gmab: while i agree that a chinken should not be used, it is for differant reasons. my litvish roots make it look pagan to me, as many rishonim/achronim saw it.
but your second to last post bothers me. you say we need rachamim during aseres yemei teshuva, and using a sinless creature would not be in that spirit. well, how do you explain the echad leazazel? it was a goat that we chucked off a steep rocky cliff and was mauled to death while its body was ripped to shreds? but i forgot, you place your loyalties with your feelings, instead of your religion! that would be my feeling talking!