If you think about it, it can be considered pretty barbaric to spay or neuter dogs or cats, yet a lot of people do that and are praised for it. There are a lot of things in animal husbandry that if you just read about them they seem barbaric and cruel, but if you understand why it is done and how it is done it's not.
I understand how and why this procedure is done, I just don’t agree with it unless it truly is necessary on a case by case basis.
Many of those things are not cruel at all and are necessary for the health and wellbeing of the animal.
I don’t think it’s necessary in most cases if you make sure they have the basics: enough space, good nutrition, etc.
I think, as a culture, our use of this practice is proof of just how much we care about chicken health and well-being. Instead of practicing good animal husbandry, we sometimes think of them as brainless objects that magically provide food for us. I’m guilty of this , but my chickens are reprogramming me.
In my opinion, the further you are from raising animals for a living and the less you know about how they are kept and how they behave the more likely you are to think these things barbaric.
Well, I think that’s a pretty big assumption (unless you’ve gone back and read all my post and realized you’re right?). But, what I’m trying to say is ... my opinion on this topic has nothing to do with how far or close I am to raising animals for a living. There are probably many people who have loads of experience who feel the same way. There’s probably people with no husbandry experience at all who think the practice should be done.
I get what you’re saying, and the practice is widely used. If major farms didn’t do it, those poor birds would tear each other apart because they’re packed in like sardines. I know for many farms, this practice isn’t a choice, it’s required by ... very powerful companies who own everything? Or, I suppose capitalism is simply no friend to the chicken. My state finally passed laws that give a
few more rights to chickens, I just hope things keep going in that direction. The closer I get to raising animals for a living, the more I learn, and the more I care about the health of an animal I feed to my neighbors and family.
I meant no offense to anyone, and I understand people need to make money. I was just sharing my opinion.
