Lesley Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Glad it's all working out nicely! I've been having quite an email chat with Alison as we're booked in Hook on one of the April courses.....and we're buying some hens from her as well So what hens are you getting from her? Tracy We have 4 Marans reserved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 After being Veggie for 25 years I couldn't go back to eating meat unless I could do it myself - I started with chicken and we were shown how to despatch our first few table birds by a local man. I then progressed to pork after we'd moved to the smallholding and raised the pigs - we took them to the abattoir though.......and then lamb.....and, finally, beef. I only eat our own meat or meat cooked for us as guests as long as I know its provenance, and the rest of the time I still choose veggie food. You have my utmost admiration. I would love to be able to keep some animals, raise them for meat, kill and eat/sell them. I'm fairly sure I couldn't though. I wish I could. I used to think I would be able to, but that was before I had the chickens. Did you always think you could, or was it kind of like you just built up to it gradually and made yourself do it? Re-reading what I wrote, I hope it didn't sound patronising - it was just how it happened. I couldn't ever see myself eating meat again - I'd been veggie for so long, loved it, couldn't see the need to eat meat, was healthy......... I started by looking for ethically reared meat for Carl to eat and then started thinking about it. I stopped eating meat mostly because of the way farming had gone but that had been 25 years previously and things were coming full circle......... Then we had the two layers.....increasing quite quickly to eight - then we added 8 table birds........and looked for somewhere with land.......... Eating chicken we'd raised was a logical step but eating other meat was a bit more difficult. Now, I don't give it a second thought - I know exactly where my meat has come from and how it has been reared. I still can't eat meat away from home though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 We I'm going on the course but shaun says he'll bet good money I can't do the deed. He may be right . Hope i won't embarass myself. Thats it Mostin......... You've got it ......... Your very own chicken of fate instead of killing it........... you can shove her in your bag and bring her home! Now that would be a true chicken of fate........... saved from the jaws of death and saved by the very executioner! Wotcha recon? Can you just imagine Shaun's face if I pulled a great big fat meat hen out of my handbag . That would be hilarious . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Well I think I have it sorted. I have looked after the meat birds until the day - then I hand them over to OH and he does the kill & pluck (I sent him on this course, but didn't go with him!). So when they then look like meat (plucked with head and feet removed) I do the gutting and cooking. I am not sure I could actually do the deed myself, but I am very happy to give them a good life before eating them. It is almost like BHWT from the start - my current 6 chicks would have gone to a big broiler farm with 1,000s of others, so I can feel I have rescued them at a day old, give them a better (and longer) life. OH said they were very calm when killed and really didn't know what was happening - this is certainly not the case in a commercial slaughter house. So happy chooks = happy meat. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I was hoping to be able to come on this, as it's the only way I can see myself eating meat again, having taken part in the preparation. Oh and a number of friends are going to do a bike ride around the velodrome, so I need to be wearing my best cheer leaders outfit I will be looking out for other dates though Karen x I need to look for other dates too Karen as I can't make any Saturdays in April. Keep me posted as to when you might be going. I'd like to go with other Omleteers. Although I'm not too happy about the idea of doing the killing, I believe that if you eat meat (and I do) you should be prepared to kill it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I was hoping to be able to come on this, as it's the only way I can see myself eating meat again, having taken part in the preparation. Oh and a number of friends are going to do a bike ride around the velodrome, so I need to be wearing my best cheer leaders outfit I will be looking out for other dates though Karen x I need to look for other dates too Karen as I can't make any Saturdays in April. Keep me posted as to when you might be going. I'd like to go with other Omleteers. Although I'm not too happy about the idea of doing the killing, I believe that if you eat meat (and I do) you should be prepared to kill it yourself. Sounds like we may have the makings of the next course Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Definitely - If the dates suit, I'd be up for another course as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 Am shamelessly bumping this up as it is advertised in tonights Sheffield Star. **Clickety click** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Thanks for posting that Egluntine, I feel much better about the course after reading that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 We ate the first of our own grown chickens yesterday - this was the one OH prepared with Alison Wilson at the end of December. A very good course and I am now very positive that we can raise happy chickens and depatch them quickly and humanely. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 The newspaper article makes it sound a lot less scary, and I can see why it would be beneficial for me to do the course, even though I dont plan to raise meat birds.......... still can't do it though Well done TAJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I am looking to see if I can squeeze this in..... Tasha, do you have any room in that smart car of yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Yes, room for one more! I am picking up Moochoo and her OH from Birmingham so can easily pass your way but because I am going via Birmingham the day and journey will be a little longer, as long as you are ok with that I am happy. Feel free to let me know at the last minute if necessary, I will keep the seat free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thanks for that Tasha, are you sure you can come this way? I'll let you know tomorrow if that's OK - I have a thousand and one things to do in April and it's stacking up - bang goes my new year's resolution to not get so booked up! I'll kick off the singing shall I? The wheels on the bus...... I'll get me coat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 No problems, just let me know when you know what you will be up to. You are only about 20 miles away so can't take me too far off track! I am thinking we can get on the M40 dead easily from your house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 We're just 5 minutes away from the M40 J11 Tasha. I need to check if Phil can mind the puppy that day before I confirm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 "smart car"???? As in its a posh and tidy car?? Or its a smart car as in two seater? Be bit squashed Or do you have a lovely forfour smartcar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Just smarter, cleaner and newer than my van! I can come!!!!! will go onto the site today and pay for the course, just needed to make sure that someone could look after the pup for me. Hold that seat for me Tasha! Do you remember where I live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Thats a shame. I was looking foward to a new thread.............."How many omletteers can you fit in a smart car" I have a forfour smart car which is made for four people - (hense the name) and I am very proud to say that I did a very short journey with SEVEN people squashed in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Blimey! I've never seen one of them. I once had six in one of the old style Fiat Cinquecentos never again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Aaaarrgghhh I've only just found this. Have I missed the course???? Is it still on????? Dani Egluntine ....is this it? http://www.chickenkeeper.co.uk/component/eventlist/details/25-kill-pluck-gut-and-bone.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 course? What course? Oh yes I remember..... the scary course I think I've done rather a good job of sticking my beak in on this thread without actually saying very much about the course at all! Much nicer to talk about how many people you can fit in a car dont you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Aaaarrgghhh I've only just found this.Have I missed the course???? Is it still on????? Dani Egluntine ....is this it? http://www.chickenkeeper.co.uk/component/eventlist/details/25-kill-pluck-gut-and-bone.html That's it DA Come on HENthusiastic.. you know you want to....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 course? What course? Oh yes I remember..... the scary course I think I've done rather a good job of sticking my beak in on this thread without actually saying very much about the course at all! Much nicer to talk about how many people you can fit in a car dont you think? When I was a student we got 11 people in an old Morgan Runabout (three wheels ... two at the front and one at the back) We got arrested in Bushy park by a policeman on a bike ... he was faster than us Pre breathalyser days, thank God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Aaaarrgghhh I've only just found this.Have I missed the course???? Is it still on????? Dani Egluntine ....is this it? http://www.chickenkeeper.co.uk/component/eventlist/details/25-kill-pluck-gut-and-bone.html That's it DA Come on HENthusiastic.. you know you want to....... Thanks Claret Will book it. Will be nice to put some faces to names Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
