Factory farming is cruel in the sense that it warehouses animals and deprives them of a natural living condition where they can be cows, chickens, pigs, etc. doing cow, chicken and pig things, like lolling in the grass, and scratching for bugs and seeds and rooting around for goodies in the dirt. These are all sensitive animals that deserve to live life in the way they were intended to live it, even it they are harvested for food in the end.
I do eat some meat and poultry, not a lot, but….
I have also kept chickens and geese for years, and I’ll tell you what, both are the coolest, most curious and interesting creatures. They know their names, come when called, have individual personalities, have great learning potential and are much more intelligent than anyone cares to contemplate.
I had a little Buff Orphington hen named ‘Picnic’ for 9 years. ( They can live to roughly 10 or so ) and she was the most awesome little thing.
She preferred to sleep in a cat basket in the garage instead of in the coop with the others. She got her name from swiping goodies off the picnic table, came in the house, rode around on my shoulder. Picnic was such a great little chicken soul.
I’d eat dirt before I ate my geese.