That isn't the choice. It's billions of chickens get to live 3 years and get eaten or a million chickens die of liver failure. But I think you're missing the

That isn't the choice. It's billions of chickens get to live 3 years and get eaten or a million chickens die of liver failure. But I think you're missing the parent's point. Death isn't cruel. Suffering is cruel and can only be experience by living things. This kind of philosophy is a pretty active subject currently. The debate is, generally, maximizing happiness vs. minimizing suffering. The former creating more suffering overall and the latter creating less happiness overall.