Is that a Feather in your Hair?

Ahhh, those feathers!  They look so cool, so rock-and-roll!  But did you know there is another side to those feathers; one that not many folks around the water cooler are talking about:
Where did those ultra-hip feathers come from?  Not many of us stop for a second to ponder where our fashion originated so let me do the work for you on this one: Roosters.  "Duh!", you may be saying.  No kidding they come from roosters.  Let's go a step further:
Here's how they do not come from roosters:
They do not "pet" the feathers off.
They do not "just fall out".
They are not living happy little rooster lives waiting to give us feathers for our hair.
From all accounts that I've investigated, these cocks-of-the-rock star world (bird joke) are living in crowded, dirty, inhumane conditions for about one year until they are killed just for their feathers.  By one estimate, one of the largest factory farms in the U.S. is killing 1,500 roosters per week.  My understanding is that this is only for feather production, so let's not fantasize that we're utilizing these birds for any other grand purpose, like feeding the hungry.
Why be a kill-joy?  Because being a B.A.B.E means going that extra step & considering what effects our purchases have.  In this case, there are alternatives to the standard feather, many companies & salons offer faux feathers that are every bit as cool, every bit as fun.  You can curl & straighten them, all the things that you can do with your hair.  This bit of info has nothing to do with being a vegetarian (which I'm not), but rather an issue of what is right, compassionate and earth-friendly.  Aside from the animal cruelty issue, this kind of agriculture is dirty, dirty, dirty, spewing all kinds of crap in the surrounding waterways.
My daughter asked me once why I have to be so particular all the time.  My response?  "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything".  To truly Be A Better Earthling, my hope is that we stand up for the actions we know to be wrong and open the door for educating our friends so we can all be B.A.B.Es & keep our world headed in the right direction.