a moral dilemma

[MROO]

@MROO I have made the decision. I am going down the lane to speak with him now. There is an old dilapidated shack on his land. I have some old wood pallets and left over hardware cloth. I will offer to help him make this shack into a secure shelter so the birds will have somewhere to roost at night. I won't be able to do this work on my own, I'm relying on his help. If he agrees to my suggestion and helps me to make his shack secure I'll give him the eggs. If however for whatever reason he doesn't help me with the renovations, I'll tell him about me seeing chickens more as pets than livestock, and help him find other fertilised eggs. I know another neighbour on our lane also has fertilised eggs, as his birds hatch out chicks every year. His birds are the typical small chickens that are seen foraging on farmland all over this area in Spain. They are very flighty and quick and they seem to be exceptional foragers. I'm sure eggs from these birds would be more suitable for him.
I believe I could live with this decision.

I would like to thank everyone so much for your input. It was a very lively thread with many differing, and very interesting opinions. It has widened my worldview, and I am very appreciative, especially to @Shadrach, and @Stiletto , (And @Shamo Hybrid - for your wonderful humour! I still get a chuckle out of your post when I think of it.)

There may not be such a thing as a "perfect Neighbor," but it sure sounds like you've come up with a "Perfect Solution!" Please let us know how everything turns out.

 

[Stiletto]

@MROO I have made the decision. I am going down the lane to speak with him now. There is an old dilapidated shack on his land. I have some old wood pallets and left over hardware cloth. I will offer to help him make this shack into a secure shelter so the birds will have somewhere to roost at night. I won't be able to do this work on my own, I'm relying on his help. If he agrees to my suggestion and helps me to make his shack secure I'll give him the eggs. If however for whatever reason he doesn't help me with the renovations, I'll tell him about me seeing chickens more as pets than livestock, and help him find other fertilised eggs. I know another neighbour on our lane also has fertilised eggs, as his birds hatch out chicks every year. His birds are the typical small chickens that are seen foraging on farmland all over this area in Spain. They are very flighty and quick and they seem to be exceptional foragers. I'm sure eggs from these birds would be more suitable for him.
I believe I could live with this decision.

I would like to thank everyone so much for your input. It was a very lively thread with many differing, and very interesting opinions. It has widened my worldview, and I am very appreciative, especially to @Shadrach, and @Stiletto , (And @Shamo Hybrid - for your wonderful humour! I still get a chuckle out of your post when I think of it.)

I admire the solution you arrived at; particularly your offer and willingness to physically help your neighbour build a shelter for the chickens and also the idea to help him find fertilised eggs from more suitable chickens.

You are the kind of person I would love to have as a neighbour!

I'm glad to have been able to help.

P.S. How did your neighbour respond to your offer? I'd love to read an update!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I admire the solution you arrived at; particularly your offer and willingness to physically help your neighbour build a shelter for the chickens and also the idea to help him find fertilised eggs from more suitable chickens.

You are the kind of person I would love to have as a neighbour!

I'm glad to have been able to help.

P.S. How did your neighbour respond to your offer? I'd love to read an update!

She hasn't respond. I'm assuming she chickened out. Pardon the pun.

 

[Stiletto]

She hasn't respond. I'm assuming she chickened out. Pardon the pun.

She hasn't responded yet. I'm guessing she's busy elsewhere, whether or not that includes building a shed with her neighbour.

Careful with "assuming", you know what they say...

 

[Grits&Eggs]

that is a tough one, i would love to say don't give in, but would like to know his logic/reason for letting them run a muck? Can you voice your concern or ask him about his practices so you at least have peace of mind and a reason so you understand why he does what he does? Yikes, just read it does it for the bug control - not sure that is good enough reason

 

[SilkieNation]

Well cared for, but predator prone is one thing. I agree that fox, coyotes and other wild animals need to eat too. But letting cats breed (so many associated problems), not providing veterinary care and not doing who knows what else is irresponsible and in some cases, like the injured cat, just cruel. I know I wouldn't give them to him.

I deeply believe that animals are much smarter and emotionally developed than most people believe. They are not so dumb. They form attachments, bond, love?, feel happiness, satisfaction and security, communicate and on and on. Their suffering, whether pain, loss, hunger, thirst or fear is as real as ours is.

Maybe this is a bit too much here, but my tolerance for the ill treatment of animals, globally, has reached an end point. I'm sure that malnourished, injured and flea-ridden cat was just a ball of suffering. And, maybe that discovery was just scratching the surface.

 

[ceceuu]

I'm glad he's not my neighbor. Feeling for you.