A Needless Ritual

I've never been a fan of the "traditional" form of kapparot. The idea of tormenting a bird that I might not even be able to eat afterwards has always bothered me. The further idea that somehow my sins will be transferred onto the chicken (didn't I chuck them into the river already during tashlich?) strikes me as bizarre.
Fortunately, I'm in good company. In the Shulcah Aruch, OC 605:1, the Mechaber considers it a polytheistic ritual. Even though the Rema disagrees, his is far from a ringing endorsement of the practice.
Which is a shame because the idea behind kapparot is a nice one that gets lost in the annual cries of "animal cruelty" that are too often justfied. Personally I use money and donate it to charity, sometimes to the local kosher food bank so people can get their holiday meals without having to abuse any birds in the process.