Rooster reflections

***WARNING: This post is probably gross to most others. I wrote it so I can remember. But we warned that it's about killing.

This weekend we slaughtered 5 of our 26 meat birds. They are full grown, enough that the roosters are finding their cocka-doodle-ergs and getting a little frisky with the females. We figures that some all-out cock fights may soon be happening if we didn't do something, so 5 lucky winners met their doom on Saturday.

Killing an animal for food is an interesting experience. I think that if you eat meat, you should be required to participate in its demise. In high school I went to a turkey farm with my mom and aunts and we processed several thanksgiving turkeys, so it wasn't my first time seeing this happen. But I didn't partake of the actual killing then. This time, Dave did all the throat cutting but a second set of hands was required to hold the chicken in the cone because it wasn't big enough (we'll fix that for next time). It was sobering to see this once-fluffly little peeping chick come full circle. He trusted us to feed him and keep him safe and warm as a baby, and he trusted us right up to the end. Most of the time they were calm through the process, with a few jolts and jerks as death overcame them.

Before we began we said a prayer of thanks for the chickens who would be losing their lives for us, and wishing them well on their journey to chicken heaven. The kids were given the option of being there or not, and they all chose to watch the process (Caden watched but did not participate much, except when we inspected the chicken brain - he was fascinated by that. The other two had arguments over who would get to pluck this one and help gut it). There was sadness in the air for sure as we watched the life flow out of the first chicken, until we could see the change come over him and knew he was surely gone. We discussed how although we couldn't see it, the chicken's spirit had separated from its body and was now going to the place that Heavenly Father designed for His animals. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that there was such a place, even for chickens. We know it is true.

When you kill something in order to eat it, you suddenly realize something: It's not funny. It's incredibly serious. I had decided that my life is more important than theirs, and I am going to take theirs in order to sustain mine. That is a sobering decision. We raised these birds for meat with the purpose that we would know what they ate, know they had a good and happy life, and know that they were treated as well as they should be. They would be healthy and the healthiest for us.

But meat is LIFE! To eat meat means to take life. I am not against eating meat, but I am changed. Meat will not be taken for grated any more, and it doesn't just "come from the store" like my Sunbeams think. I am dreading the meat counter at the store because I know next time I will not be able to help but think how many animals are represented in that one little space. And I'll wonder if they got a prayer before dying (another good reason for a blessing on the food!).

I will never be wasteful again. Wasting meat is a horrible, thoughtless thing! A life given should be used completely and with gratitude. And to say that you only eat white meat ... well, that is no longer acceptable in my book. A chicken is more than just its breast meat and you better darn eat the whole chicken if you're gonna kill it!

I don't need meat every day. That's too much! It's completely unnecessary ... there are so many other things out there that won't be gasping for breath before I can eat it. The phrase, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants" is ringing truer and truer to me. The cost (paid by others) is too dear to take flippantly any more. I realize that plants are also living things, but it is different. A beating heart and a brain are a huge dividing line in life.

We will be butchering most of our other 21 chickens in the weeks to come. And we will preserve them and eat them and appreciate them. But I am really thankful for the change in perspective -- for the REALITY check -- I have been given. We eat meat at a price. We should be careful.

And if you want to come help ... PLEASE DO! Two sets of hands is not enough.

(many other fabulous atonement connections have been made in our family over this weekend. It's been a wonderful experience.)