Battery chickens

[schmalex]

We rescued 8 battery chickens yesterday. They were due for the chop, as their yield had reduced sufficiently far that that were no longer profitable for the farmer despite them still laying c. 6 eggs a week each.

The girls got back here at lunchtime yesterday & after an hour or so of figuring out what grass was & how to use their legs, they have settled in nicely. Some of them were stretching out (what's left of) their wing feathers to enjoy the first sun they had ever felt. They'll be living in their coop & run for the next week or so before they are allowed to free range the paddock with our other chickens. We reckon we'll be seeing 60 - 70 eggs a week once they are settled in, so this week, I'll be making honesty box to put at the front gate to sell the eggs we don't give away & hopefully cover the cost of the corn & feed we give them all.

I'm sure that if the general public saw the condition of battery chickens, the market for cheap eggs would disappear overnight, as the birds looked so sad when we collected them, it really made you stop & think. However, give them a couple of weeks & their combs will be up & their feathers will start to come back.

I'm all for capitalism & chasing the folding, but NOT at the cost of an animals quality of life.

[Twincharged]

schmalex said:

I'm all for capitalism & chasing the folding, but NOT at the cost of an animals quality of life.

Agreed- lines have to be drawn somewhere, and it seems that if they're not it's the lowest common denominator that thrives. I'm not sure it's even true free-market capitalism in the case of battery chickens anyway; as you mention most people suffer from a lack of awareness of the conditions rather than a conscious choice.

[V8mate]

schmalex said:

We rescued 8 battery chickens yesterday.

Battery chickens?

[FreeLitres]

Didn't realise that Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall was a PHer!

[B.J.W]

schmalex said:

I'm sure that if the general public saw the condition of battery chickens, the market for cheap eggs would disappear overnight,

Nice sentiments, but I doubt that the majority of the general public give two hoots as to the providence surrounding the food that hits their plates. I'd even wager that a significant minority don't even know that an egg comes from a chicken!

For many years I have always tried (where possible) to buy from producers where I know that the animal concerned has been reared/looked after in a way which I am comfortable with. Paying extra is not an issue for me - and more often than not pays dividends with superior food quality and taste.

I guess the way to make a proper judgement is to assess A) how many people buy purely on the basis of price and don't care about animal welfare, and B) how many people are limited in terms of budget, care about animal welfare, but can't justify the extra weekly spend on welfare driven products?

[Jasandjules]

schmalex said:

I'm all for capitalism & chasing the folding, but NOT at the cost of an animals quality of life.

Firstly, well done for saving them.

Secondly, I agree with you, we will not eat as much meat as before because we will only buy organic and free range (it can be difficult to get hold of as well sometimes - we usually have to go the local butcher as supermarkets are not so good at stocking this stuff - though some are improving) so that we know the animal has had as good a quality of life as can be expected.

Thirdly, I wished I agreed with you that most people would not eat it, the problem is that most people will wax lyrical about how they care until such time as the price goes up, then their "principals" go out of the window.

[becksW]

There was an advert in our local paper re: rehoming 600 battery chickens that a charity (for battery hens) had rescued, apparently part of an agreement they have with some farmers. They were looking for homes.

I did consider it and posted on here for advice, which I got plenty, however not the best timing as I was pregnant at the time so plenty of other things to think about!

However I needn't have worried, 2 days later they'd all been rehomed!!

I will defintely go down this route in the future though

Good luck with the hens.

[Smiler.]

schmalex said:

We rescued 8 battery chickens yesterday. They were due for the chop, as their yield had reduced sufficiently far that that were no longer profitable for the farmer despite them still laying c. 6 eggs a week each.

The girls got back here at lunchtime yesterday & after an hour or so of figuring out what grass was & how to use their legs, they have settled in nicely. Some of them were stretching out (what's left of) their wing feathers to enjoy the first sun they had ever felt. They'll be living in their coop & run for the next week or so before they are allowed to free range the paddock with our other chickens. We reckon we'll be seeing 60 - 70 eggs a week once they are settled in, so this week, I'll be making honesty box to put at the front gate to sell the eggs we don't give away & hopefully cover the cost of the corn & feed we give them all.

I'm sure that if the general public saw the condition of battery chickens, the market for cheap eggs would disappear overnight, as the birds looked so sad when we collected them, it really made you stop & think. However, give them a couple of weeks & their combs will be up & their feathers will start to come back.

I'm all for capitalism & chasing the folding, but NOT at the cost of an animals quality of life.

Wasn't from Faccenda was it?

[Japveesix]

schmalex said:

Chickens blah blah

Good for you

We did think about getting batteries when we got chickens but we only have a limited small garden space and so could only have three anyway, and we did want them for the eggs which not all ex-bats manage to produce.

If we had a good bit more room we'd definitely have bought a load of batts and let the free range and not worried so much about egg production etc

For the record we always bought free range eggs anyway and I'd be worried about anyone educated, bar those seriously struggling for money, who didn't automatically buy free range eggs.

[Condi]

Jasandjules said:

Secondly, I agree with you, we will not eat as much meat as before because we will only buy organic and free range (it can be difficult to get hold of as well sometimes - we usually have to go the local butcher as supermarkets are not so good at stocking this stuff - though some are improving) so that we know the animal has had as good a quality of life as can be expected.

You do know that organic farmers still use chemicals, some of them more toxic than the conventional sprays used by most farmers?

Anyway, I dont get free range or organic stuff. Free range, maybe to a point, but I was in a battery chicken farm last week and they all looked very happy, plenty of space, plenty of light and air. New EU rules mean they get bigger cages than they used to. Certainly wouldnt put me off buying cheap eggs. As for organic - what a con. Having worked in agriculture for 10 years or so so many of the organic arguments are dubious at best, and mistruths at worst. The Soil Association seem to make up facts and interpret things in a way that nobody else would just to suit their own ends.

[Flintstone]

Jasandjules said:

... then their "principals" go out of the window.

That conjours up an amusing picture. I refer the learned gentleman to the current speeling thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...








Edit. I'm jealous. Wish I had room for chickens.

Edited by Flintstone on Sunday 4th July 12:27

[EvoBarry]

Good on you for doing what you can, I'm a sucker for this kind of thing. Unfortunately I think if I brought some home nature would soon follow its course and my two adult cats would have a feast on their hands

[Japveesix]

EvoBarry said:

Good on you for doing what you can, I'm a sucker for this kind of thing. Unfortunately I think if I brought some home nature would soon follow its course and my two adult cats would have a feast on their hands

Unless you have some seriously badass bengals or similar then I'd be amazed if they'd have a hope against a flock of 3+ chickens.

My cat is big (he's definitely king of the road) and he goes well ought of his way to avoid the chooks

[DrTre]

Rehomed battery chickens aka "Rechargeables"

[motco]

V8mate said:

schmalex said:

We rescued 8 battery chickens yesterday.

Battery chickens?

Got one of those for a fiver in B&Q Christmas two years ago...

[philthy]

We get our eggs from the local farmer who has the honesty box next to his gate. We use the eggs, and drop the boxes back to him when we pick up more. They taste bloody gorgeous !

[becksW]

Condi said:

Jasandjules said:

Secondly, I agree with you, we will not eat as much meat as before because we will only buy organic and free range (it can be difficult to get hold of as well sometimes - we usually have to go the local butcher as supermarkets are not so good at stocking this stuff - though some are improving) so that we know the animal has had as good a quality of life as can be expected.

You do know that organic farmers still use chemicals, some of them more toxic than the conventional sprays used by most farmers?

Anyway, I dont get free range or organic stuff. Free range, maybe to a point, but I was in a battery chicken farm last week and they all looked very happy, plenty of space, plenty of light and air. New EU rules mean they get bigger cages than they used to. Certainly wouldnt put me off buying cheap eggs. As for organic - what a con. Having worked in agriculture for 10 years or so so many of the organic arguments are dubious at best, and mistruths at worst. The Soil Association seem to make up facts and interpret things in a way that nobody else would just to suit their own ends.

Guess you've not seen the state most of them are in when they are rehomed. Bald, poor leg condition, poor body condition etc. Free range doesn't mean organic, nor does it guarantee better life for hens I know but there is more of a chance that they will.
I guess if you believe living all your life in a cage in a shed constitutes plenty of light, air and space then you would be happy with their living conditions. Though it's good to know conditions have improved

[EvoBarry]

Japveesix said:

EvoBarry said:

Good on you for doing what you can, I'm a sucker for this kind of thing. Unfortunately I think if I brought some home nature would soon follow its course and my two adult cats would have a feast on their hands

Unless you have some seriously badass bengals or similar then I'd be amazed if they'd have a hope against a flock of 3+ chickens.

My cat is big (he's definitely king of the road) and he goes well ought of his way to avoid the chooks

Hmm, interesting. Would the mere presence of cats not stress the poor things though? I quite like the idea of fresh eggs

[Jasandjules]

Condi said:

Free range, maybe to a point, but I was in a battery chicken farm last week and they all looked very happy, plenty of space, plenty of light and air. New EU rules mean they get bigger cages than they used to.

Really? Perhaps you'd be happy to live ina space smaller than a jail cell.

Bigger cages than they used to - I bet the chickens cooped up in them are f***ng delighted then, I am surprised they are not dancing around.

I've seen battery chickens which have been rescued, they were in a very sorry state indeed - I'd have happily shot the chicken farmer.

[DieselGriff]

We've bought our eggs from local producers for some time, and as my local publican is also a free range egg suppler I have a good excuse to go down there.

Will be looking for 3-4 chucks next year to fill some space on my allotment but had never thought of the rescued battery hen so now will look into it, thanks for the post.