Topdollar Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I'm a bloke and a bit of a meat eater but my wife is a veggie so I usually eat the biggest dead animal on the menu when we go out but things are changing. Since keeping the girls I've gone off chicken and will only eat what we call "happy meat" (from animals that have had a life). We got the chickens because we had the room and liked the idea of fresh eggs but I think I got so much more than I bargained for. has this happened to anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Personally I have only had my girls for a week - but they will not stop me from eating chicken. The meat I buy is always British, free-range and where possible organic. I will always try to buy from either a local butcher - who I know very well or if I do get things from a supermarket I always get outdoor reared. It does not need to cost a lot more to do this as I get cuts of meat which some people would not buy in supermarkets so not to waste an animal and to save on my purse. My way of thinking seems similar to yours with happy meat! I do however no what you mean about looking at a plate of chicken and thinking of my girls - I will try not to make the association between the two! mmm this may be harder than I first thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I have to confess that I am a confirmed carnivore so I haven't reduced my meat eating but I always make sure that the chicken that we eat is free range and organic and all the pork and bacon that we eat is from Blythburgh free range farm which is local to us...see below. http://www.freerangepork.co.uk/ Our lamb comes from a friend's farm and they have a great life. This way our meat is from happy animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 To provide another angle ... I eat any chicken ... I can't afford it any other way. Before we had kids and had whilst we had two incomes we'd buy the posh meat all the time from places such as Farmers Choice ... but now it's a case of eating what's good value - even if it comes from Lidl. I've watched all the chicken programmes that were on earlier in the year ... yes it is terrible and very shocking. If anyone disagrees strongly with my position on this I'm happy to buy posh meat if you make up the difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 To provide another angle ... I eat any chicken ... I can't afford it any other way. Before we had kids and had whilst we had two incomes we'd buy the posh meat all the time from places such as Farmers Choice ... but now it's a case of eating what's good value - even if it comes from Lidl. I've watched all the chicken programmes that were on earlier in the year ... yes it is terrible and very shocking. If anyone disagrees strongly with my position on this I'm happy to buy posh meat if you make up the difference I'm with you I'm afraid. I used to be all organic and free range, my veggies were either home grown or Abel and Cole, meat came from a farm about 12 miles from us but I just couldn't afford it after a while. To be fair, now that OH is "off the menu" then our meat consumption can plummet, the girls (children) don't eat much, smallest boy doesn't eat any really and I'm quite happy to be veggie most of the time. So, once my finances are sorted I may (and only may) be able to go back to organic meat only. But to answer the original question, no, having hens didn't put me off eating chicken at all but it DID really highlight animal welfare for me. I ended up, through here and also by just becoming more aware and interested, knowing all sorts of things about animal / meat production in this country and abroad, that I'd never even considered before. I think it is a by product of having hens! You realise what an egg should taste like, what goes into it's production, how sensitive they can be to things that will interrupt productino at the drop of a hat, and how disgustingly indestructible they can also be as they play tug of war with a frog or eat a hairband Then you think about how they are intesively produced and you realise how very very wrong it all is. And if that's what they do to egg-layers, well, we all know now how roasters are treated Just to end this long winded ramble, in fact I still love the taste of chicken though and now I don't have to "ask anyone's permission" I will probably eat Fred in the next few weeks or so. I can't bring myself to eat Scruff as he's a Brahma, but Bob, the 5 week old Rhode Island Red has got Sunday lunch written all over him. He, along with all my other hens, will have a fab life, constant care and love and when the time comes, will be pampered for a fortnight before being humanely dispatched. (he'll then sit in the freezer for a month or so until the children have forgotten before making his reappearance!!) Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 It's very interesting to read all your comments and I would never judge any of you for your own personal choices. I'm ex army and have killed and butchered animals including sheep, goats and chickens but I do find it strange that I have formed such an attachement to the chooks. If push came to shove I'd eat chicken but at the moment I have a choice and choose not too. I think I started this thread after a couple of glasses of Merlot I think what I should have said was: I'm so surprised that my chooks have become part of the familly and I never reallised they where all so different and entertaining. I'm so pleased that I took the plunge and got some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I know what you mean about the chooks changing your perceptions to whatever degree. My DD is now a total egg "s"Ooops, word censored!"" & refused to eat the freerange eggs my friend was trying to serve her "are they from happy chickens?" was her opening question !!! She then went on to devour two of "her" eggs which I had given Liz the day before!! My 2 love chicken Kievs - I have long wanted to say no as I can't imagine (well yes I can actually!!) how they produce the chicken pocket which the garlic butter is held so tightly inside of - easy now; they aren't made from happy chickens & the children move along to the chicken breasts & we have garlic chicken nuggety things which are home-made. Is it right to guilt-trip & brainwash your children - it works so I'm not complaining!! Whenever we have chicken to eat (it's one of the few meats my DS will eat without a fight) we eat chicken & the ladies in the garden are chooks - not the same thing in our tiny minds! I'm not sure I could eat anything with a name, but if push came to shove that may well change. We don't have the space to rear any extras as "dinner ladies" at the moment, so isn't an option. A mum at school rears to eat, & her children are amazingly openminded - "is this one of ours?" "yes" "it tastes good" & all plates are cleared!! She's trying with pigs now... I have yet to get an update! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I wouldn't eat battery farmed poultry, and try to eat only free-range pork. Personally, I'm happy to eat "livestock" but couldn't eat "pets". I'm well aware that the distinction is purely in my own mind...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Personally, I serve a lot more vegetarian meals rather than eat cheap chicken. When I was an impoverished student I used to eat almost all veggie stuff although I was not vegetarian...just preferred not to eat meat from intensively farmed animals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 We still eat chicken but not very often, we only ever eat free range or organic if possible but never value range. If you can't afford to eat the better chicken then you simply don't have it as much, that's what we do. The same goes for things containing eggs, where possible we swap to something like that says free range on the packets, I didn't realise exactly how much has battery hen eggs in now. I'd rather go without where possible. I have to say true to the chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 (edited) I've been a strict veggie for over 20 years now so at least my conscience is as clear as I can make it but my DH does eat meat. I reminded him the other day it’s not just the meat you buy to cook at home that you have to think of but all the hidden stuff in take-aways, prepared sandwiches and restaurant meals. We know how the chickens are kept for the commercial food trade don't we. Sorry, getting off my soap box now Edited October 20, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 To provide another angle ... I eat any chicken ... I can't afford it any other way. we still eat posh meat but less of it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharma chick Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 i,m with you topdollar. within minutes of adopting our ex-battery chickens i knew i would never be able to eat chicken again. We also very rarely eat any meat now, if we do it has to be happy meat our girls have such personalities and are valued members of my family. i found it shocking how as a society we look after and care for aniamals especially those in the 'food chain'. Although i would never impose my opnion or views on any one else, i find it increditably sad that even amoungst this chicken community on some level chickens still seem to be a comidity. When i look at meat in the supermarket all i can see is mrytle or her sisters and i could never eat them. i'm sorry to be on my soap box but once my eyes have been opened to such cruelity and inhumanity its impossible to turn a blind eye anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I just wanted to add that posh meat (freerange) - does not have to cost alot! things which cost more buy less of and have as a treat - my nan used to say chicken was a treat! I buy cuts of meat such as pork belly which is free range and does not cost much or lamb neck fillet which is great to make curries with! Also you can save alot of money by buying locally and eating animals in season such as partridge. I live in Bexleyheath which is on the London and Kent boarder and you can still get good local produce. Just ideas - I too don't have loads of money Sorry off my soap box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 i stopped eating and cooking chicken when we got our babies, so now when my DD goes to her dads on the weekend she gets what seems like nothing but chicken for her meals! We see pets he sees curry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I have no problem eating chicken but i always buy happy chicken. I get around the expense by using a chicken for at least three meals. Also, there are always reduced free range chickens in our local Sainsburys so i stock up on those. I acknowledge that i am fortunate enough to be able to afford to buy "posh" meat, i would struggle to uphold my principals if i had less money. Mind you, i used to be vegetarian and could go back to that should the credit crunch bite my bum. I'd also have no problem rearing my own meat, i just wish i had the space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I was the same when I got my girls-had to stop eating chicken, couldn't face it anymore. Nearly a year down the line, I don't eat any meat now - I wouldn't call myself veggie as I still eat fish, but the thought of eating meat totally puts me off now. Hubby loves the girls but has had absolutely no reaction whatsoever but he now is the same as you used to be since there's no meat to be eaten at home anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian47 Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Sorry guys I'm with Steve on this one. We used to look for labels that said "organic free range meat that had been running around in a field all day and had beach holidays in Majorca" , but then we got married and I now have a morgage the size of India, two kids (before I found out what was causing it ) and can't afford to shop like this very often. So it's two chickens for £6 from the supermarket until things get better. As a treat we sometimes get beef from a local butcher that he refuses to sell unless its been hung for three weeks and we know was running around mooing three or four weeks ago. It definately tastes better than the pink supermarket stuff but it's a treat rather than the norm. please don't flame me too hard. regards Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I'm a bloke and a bit of a meat eater but my wife is a veggie so I usually eat the biggest dead animal on the menu when we go out but things are changing.Since keeping the girls I've gone off chicken and will only eat what we call "happy meat" (from animals that have had a life). We got the chickens because we had the room and liked the idea of fresh eggs but I think I got so much more than I bargained for. has this happened to anyone else? oh yes! though I only bought free range before anyway. well once I had learnt the how of it all & the horror. But I keep givinhg myself a tallking too & say as long as it had a happy life 1st. but I am definately not so keen now. Just think how they are with worms slugs frogs snails mice. they just tuck in!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 To provide another angle ... I eat any chicken ... I can't afford it any other way. Before we had kids and had whilst we had two incomes we'd buy the posh meat all the time from places such as Farmers Choice ... but now it's a case of eating what's good value - even if it comes from Lidl. I've watched all the chicken programmes that were on earlier in the year ... yes it is terrible and very shocking. If anyone disagrees strongly with my position on this I'm happy to buy posh meat if you make up the difference I liked what Hugh wotsit said. "people need to learn that eating meat is a priviledge not a god given right regardless of how it has lived" I now personally make the chooice to still eat meat but that which is free ranged & looked after properly. But cost! we eat less of it but better quality. We all have choices on how we spend our pennies, but I would rather do this and NOT have the chocolate or the crisps. I don't really drink def don't smoke, am careful with petrol. in fact on most other issues I am probably more than a blt "tight" (my scottish ancestry perhaps?) more likely my ahge & parents needing to be thrifty during/after the war. Don't buy many new clothes either recyle recycle recycle. (spend all on chooks anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
