grow veggies and fruit and trade for meat if you want.

 

[mrscoyote]

I agree, do what you are good with and trade for the rest.

 

[FarmerChick]

do your ow thing
heck you might even become a vegetarian. see you can raise all ya want and not worry about butchering

raising livestock, butchering etc. is a royal pain in the XXX. but for some worth it. for others nope

 

[sleuth]

Hi, don't know where you live in Ohio, but I know several processors in central and eastern who will do chicken for $2-4 per bird, depending on how much you want them to do for you.

My meat birds cost me $10-12 total each. Cost effective? Don't compare against store-bought factory chicken. There is a company nearby that is selling "farm-raised" chicken for about $40 per bird when you price it out by pound. Same cornish-x's, same processor, more or less the same feed (I asked them). $10 versus $40 seems cost-effective to me.

With regards to #1, every kid is different, even mine had mixed reactions, by the third batch, all was well.

you can do this.

Probably more cost effective if you can find birds that are good for both meat and eggs, right?
When looking for a "processor" what would I look up in the directory? Butchers, Meat processors?