you say ur not trying to start anything but then you insinuate that if our chickens eat animal protein they are being raised immorally? me thinks you are the one that needs a lesson in tolerance my friend
Here in S. Florida we have tons of lizards - my chickens LOVE them! They catch a lizard, beat it to death, then swallow it whole - If that's not gross, or immoral, what is? I'm hoping I don't find lizard parts in my future eggs
Ugh I'm just saying that its like feeding your child people meat! And I dont have a problem with them catching other animals on their own, as long as they aren't eating other chickens. Its in their nature. and i wouldnt feed mine other animal meat any way, but only because im a veggie and dont have any meat in my house. i think if i wasnt a vegetarian i still wouldn't feed them chicken, it just seems wrong to me. Im not saying that you have to stop feeding them chicken, but im just strying to put my perspective out there.
I can totally see where you're coming from that it feels weird to feed chicken to a chicken, but animals have a different code of ethics than people do. It's instinctual, not intellectual. In fact, ethics don't even enter the picture for them. That's higher-level thinking we want to attribute to animals, but simply isn't there. Any animal will eat "it's own" given an opportunity most of the time. In fact, people will too if the situation is desperate enough. I personally intent to refrain from eating any people unless it's an absolute necessity - like stranded on the side of an icy mountain or something...
I do have to agree with the others though that it's a slippery slope to imply feeding rituals are moral or immoral. Live and let live, let your conscience be your guide. If it makes you uncomfortable, then don't, but I'd be careful to judge others too harshly for what they feed their birds. I know for me, I try to extend the same courtesy to others that I would want granted to me. I tend to lean to the bleeding-heart side of things and I'll be running an old folks home for senior birds before I'd think of butchering one, but that's me. I don't think it's wrong if someone chooses to do something different. If everyone was like me, we'd be swimming in chickens! To each his own. I hope not to be judged for my somewhat over-the-top poultry pampering!