Living in the country

PurpleDragon · Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:18 pm

Today we went to collect some small square bales (Ã‚Â£2 each in case you're interested) and on the way there we passed a field with some sheep in it.

Yeah, okay, we passed LOADS of fields with sheep in them, but this field had a farmer in it as well. Said farmer was closing his gate having just driven thru them in his truck.

Farmer's dog was long gone over the field, tucking into a second breakfast of dead sheep belly.

Nice.

red · Post: # 38031Post **red** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:48 pm

yup I remember wondering when I should let my (then) toddler see a birth of a lamb or cow (we lived but did not work on a farm back then), then one day driving out we passed the farmer just as he pulled a calf out of a cow.. with all the bag and goo that that comes with... guess that settled *that* question.
I wondered if he would become vegetarian once he realised that the sheep he loved so much went off to slaughter.. but he loves meat too.. and took it all in his stride. and sex education was an easy subject given that he had seen when the neighbours bull, a lovely aold south Devon came lumbering up the lane, grumbling at being moved - until he saw the girls he was going to be with and he leapt the fence and peformed straight away!, and the ram going in with the sheep on Bonfire night.. for lambs in teh spring.. oh yes.. he witnessed it all

have to say, explaining the AI man's job was tricky indeed...

PurpleDragon · Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:13 pm

LOL - yeah the AI man would be a challenge.

We are currently having a to-do with my kids about chicken. We are hoping for chicks come spring, and I am softening the kids up to have them for their tea. However, No1Child is very enthusiastic about the whole thing - unless he's met the hen in question.

circlecross · Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:02 pm

my two year old was saying "chicken" and the bwerk bwerk sounds, then I gave him a drumstick and said "chicken" and he said "chicken..." I could see the cogs working. However, Henry VIII had nothing on him rending the flesh off the bone, so if a connection WAS made. it didn't stop him scoffing it.

glenniedragon · Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:51 pm

I used to have to reassure no1 son that if he was eating chicken, it was no-one we knew!

kind thoughts
Deb

red · Post: # 38138Post **red** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:26 pm

hmm... when my son was verry little the neighbour came to the door with a pheasant he had shot that day, as a present. son referred to it as 'dead bird'. not caring for hung meat myself, we drew and plucked it straight away, all with son watching,, and then had it for tea that evening.. was he phased. nope. 'more dead bird please!' he said....

honestly i think its kids that have not seen where their food comes from that have a problem with it when they do find out one day. its best to be honest - and if they dont like the idea.. and become a vegetarian.. look on it as a good thing.,,, they will eat more veg.

Stonehead · Post: # 38140Post **Stonehead** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:38 pm

I kill the cockerels, then the boys help pluck and draw them. They also like to play with the severed heads - usually in a game which involves the boys doing different voices as the heads "talk" to each other!

They then happily devour the cooked chicken.

They're the same with pigs and lambs. They'll happily discuss the merits of a pig's hams, then come in and eat some for dinner.

When we took the lambs to slaughter last week, the boys spent ages staring at them and arguing about which one would make the most chops.

They also enjoy coming with me to shoot rabbits and pigeons, carry the carcases, help with skinning, plucking and drawing, and continuely ask when I'm making the next game pie.

The Big Lad has recently read about rook pie, so he wants one of those next.

Very pragmatic - I wonder where they get that from?

Shirley · Post: # 38143Post **Shirley** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:51 pm

I think it's vitally important that children understand about food from an early age.. and by that I include veggies AND meat....

J knows that chicken comes from a chicken with feathers.. pork is from pigs, lamb is from young sheep etc... much better that than thinking it comes from a tin... a packet from the freezer etc.. I reckon it teaches valuable life lessons too...

red · Post: # 38156Post **red** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:03 pm

one thing that confuses kids... and many a townie too.. is lamb. lamb does not come from lambs... cos... lambs are those cute cuddly leggy bouncy things right (actually if you have ever held a lamb you know its boney crunchy kicky... but I digress) whereas.. the lamb to the slaughter.. looks like a sheep.

funkypixie · Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:09 am

My kids were the ones who used to visit the rare breed farm and say "Look Mummy! A Pig! We get ham and pork and bacon from pigs."

Much to the shock and horror of most of the other parents and much to my great delight

Anna x

Wombat · Post: # 38189Post **Wombat** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:03 am

Stonehead wrote:I kill the cockerels, then the boys help pluck and draw them. They also like to play with the severed heads - usually in a game which involves the boys doing different voices as the heads "talk" to each other!

That's hilarious!

Nev

Stonehead · Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:17 am

Wombat wrote:
Stonehead wrote:I kill the cockerels, then the boys help pluck and draw them. They also like to play with the severed heads - usually in a game which involves the boys doing different voices as the heads "talk" to each other!

That's hilarious!

Nev

"Captain One, Captain One, the aliens are landing."

"Captain Two, Captain Two, I know, they just cut my head off."

Yes, that's my boys!