Coping - over myself now :)

[Iceblink]

I know how you feel. I hatched out chicks for meat, they were/are mixed breed eggs, and go figure, out of 4 I have 3 girls and a boy. It seems stupid to raise hens to 4 months only to eat them for meat. And one of the little girls is so sweet, she runs over to me and hops up and down to be picked up.

Plus, I think she is kinda pretty. Black in back speckling up to gold on her head and neck.

It is hard.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm with SKR8PN on this one....I just flip the "gotta get it done" switch and zone out when it comes time to kill.

It's harder if they are cute, it's harder if you've had them a long time, it's harder if they have a cute personality.....

But everything has a season. Even a season to die.

I feel it prepares me for my own mortality. So I face it, digest it, grow the stronger for it.

That's life on a farm.

 

[enjoy the ride]

Part of the problem is that my morality is a lot closer than your's, Beekissed.
My goatie girls are so much fun. As usual this morning, I carried hay out to the field in a hay tote to put into the bunker. Then go over to let the girls out. The first one out ducked her head under my arm, caught the handle of the hay tote with her head. It came out of my hands and was dragging alongside of her as she headed to the hay. One the way, she stepped on it and pulled it back over her forelegs. She kept going to the food while I ran after her, laughing. I caught up to her when she finally reached the hay and dived in. Luckily she was so fixed on the food, that I was able to lift each leg and shove it back through the handle while her head was in the hay.
Meanwhile her kids were so petrified about the sudden satorial choices that their mom was dragging behind herself, that they ran over to the other goats and started screaming. Funny funny creatures.

 

[Beekissed]

I'll have a tough time killing Hitch, my bottle calf. She is a real nice critter....never causes a problem and I feel sorry for her most of the time.

 

[FarmerChick]

hey ETR
I know what you mean about for some reason my age is making me more and more less caring of processing my critters.

Time for living and play come to my mind constantly now. I guess with a 4 yr old also I just want the "more fun and easy side of life" now.

I kinda don't want the tragic side in my life anymore. So I avoid it as much as I can....like the hogs. I just don't do as much work with them. I don't want to say HI to one and know on Wed he goes to the plant. UGH
Seeing Bridgett my goat that passed just lying there brought tears to my eyes. I just felt awful. This does not usually happen...I know it is life when critters die but this one made me teary. I know I have to cut down on my farm life soon or the tragic side is going to drag me down. Just me right now....I need a big change I think..LOL


You know ETR
maybe you should just breed a few and have fun with them instead of processing one for you. There is nothing wrong with that at all!!!! You can change your mind at any time. You can do whatever you want!!! That is the joy of being free to pick and choose. So you do what your gut is telling you!

 

[enjoy the ride]

This may be my last "food group"- I started it for all the right reasons but it is hard.
That's why chickens keep occuring to me- I could just do eggs and let the old ladies go naturally.
Trouble is that I would not have a meat source of my own- I can't seem to go back to eating the shrinkwrapped Bessie without guilt either. It would be easier but I don't know if I want to go back to mindless consuming.
I feel like such a whuss. And it seems determined to create my own problems.

 

[FarmerChick]

Yea I hear you ETR

chickens is a great idea. the eggs provide great protein so that is a big plus.

you still like eating meat right? or are you thinking of heading into vegetarian? dairy, cheese, eggs only type?

I know for me I couldn't do it. I just love a darn steak and pork chops too much..LOL

But again, follow your instincts how you might want to change. Never anything wrong with that.

And again, there is farms that can provide good, clean, fresh meats. And think this, that farmer, you are providing them an income. A way of life they want to keep by buying their meats. It might make that balance easier on your mind....knowing you are providing that family with an income to stay in business to do what they love and live that lifestyle.

(I am not breeding goats after this kidding anymore. I am done on goats--over 13 years of this and I am tired..LOL.. But I need alot of milk for the soap. There is a goat farm not far and a younger couple are running it. I contacted them and they are thru the roof to supply me with tons of milk. So I get the easier life, they get the money....we all win in this. I keep the money local for another farm. It is a win/win for me and them.)