I've worked on various farms that have egg-producing hens (some with roosters, some without). I still don't eat the eggs the hens produce, mainly because there are people who want or need them (for instance, I worked on one farm who gave free organic, free range eggs to homeless shelters and families who couldn't afford eggs to feed their families).
If there were too many eggs and no one claimed them before they went bad (which can literally take weeks), I would possibly consider taking them.
I've considered keeping some city hens of my own, because I love chickens and they make great company. I would never sell the eggs, though.
To me, my veganism is about doing the least amount of harm possible. I didn't go vegan because I have something against eggs or cheese themselves. I went vegan because of the reprehensible practices required to obtain these things, as well as disagreement with the sense that humans have some right to just take whatever they want from whomever they want, no matter the consequences
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I'd say my definition of vegan is not doing things without consent, and considering all other beings- it is not our place to take what is not ours, no matter how well we treat them. Until chickens can tell us that we can take their eggs, they are not ours to take. We can't assume they're fine with that; as for the "going to waste" issue, what do you think happens in nature?
You will get responses in this thread, though, that will say that eating any animal product is wrong no matter what, when, or how. You won't be able to argue with those responses, though, because they're not going to be based on logic, and are instead being based on puritism at any cost or thought.They are based on logic- it's an approach to veganism (one of many). From my understanding, true veganism is about animal rights (the strict definition of a vegan is a pure vegetarian (vegetarian being a dietary statement about consuming no animal products), which is extended to include the ethical philosophy of animal rights). I understand that the commonly held
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When my cat comes and sits on my lap and looks at me with squinty eyes, I know that he wants petting and attention. He isn't verbally communicating anything to me. He's showing me what he wants with his body and his actions. I haven't communication in english with my cat ever, and I never will. But I know he loves me, and I know when he wants things, and when he doesn't want things (and have several scarred scratches from when I didn't "listen to him
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by treating the eggs as commodities, you're still, in turn, treating the chickens as expendable (in my opinion). it may be more ethical than a mass, factory farming situation, but it's still not vegan. if this were relating to a person, you wouldn't just take something that wasn't yours. it's the same in this situation.
What about when birds use animal hair that's been naturally shed to build their nests? Is it wrong what the birds are doing? The animal that shed isn't coming back for their fur. It would just sit there and biodegrade otherwise.
In those situations, the hair has been discarded- they are not still being used by the animal. One of the reasons humans are able to get so many eggs out of chickens is that a hen will continue to lay until she thinks she has enough eggs to start "getting broody" and incubating them for around 20 days before they hatch. During that period, she does not lay eggs. Some chickens also eat their own eggs.
I wouldn't have any problem using those eggs, nor would I have any (ethical) problem eating the chickens themselves. Likewise, I would drink milk from a cow if it were kept in similar conditions. As far I can tell, the relationships to the animals are symbiotic and because the farms are on such a small scale, I can't make a big argument for the environmental repurcussions.
I think veganism is a pretty privileged lifestyle choice, and is mostly relevant to developed nations. I can't point fingers at truly systainable and cruelty-free uses of animals. I would eat eggs and drink milk if I could meet the chicken or cow they came from, but as an American who gets everyhting at a grocery store, I stick with avoiding those things.
I think veganism is a pretty privileged lifestyle choice, and is mostly relevant to developed nations.
I used to think that too, but that's only because I only know privledged vegans.
In some places it may not be feasible currently to be vegan. I can acknowledge that, but I think it's harmful to think ONLY people of priveledge can be vegans. Most vegan foods are inexpensive, it's just a matter of whether or not the land available can grow the necessary food.
Think about all the vegetarians in India. Sure they aren't vegan. But could they get by relatively well with out milk and/or eggs. My guess would be yes, though I'm not sure.
Yeah, when you think about it, basic vegan food is cheap and more efficient to produce. In land deserts veganism could be impractical, but in many places it's just a poor man's diet.
No we would not because we do not believe that animals should be used by humans, period. The reason (to talk about stuff that was up thread) we do have pets is because it is our fault that they exist and therefore we must take care of them until we are no longer breeding new animals.
There is no such thing as happy eggs, happy dairy, and happy meat because regardless of how we treat them, they are still being killed and still forced to produce way more than their bodies can handle because we have forced them.
Eggs are not vegan, and if anyone eats them, please do not call yourself a vegan.
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If there were too many eggs and no one claimed them before they went bad (which can literally take weeks), I would possibly consider taking them.
I've considered keeping some city hens of my own, because I love chickens and they make great company. I would never sell the eggs, though.
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You will get responses in this thread, though, that will say that eating any animal product is wrong no matter what, when, or how. You won't be able to argue with those responses, though, because they're not going to be based on logic, and are instead being based on puritism at any cost or thought.They are based on logic- it's an approach to veganism (one of many). From my understanding, true veganism is about animal rights (the strict definition of a vegan is a pure vegetarian (vegetarian being a dietary statement about consuming no animal products), which is extended to include the ethical philosophy of animal rights). I understand that the commonly held ( ... )
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I think veganism is a pretty privileged lifestyle choice, and is mostly relevant to developed nations. I can't point fingers at truly systainable and cruelty-free uses of animals. I would eat eggs and drink milk if I could meet the chicken or cow they came from, but as an American who gets everyhting at a grocery store, I stick with avoiding those things.
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I can see where you're coming from, but I do disagree. I don't want to eat the flesh of another being.
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I used to think that too, but that's only because I only know privledged vegans.
In some places it may not be feasible currently to be vegan. I can acknowledge that, but I think it's harmful to think ONLY people of priveledge can be vegans. Most vegan foods are inexpensive, it's just a matter of whether or not the land available can grow the necessary food.
Think about all the vegetarians in India. Sure they aren't vegan. But could they get by relatively well with out milk and/or eggs. My guess would be yes, though I'm not sure.
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(The comment has been removed)
There is no such thing as happy eggs, happy dairy, and happy meat because regardless of how we treat them, they are still being killed and still forced to produce way more than their bodies can handle because we have forced them.
Eggs are not vegan, and if anyone eats them, please do not call yourself a vegan.
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