A Better Way of Poultry

Well, day one of our fall poultry processing was a success. We decided to process 8 hens, 2 ducks, 9 quail, and Arnold, our aggressive turkey tom.  None of the birds were very large and and the hens were some of the smallest chickens we ever processed. 

Arnold weighed 12.7 pounds after processing which is an okay weight for a heritage breed turkey. I am sure he lost weight with all the back and forth walking he did after segregating him. 

It was such a blessing to have friends over to help out while they learned how to do all of it. The kids were all fine with it and no one was traumatized. 

But it raised an interesting question and thought...

What if everyone who bought and consumed meat had to be able to process the animal themselves?  

What if we ate less meat?

While the work of processing technically gets easier through experience, the actual task of taking an animal's life is difficult. While I caution others about watching videos of commercial poultry processing, I can't help but wonder if, like me, viewing the operation might be worth it in order to realize just what those animals go through to make it on your plate.  I was literally sobbing and it isn't just for meat birds, but egg layers as well.

Meanwhile, the birds raised on our homestead, while not the perfect set up, have a good life and only have one bad day in their lives. 

The righteous regards the life of his beast, But the compassion of the wrong is cruelty.

Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 12:10 TS2009

**Please note that I understand that not everyone can have a farm, raise their own livestock, and process them.  I am simply stating that we are to consider the life of our animals. I believe that we also should consider the lives of those we consume. I have seen how the majority of animals are processed and I personally can not accept the practices that put those animals at the hand of consumers.