A guy emailed me yesterday about buying eggs, and he wanted to know whether we care for our chickens in their old age, or just keep them while they're young and productive and then get rid of them.
Loaded question, eh? Like when somebody very formally asked my dairy boss what she did with the male calves. They're expecting a bad answer, and planning to be mad at you about it if you aren't sufficiently virtuous, by their standards. Or maybe they're just curious how it works - possibly.
I told him I definitely have a few older ladies (heck, they've got to be about 4 now? Old by production hen standards) who have a place here as pets for as long as they're living well, but that I'm less sentimental about the younger ones, and I won't promise I'll never put one in the stew pot.
But then, "get rid of them" - is he worried about what might happen after that? So I also reassured him that, if I ever do decide I can't afford to feed an unproductive bird, or have any that aren't enjoying a good quality of life due to age or illness, they would never end up abandoned or neglected or taking up resources as a rescue. Because I will put them down myself if that ever happens. That's the most responsible thing.
I doubt that's what he wanted to hear. It's also not as black and white as I think the question implied.
