Both pictures are taken from http://www.brightside.org.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=430 Courtesy of Emma
What are Battery Hens?
Battery hens are the hens that lay the cheap eggs you buy at most grocery stores. They spend their whole life in battery cages so small they can not even spread their 32-inch wingspan. They share this cage with four to six hens. There they will spend their short 72-week life laying eggs for you. In return, they will be taken to slaughter.
Picture. Courtesy of Brightside Farm Sanctuary http://www.brightside.org.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=430
The Need for Eggs
The point of the use of battery cages is so they can pack as many hens, and receive more eggs with as little space as needed. The cages are stacked very high. Often the caged hens die and because there are so many birds, sometimes they are not seen and actually decay in their small wire cages with the other living hens which may lead to infections! Many times the eggs laid roll on top of the dead birds. These types of egg industries don't care much for the hens. They only want to make money through intensive egg production throughout the hen's entire life.
Picture. Courtesy of Brightside Farm Sanctuary http://www.brightside.org.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=430
Hen Heroes
Hens by... Help the Battery
1. If you need to buy eggs
Which have the certified humane label on them, "which includes nutritious diets without antibiotics or hormones, animals raised with shelter, resting and dust-bathing areas, sufficient space and the ability to engage in natural behaviours." For more information about this label please go to www.certifiedhumane.org or, when needed buy eggs from a person with cage-free eggs and well cared for chickens!
2. Help Spread the News!
A lot of people have never heard of a battery hen. many people eat eggs without knowing what has happened to the hens that laid the eggs. I believe that people should know the truth behind the egg industry and the lack of animal welfare. You can help the hens by telling people about the cruelty and abuse these hens have suffered. Some of these abuses include starvation and bone fractures leading to chronic pain. The more people who know, the more people can stand up for what's right! Help stop animal cruelty! Together we can make a difference. Battery Hens need our Help!!!
3. Adopt
Having chickens is a wonderful joy. It is so nice to watch your very own chickens live a truly happy life. You can even adopt an ex-battery hen. They may look like featherless hens at first, but in just a few weeks new feathers will grow. Your ex-battery hens, will also so start to lay eggs. There is nothing like farm fresh eggs!
Where to Adopt Battery Hens in the USA?
Battery hen adoption in the USA is a bit tricky and may take some work. However, because you are not a large animal rescue you have a better chance at adopting or buying a few providing them with a new home.
There are a few things you can do. You can contact some rescues (try the ones I listed below ) you can talk to egg farms, or you can try to find a Live Poultry Market near you.
Egg farm/Industry
First, find a few egg farms near you. Call them and ask if it is possible to buy a few of their spent laying hens at the end of the laying period.
Do not ask for battery hens.
You can usually tell if the farms have battery hens by the egg cartons. If the eggs are cheap and do not say cage-free, or free-range, they most likely came from battery hens. If the cartons have a drawing of hens in a field or something like that, it doesn’t mean they're free-range.
Some egg farms will not sell their hens, because they do not want the public to see the shape the hens are in.
Rescues
I have looked everywhere for a battery hen rescue in the USA, but there are not many. Some animal rescues get battery hens, by finding escape hens, etc...
California: Animal Place link http://animalplace.org/helping-hens-rescue/
Farm Sanctuary link California, New York: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/
New York: Woodstock Animal Sanctuary link: http://woodstocksanctuary.org/
United Poultry Concerns link Virginia: http://upc-online.org/
Chicken Run Rescue link http://chickenrunrescue.org/How-To-Adopt
The Chocowinity Chicken Sanctuary & Education Center, Inc.
Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center
Sunnyskies Bird and Animal Sanctuary
Live Poultry Markets
If you find a Live Poultry Market near you, make sure you tell them that you want the birds ALIVE. They will slaughter them right there for you. Most of the time, these places have ex-battery hens. The birds are kept in horrible conditions, so be brave. Battery hens are almost always completely featherless and debeaked (beaks removed). But don't worry they bounce back well.
I hope this information helps you.
Please let me know what you decide to do? and keep me updated.
God bless you for wanting to help these poor hens.
GoldenSparrow
PS. It may seem like a lot of work, but just think of the hens you will be helping
Stories of Battery hens
These are some Stories about Battery hens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=581323
and
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-hen-discovers-a-good-life-chapter-11-finally
More information on Battery hens
Help_battery_hens Member page
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/help-battery-henss-member-page
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This Page was made by @GoldenSparrow
I have worked hard on this page, please do NOT copy or print my page in any form without my permission.
Thank you
PM me if you would like to adopt some battery hens. I might be able to help you.
MORE SOON TO COME!!!
