I won’t argue for most of the animal-based market but I reject the idea that eggs are inherently unethical. Some of the ways they are produced certainly are (the vast majority even, I assume), but chickens just lay eggs in their day to day life and I don’t think anything is wrong with eating them, though I do acknowledge that finding ethical options is probably more complex than just paying a bit extra for the free range cartons.
I should find a local producer again, then they are usually both cheaper and not factory farmed.
Let me know if you find a farmer who lets the males live, feeds them and cares for them, until they peacefully reach old age, getting absolutely nothing from them apart maybe the joy of seeing them happy.
Guinea hens lay 30 - 180 depending on climate, food availability and predation in the wild. Domestic hens are not “bred” into daily laying, their instinctive nature to fill the nest drives them. Appropriate feed, housing and hydration allows that. That, in no way, excuses industrial egg production. However, small numbers raised as pets for egg production are treated very well and mourned at their passing. Is that acceptable?
Domestic hens were still bred into significantly higher egg output capacities.
If you want to tangent off specifically into niche birds, sure a guinea hen has a high natural egg laying capacity, as you stated, if you manipulate it’s environment. Typically in the wild, however, it would lay ~10-20 per year. Your more typical bred domestic chicken that this conversation is actually about has more than twice the capacity of the guinea hen’s natural limit. Let’s keep on topic here though, yeah?
I won’t argue for most of the animal-based market but I reject the idea that eggs are inherently unethical. Some of the ways they are produced certainly are (the vast majority even, I assume), but chickens just lay eggs in their day to day life and I don’t think anything is wrong with eating them, though I do acknowledge that finding ethical options is probably more complex than just paying a bit extra for the free range cartons.
I should find a local producer again, then they are usually both cheaper and not factory farmed.
Let me know if you find a farmer who lets the males live, feeds them and cares for them, until they peacefully reach old age, getting absolutely nothing from them apart maybe the joy of seeing them happy.
Wild hens lay 10 to 15 eggs a year. We selectively bred them into the horror of daily laying.
We did a similar thing with sheep, they shouldn’t have that much wool at all
Guinea hens lay 30 - 180 depending on climate, food availability and predation in the wild. Domestic hens are not “bred” into daily laying, their instinctive nature to fill the nest drives them. Appropriate feed, housing and hydration allows that. That, in no way, excuses industrial egg production. However, small numbers raised as pets for egg production are treated very well and mourned at their passing. Is that acceptable?
Domestic hens were still bred into significantly higher egg output capacities.
If you want to tangent off specifically into niche birds, sure a guinea hen has a high natural egg laying capacity, as you stated, if you manipulate it’s environment. Typically in the wild, however, it would lay ~10-20 per year. Your more typical bred domestic chicken that this conversation is actually about has more than twice the capacity of the guinea hen’s natural limit. Let’s keep on topic here though, yeah?
The unethical part is the reason there’s so many more hens than cockerels (the male chicks get killed off early).
Didn’t realize they are the king of what can be argued.
Well now you do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Well obviously this person disagrees 🤷
Yeah this is why I could maybe be vegetarian in the future but never vegan.