I was just listening to the NPR/BBC this morning, and they are talking about eliminating the use of antibiotics in low doses as a preventative on commercial farms because it is causing resisitant strains of bacteria. They admitted that there would be loses initially, however, with time, smaller flock/herd/whatever it is for pigs, more space per animal, that a lot of the resistant strains would eventually die out, and antibiotics could then go for the uses they should be for. Treatment and not prevention. This report also talked about the farmers who did have over-crowding in their pens being some of the biggest users of such antibiotics for profit. Personally, I prefer to buy meat that says it is antibiotic and hormone free. I know I am paying more for said meat, since those farmers profit margins would not compare to the crap farmers profit margin. It could be a lie on the label for all I know... I'd like to raise my own cow/pig.. BUT I do not have the space, or friends with the facilities to do such. If I did, I would be doing that. I understand that some conditions are not right. I understand that some conditions are ok, and some conditions are nice. I also understand that PETA has one of the highest euthenizing (sp) rates. SO, I do not trust anything that comes from PETA. They have an agenda as well. I also think, if more responsible citizen were able to raise a cow, pig, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbit.... for food... there would be less crap going around in the human population. Over half the meat tested in grocery markets test positive for staph... That being said, throughly cookiing meat/eggs will eliminate that. Me however, I like a steak medium... I like my eggs over easy... I like my fish COOKED. But I guess the odd ball rambling of my paragraph is, buy from responsible producers/markets. Grow your own... and don't knock it if you haven't walked in the shoes. I let my birds free range. I get the s**ts and giggles when I see them chase the squirrels off. The only other chickens they come in to contact with is Carls, and I figure, if Carls get it, mine will, and vice versa. BUT, we do not sell our live birds. We sell our eggs... I will do what is best for my birds when and if the time comes. I have not had any issues. Even when I had the sneezes with Buffy and then with Roger, I didn't do anything. They didn't have runny noses or swollen eyes. In the end, I chalked it up to the new feed I got them. It was fine like dust. Well anyway...
Mom... That first purple chick... it looks quite put out that you colored it. LOL. SOOO CUTE though.
