Monthly Archives: June 2008

chickens – pets or meat?

I’ve become ridiculously attached to my chickens. We’re keeping them for eggs so it’s not a huge problem, but when it comes to eating other chickens, even a Label Anglais chicken which would have led a very happy life before ending up on my plate, I can’t help thinking of my own ladies.

Dozy, Squawky and Audrey are wonderful. They are beautiful creatures, inquisitive and friendly. Nicole and Audrey haven’t started laying yet, but Meryl has been supplying me with a fresh egg every morning for the past few days. It’s thrilling to wander down to the eglu in the morning, still in pyjamas, to collect a warm egg.

It’s difficult to to think differently about my pet chickens and chickens raised for meat. But I’m going to have to. Furthermore I’ll have to extend that thinking to other species. Otherwise, if my dreams of keeping pigs, sheep and cows come true, I’ll end up a vegetarian, which would be missing the point.