Home raised chicken----pet or food

[dwnloom]

I am thinking about getting 4 chickens. I would like to have fresh eggs. However, I know very little about the raising process. Also, how do you feel about home raised chickens. Are they pets or food? I'm not sure if I could raise them to eat......Whats your opinion....

Thanks,

Dawn

[frugalwarrior2]

I think I could eat them but I would have to need to. The eggs no prob.

[zakity]

Some people keep them after their laying days are over. Most people that I know eat them after they quit laying. If they aren't going to be pets and will be eventually eaten, give them "food" names. I have heard of chickens named: Baked, Broiled, Fried, Cacci (pronounced "catchy", short for "Cacciatore"), Soup, Au Gratin (they had ran out of "chicken" names), and Parmesan. It allowed the chickens to have names, but the names were also constant reminders that the animals were food and not pets.


Side note:
If you eat one that has quit laying, I would recommend it being a crockpot meal. They are supposed to be tough.

[Russ]

They ARE tough!

We've raised them, had them get broody and quit laying, then they ALL became food.

Be sure to do your research and find ones that are least likely to get broody and stop laying.

Somewhere here on FV is a link to a chart that shows all the characteristics of the different breeds. I'll look for it tonight if nobody else posts it.

[nodmicks]

Mine are pets that provide eggs. However once they quit laying they will be food for some friends. I personally couldnt eat them.

[bunnys]

I'm a vegan--for ethical reasons.

I totally understand your concern. Especially if you have children at home.

If you are going to eat them, I actually it's ethically better than buying chicken from the store.

The reality is that they are living beings. If you're going to eat chicken, shouldn't you at least be aware of the sacrifice and see them as as life? Then I'd think you'll be more grateful for what you're consuming.

[Sophiasmama]

They would be pets that laid tasty eggs lol...I'd get attached to them unfortunately...

[bonnotsm9]

We have chickens that we keep just for eggs. Years ago, we raised one batch of chickens to butcher and won't do that again- don't have the stomach for it.

[lparker]

Older hens are tough...that's what meat grinders are for. If you don't want to kill them, give them away after 2-3 years.

[Russ]

Chicken Breeds Chart - Back Yard Chickens

[mndtrp]

The few people I've known have raised them as egg-layers, ate them when the eggs stopped, and enjoyed them as pets in the meantime.

If I raised chickens, I wouldn't hesitate to put them into dinner once they stopped being useful. It's kind of like Soylent Green, except that's not legal yet.

[AutoMan32]

My grandma used to raise chickens and I remember it being a pain in the axx.

[craftypam]

Russ;
What's broody for us city people? LOL
Mndtrip: ewwwwwwwwwww
Automan: In what way pain in the axxx
And Russ or anyone else who raises them; what's the good and bad things about raising them.

Thx
Pam

[SwirlyThing]

I had to move into an apartment last summer, but before that had nice big backyard with a few chickens running around. I LOVED to just watch them pecking around the yard! The fresh eggs are so much better than store-bought too.

Our chickens all had names, and DD loved to play with them. So they were essentially pets. But we all knew that when the laying stopped, they'd become dinner.

Had to sell them when I moved out. I do miss the girls.

If you're considering buying, my favorite breed is the Black Australorp. They hold the record for laying the most eggs. I typically got 3-4 per week from each one. They have enough meat to make good eating when you're ready for that. They're also beautiful! They have black feathers that have a gorgeous irridescent green sheen in the sunlight. They're also friendly and won't peck at your toes (like those damned barred rocks!). Whenever I opened up the back door, they would come running to greet me!

[nodmicks]

Russ I can't find some of mine on the list. Maybe because they are hybrids? I have rhode island red , barred rock and black sex link.