a moral dilemma

[Stiletto]

My impression is that your neighbour is Spanish and you are not. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but, if this is the case what you have are two very different cultural attitudes to animals.

Rural Spaniards generally do not castrate cats, nor spay them either; this is their "normal". Ditto for dogs. There are a lot of people who won't take them to the vet either, not regularly anyway. Some are better at treating them at home than others and often flea/tick preventatives aren't considered. It's a spectrum and your neighbour may be in the mid to low range. Although there is a change (towards UK/central European sensibilities and practices) it is slow and starting in cities and towns, where people are keeping animals as pets.

Bear in mind that in Franco's time, often there was barely enough food to go round for the humans; animals were expected to forage and/or live off left-overs. I remember speaking with a ~90 year old man who told me that back when he was a kid/young man, people didn't bother burying a dead dog. He was commenting with bemusement on how "the English" treat their dogs.

So, while I don't imagine your neighbour is that old, he'll have been raised by parents from that generation. What you are describing, is what he knows.

He is right, chickens from local stores often have their beaks cut.
I can understand why he wants birds with intact beaks.

Personally, I wouldn't give your neighbour a puppy or a kitten either, but there again that wouldn't be an issue because I neuter my cats, female dogs and potentially problematic male dogs. As for chickens, I think I'm more accepting of losses to predators than you are. I've actually refused to give someone one of my roosters because he wouldn't have (what I consider) enough freedom! I don't have fertilised eggs but if I did, I don't know what I'd do in your position, TBH.

That's me though and as other posters have said, this is your decision.

Notwithstanding, I do urge you to consider:

• the importance of good neighbourly relations
• that if you do decline, to do your very best to explain calmly and as non-judgementally as possible (!) why you don't want to give him fertilised eggs and why it matters so much to you

Although he'll probably get eggs/chickens anyway, I do understand why you would not want to give him eggs from your chickens. Also, I'm curious; do you eat meat from conventionally raised animals?

I wish you wisdom, peace and balance to help with your decision-making.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Give him eggs that you know for sure aren't fertile. Problem solved.

 

[Stiletto]

Give them eggs that you know for sure aren't fertile. Problem solved.

*LOL*

I like the way you've cut through this Gordian Knot!!

 

[Shadrach]

I don't mean to be rude and I'm not trying to offend; but, a moral dilemma is not something to be decided by an internet vote imo.
It's something you and your conscience should deal with.

 

[elaineinspain]

My impression is that your neighbour is Spanish and you are not. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but, if this is the case what you have are two very different cultural attitudes to animals.

Rural Spaniards generally do not castrate cats, nor spay them either; this is their "normal". Ditto for dogs. There are a lot of people who won't take them to the vet either, not regularly anyway. Some are better at treating them at home than others and often flea/tick preventatives aren't considered. It's a spectrum and your neighbour may be in the mid to low range. Although there is a change (towards UK/central European sensibilities and practices) it is slow and starting in cities and towns, where people are keeping animals as pets.

Bear in mind that in Franco's time, often there was barely enough food to go round for the humans; animals were expected to forage and/or live off left-overs. I remember speaking with a ~90 year old man who told me that back when he was a kid/young man, people didn't bother burying a dead dog. He was commenting with bemusement on how "the English" treat their dogs.

So, while I don't imagine your neighbour is that old, he'll have been raised by parents from that generation. What you are describing, is what he knows.

He is right, chickens from local stores often have their beaks cut.
I can understand why he wants birds with intact beaks.

Personally, I wouldn't give your neighbour a puppy or a kitten either, but there again that wouldn't be an issue because I neuter my cats, female dogs and potentially problematic male dogs. As for chickens, I think I'm more accepting of losses to predators than you are. I've actually refused to give someone one of my roosters because he wouldn't have (what I consider) enough freedom! I don't have fertilised eggs but if I did, I don't know what I'd do in your position, TBH.

That's me though and as other posters have said, this is your decision.

Notwithstanding, I do urge you to consider:

• the importance of good neighbourly relations
• that if you do decline, to do your very best to explain calmly and as non-judgementally as possible (!) why you don't want to give him fertilised eggs and why it matters so much to you

Although he'll probably get eggs/chickens anyway, I do understand why you would not want to give him eggs from your chickens. Also, I'm curious; do you eat meat from conventionally raised animals?

I wish you wisdom, peace and balance to help with your decision-making.

Give him eggs that you know for sure aren't fertile. Problem solved.

@Stiletto you are very astute. That is exactly the case. He is also in his late 70's so I'm sure he remembers life under the dictatorship. And to still your curiosity: No, I do not eat any land animals, and only eat eggs from my own hens or from hens I know have a decent lifestyle.

@Shamo Hybrid you are a genius!

 

[chickenpeeple]

I personally wouldn't give him the eggs.

 

[elaineinspain]

@Shadrach Thank you for taking time to give me your opinion too. No offence taken. Often hearing others' opinions can help me. It can open me up to completely new ways of thinking and new ways of seeing myself, my world view and ultimately my conscience. Great wisdom can be found in the most unlikely places - even on the internet

 

[Eggscaping]

That's a tricky one. I agree with how you feel, especially since you included the information about the poor cat. (Hugs to you for helping the poor thing!) And no, as someone said - this isn't really something that can be decided by an internet poll. However - talking to others can help you sort out and solidify your own feelings. That's why we are here for each other - to vent our feelings and make use of the knowledge and experience of each other.
In the end, I always go back to something I use to stay true to myself, or what I want myself to be. The old thing about 'You have to like the person you see when you look into the mirror'. Trite - but true.
You want good relations with your neighbor, but you really dislike his animal husbandry skills (or lack of). But from the careful, articulate way you describe the whole thing, I doubt you'll march over and pelt him with rotten eggs screaming 'You filthy animal abuser, I'd as soon give my children to the slave trade as any of my chickens to you!" The one suggestion that you give him unfertile eggs is pretty funny...made me chuckle. Your husband's words that since he's given you produce you should reciprocate made me nod. I, too, would have to think long and hard about my final decision.
But in the end, of course, it *is* your decision and that thing about liking the person you see when you look into the mirror should (in my humble opinion) be the guideline. If you give him fertile eggs and see dead or ill-kept birds afterward that you think are from the eggs you gave him, will you be happy with yourself? If you say no, and he looks hurt because of his gifts to you of produce, will that be worse? Whichever way you go, as long as you can do that mirror thing and smile and feel good about yourself - then you made the right decision. In an imperfect world.
Hugs to you for being so kind...and nice.

 

[Stiletto]

@Stiletto you are very astute. That is exactly the case. He is also in his late 70's so I'm sure he remembers life under the dictatorship. And to still your curiosity: No, I do not eat any land animals, and only eat eggs from my own hens or from hens I know have a decent lifestyle.

Thank you for answering my question! This being the case, it is congruent and makes it easier to explain to your neighbour, within a greater context, why you don't want to give him fertilised eggs (should you choose to take this route).

There's a part of me that likes @Shamo Hybrid 's proposed solution, but another part of me sees your quandary as an opportunity: to educate / expand your neighbour's awareness. However, you'd need to have the fluency in language and the ease and ability to communicate, with a smile.

 

[MROO]

I just don't feel comfortable giving him the eggs to be incubated (by one of his broody ducks) and then, when hatched, the birds will be left to fend for themselves...

If you don't want to give him eggs but still want friendly relations with your neighbor, use fear as your ally. Tell him you're just not comfortable sharing "livestock" because of possible legal liabilities.