Interesting discussion - I suppose I currently draw the line at direct cause of death ie doing it myself or telling someone else to, or eating them which increases the number bred for death for my direct benefit..
My particular problem with George was that I would be killing him, or causing his death directly through a 3rd party, specifically because of
my inability to look after him in a way that allowed his natural instincts to be taken into account ie not his fault he's a male, hormonal, protective of his space/girls and that I'd put him in a place he found stressful.
Anyway, George and the girls, coop, feed, grit, bowls et al are gone. I took him on and we didn't find a way of co-existing comfortably, so I did the best I could to find him another alternative. If he proves a handful to a more experienced keeper then that's a different thing than me taking out my inexperience on him.
As for the rescue hens and even the POLs, I see my role as prolonging and improving the lives of existing birds which were bred to lay eggs for others regardless of whether I took them on at some point in their lives or not. I suppose to be clean with my actions I should avoid asking someone to breed chicks for me, or breed them myself, on the basis that those births are creating 50% deaths.. Now George is away that is far less likely to ever happen, I would find POL or rescue hens again.
Having pet OAP hens is probably something that will eventually occur if it hasn't already - I am not sure if all the rescue hens are laying but will probably find out in spring if I ever find 8 eggs the same day
where the most I get now is 5. But I can't see my way through feeding them in retirement just as I feed my retired broodmares - I reckon by the time they've retired they don't owe me anything for as long as they're healthy, and I don't have qualms about having a seriously ill or injured pony/hen/cat pts as that is responsibility I take willingly, humane treatment over-riding not killing in that circumstance.
Oh and I realised what happened to male chicks back in my early 20s when I dated a falconer
but somehow it didn't bother me to feed meat to a carnivorous bird by hand, any more than I have more than a passing thought or two occasionally about feeding my cats.. I actually recall having defrosted day old chicks in my bag and ripping a head or leg off to give to a buzzard, hawk, owl or falcon, and enjoying it, I'm not squeamish for all my beliefs - or maybe it was lurve
Topic: Aggressive cockerel, got to go (Read 9021 times)
