The Meat Chicken Decision

Well, after much debate...really too much debate.....we have decided to go ahead and try raising chickens for meat this spring. Even typing that gives me the shivers.

I am terrified. I wish I could say the husband is fully confident, but he is not. He is also terrified.

I'm not sure why it's so scary. We eat chicken. Lots of chicken. I love having animals around and am always plotting ways and reasons to get more.  Still, it was a hard decision to make.

It boiled down to this:

We eat chicken.

We would rather eat chicken that has been raised humanely and well.

It feels like an important thing to try, this raising of food that is not a vegetable.

That's really all we needed to know to click the button.

So, with much trepidation, I placed the order.

25 Rainbow Rangers from Meyer Hatchery. Plus, it looks like they are throwing a freebie in. So 26:).

They are due to arrive in early May so there is lots to do before then. We need to set up housing, figure out feeding, and sort out the brooding supplies. They will be arriving the same week as our layer chicks, on purpose. This way the kids will get to play and bond with chicks that will never be eaten. I think the layer chicks will brood inside and the meaties will brood in the garage.

Oh, and incidentally, I had mentioned that one of my kiddos was not on board with this. I finally got him to say why he didn't want meat chickens.

He doesn't like chicken.

Okay, I can work with that. I'm still terrified though! Part of me wants to dash to the phone and cancel the order. Part of me fears I may do just that, even if it means I am being, well, chicken.

Another part of me thinks this is a good step for our little backyard farm.  The next, good logical step.

At least a decision has been made!

Linking up with Homestead Barn Hop!

Meat Chicken Debate

To raise meat chickens or not to raise meat chickens, that is the question. Do we want to do them or not? I have been considering this for years. I might be ready.

 I am the type to consider things for a good long while before jumping in. Not all things, but some things. If I decide I don't like the way the living room furniture is, I will re-arrange it right then and there, whether I have help or not. If I see a new book I must have, chances are I will order it right that second, before I can feel guilty about buying yet another book. I am weird like that.

Getting to the point of deciding to get laying chickens was easily a three year process. First, I checked out every book I could find at the library. Next, I had lots and lots of late night discussions of pros and cons with the husband (pretty sure he was sick of the subject after the first week). Then, I talked to every single person I knew who had chickens and asked every question I could think of. After that,  I ordered a couple more chicken books to read.

 And then one day we just made up our minds to do it and placed an order for a dozen chicks.  I did have a brief moment of panic, but mostly it has all been good. I can't make up my mind about the meat chickens though!

Pros- or why we should get meat chickens!

1.  We eat chicken. So why not raise our own? It seems like the right thing to do. We will know where they came from. We will feed them what we want. We will give them good lives, much more humane than supermarket chickens get.

2.   It seems like a major step in my little homesteading project- to raise meat. Different than vegetables, or getting eggs from chickens. Kind of humbling, I guess. More solemn. In a good way, if you know what I mean.

3. We would have chicks around more often. And chicks are just plain fun:).

4.   I have three out of four kids, plus the husband, in support of the venture. Majority wins?

 Cons- or maybe this is a bad idea??

1.  We will eventually have to part with the chickens. Not sure how that will go, even if I specifically try not to allow attachments. I don't want to scar the kids for life! Will they be?

2.  Raising chickens for eggs, raising vegetables and fruit...those seem like such happy little projects. Raising chickens that we will later kill.....I don't know. Not as happy/warm/cozy.

3.  My kids tend to be a bit sensitive,  okay, a lot sensitive about such things. No matter how much I explain that the chicken on their salad is in fact an actual chicken, will they even eat the chicken they remember as a fluff-ball? Or will I have a freezer full of chicken and a table full of crying kids?

4.  One of the four kids has zero interest in this project. He is seven. He is sensitive. He's a sweetheart. I do not want to upset him. It may be better to wait a couple years and see if he becomes amenable. I don't know.

Conclusion, or not

So in conclusion, I really just do not know what to do! I would like to decide soon though, so I can get in order in for early May, giving us time to get them processed before our late summer vacation.

 Decisions, decisions:) Aaargh!