I'm not trying to play Devil's advocate, but aside from the discussion of how the chickens are living, is anyone just simply grossed out with the fact of consuming something that came out of a living creature's body? Eww.

For me, there are three main questions:

1) How were the chickens acquired? If they were purchased from a traditional farm, or some other outlet that would profit off of the deaths of hens (either for meat or destruction of male chicks), this would be a huge red flag.

2) What happens to the hens when they stop laying eggs? Are they allowed to peacefully live out the rest of their days despite not producing eggs, or are they eaten or sold to someone for meat?

3) Is anyone profiting off of these eggs? Are the reproductive cycles of the hens being used as a commodity?

If the hens were adopted from a sanctuary/rescue, were allowed to "retire" comfortably and live out their natural lives after ceasing to produce eggs, and no one was profiting off of sale of the eggs, I would probably eat them (assuming the hens had gotten first pick and eaten their fill of eggs, as chickens tend to do).

However, I would no longer refer to myself as a "Vegan" - not to conform to any sort of societal label, but because it is confusing to non-vegans. It would be upsetting to both parties if a traditional vegan were prepared an egg dish because that person has a "vegan" friend that eats eggs. It's all for consistency, not conforming.

Keep in mind though that every step you make toward plant-based, ethical choices is a great one! Do what you can to reduce suffering for the greatest number.

Well said. And truthfully, it is very rare to find an egg that fits into all of this, especially point 2. Chickens live on average until they are 10 years old (sometimes even 15!) but they drastically slow/stop their egg production around 3 years... thus most hobby farms that consume chicken eggs will not let their chickens live out their full life and butcher them early.

Thank you Kenazwa for asking this original question honestly. You will find among the vegan community many people who have different rationals for their choices and views but most of us are very open to educating and learning so I welcome you to stay in this group and learn more about veganism!

And to the notes about "using" animals. This depends on the situation. For example, almost all animal liberation groups support companion animals (i.e. pets of any type) as long as they don't come from unethical sources like puppy mills that exploit the mothers and are treated with the respect that human and non-human animals deserve. I have met some people campaigning for work horses that carry carriages around town for tourists to end because the horses are abused and treated poorly and work in unsafe conditions. Horses that are companions that you ride and treat well and respect are okay in my books!

Thank you. I was considering leaving this group due to not really fitting the philosophy. But I do want a place to talk about my choices and progression. I'm having no problem with the vegetarian diet, but I'm pushing toward the completely plant-based diet as much as old habits will let me.

There is no reason to leave the Team Vegan if you are interested in eventually moving that direction. Open discussion with people that follow a traditional vegan diet will help answer your questions and raise healthy debate, like this topic. Many people I have talked to clarify their egg consumption with "but they are Pasture Raised, Free Range, Organic Eggs". But I doubt that many people have stopped to think about the ethics of even free range or organic production egg farming. I was one of these people for a long time. My husband still eats meat, eggs and dairy and I respect his choice as he does mine to be vegan.

The fact that you are seeking out more information and the opinion of others shows that you are probably more ready than you think to move to a vegan diet than you realize. Old habits are hard to break, yes. Cheese was my weakness in the beginning of my journey. But after making the plunge to cut animal products out fully it did not take long before even my cravings for dairy were long gone. And in time you wont miss the eggs at all, if that is the direction you choose to go.

You haven't addressed the health issue. Eggs are one of the worst food choices out there! You seem to have heard and understand the health implications of animal products; eggs are just about the worst! Cheese being the worst, then eggs. Lean meat, especially fish, is not nearly as unhealthy as eggs are.
I assume you don't want diabetes and heart disease, do you?

I am grateful for friends that have similar homes for chickens. I'm divorced and I have my kids only half time, the other half they spend with their mom who isn't vegan/vegetarian or even really health-attentive. My kids have a taste for flesh and cheese and eggs and they have a hard time with much of the food I have for them. The flavor experience for someone that it a regular carnivore is hard to anticipate for a long-term vegan/vegetarian. I try to be pretty serious about minimizing the suffering of others and am mostly vegan but those ethical eggs are something my kids and I can enjoy together. So nice.

mteague277, there were people who ate eggs where I used to live and we tossed them in the compost. Only place for eggs is the compost

Actually, if you drop the eggs on the ground an let them break all the chickens go crazy and eat everything including the shell. That's natural for them. That what they do if the eggs they lay break naturally or start to go bad.

There is a farm animal sanctuary close to where I live. They have rescued hens and they do "egg parties" (i.e., dropping them on the ground and letting the hens eat them) when an egg gets laid.

I'm not trying to poke the bear, but wouldn't objectively answering her question be a better choice than subjectively scolding her for how YOU FEEEL? She didn't ask if it's gross.

I say go for it. Do what you are comfortable with. Would you go EWWWWW at an addict for using dirty needles to help them become sober? NO you give them clean needles! Peace, :-)

I too had this question as I have my own pet chickens (three) who roam free all day and are safe in their coop at night. I contacted PETA about this, because I am trying to go vegan, but it seems silly to waste fresh nutritious eggs that my hens are laying anyway. They responded that we should not be using animal products, but if they are well taken care of and are not from hatcheries (because hatcheries kill the males and do not support the best interests of the animals), it is ok. Well, my hens are already grown so I cannot do anything about where they came from but for the future, I will rescue them. They are the biggest most spoiled hens ever!!! Hope this helps.

I guess a good percentage of them are probably fertilized, never thought about that really. I think there are only certain hens that she allows to brood, all other eggs she gathers on a daily basis so they don't get to the embryo stage of development.

I'm still transitioning. Vegetarian is easier for me to achieve than full vegan, but I think my doctor is right about the potential health benefits for me so that's what I'm going for.

If you doctor thinks that there are health benefits to being vegan (something I wholeheartedly agree with), then I would say that is a compelling reason not to eat the eggs.

For me, being vegan, plant based, ethical and conscious makes me feel really good! in fact, its something i'm very proud of in life. I dont want to contribute to ANY suffering or exploitation of animals or people for that matter...

I was a vegetarian for a long time, and got by with cheese and dairy on everything... the problem for me, and what eventually brought me to the vegan lifestyle was becoming aware of not only how cruel the practices are in food production, but also that to top it off, the food is not healthy for humans. Eggs, meat and especially dairy are extremely addictive foods. , there is caso-morphine, which has a craving effect because the actual design of the milk is to bring a baby cow to its mother, aid in their bonding and exponentially increase its weight in a short period of time. Just like human breast milk.

I have to deal with rude family members who dont understand that NO, I don't want to just TASTE their food laced with eggs, meat or dairy. I dont care if its a teaspoon of eggs, milk, cheese or meat. I dont support it, I dont want it.. and as soon as you get some of that crap back in your diet you WILL have food cravings. It took my body 3 weeks to adjust to no animal products.. and I'm not going back.

The power is in your mind and your thinking.. if you begin trying to rationalize eating animal products, eventually you will create a reason to just give in to your cravings and eat it.

For me, I trained myself to NOT use euphemisms.. I dont say meat or eggs, I say ANIMAL PRODUCTS.

Whatever you choose in your life is about you, and YOUR CHOICES... make sure you are not rationalizing things you really dont support. Good luck on your journey!!! -Audrie