A "rescue" and now I'm a crazy chicken lady.

[sumi]

I did the same thing. Well I already was a vegetarian but never ever will I buy eggs from the store again. I am also trying to stay away from foods that use eggs as an ingredient because I do not know where the eggs came from. The other day at work someone brought in donuts and without even thinking I grabbed one and took a bite. I immediately realized that donuts have egg in them and I felt guilty for the rest of the day. some people think I'm nuts but I honestly feel sorry for them because they're missing out on the fantastic joy of owning and loving chickens!

My motto is "I am what I eat and I don't swallow misery"
If people laugh at you because you won't eat chicken or battery eggs, tell them broilers get raised so quick, they get killed after 3-4 weeks only. And they suffer unbearable during that time. And battery hens don't have a much better deal. They get their beaks burned off, some gets their toes cut off and they get crammed into tiny spaces (2/3 the size of an A4 piece of paper per hen). after a few months of this most of them get "culled". Many turn up in fast food places. So no more KFC for me, ever!
If people can eat chicken knowing this, it's their business. But I've already had 2 friends coming back to me, after laughing, to tell me they have vowed to never touch anything that's not free range/organic again. And I got quite a few people into keeping their own flocks for eggs and just for pets too.

 

[Sparklewina]

Maybe I can get my husband on board with this, though I suspect he will simply suggest just eating our flock now. He semi-seriously suggested we eat Hecubah, our non-laying hen. Clearly that will not be happening.

 

[sumi]

My husband threaten to eat my chickens? I'll threaten to eat his dog!
I actually did that a few times to people who teased me about not eating my chickens. I smile at them sweetly and say "I'll rather eat your dog/cat" They got the hint and I got a good laugh out of it. Works every time

I like your chicken rescue idea. I got some rescued chickens. Enormously satisfying when they make it and turn into happy healthy chickens again. You could rescue battery hens. Most battery farms sell the "spent" hens who don't lay good enough anymore to the public. They are tricky sometimes, but oh so worth it when they adapt to their new lives.

 

[Sparklewina]

I actually considered approaching an egg farm for some battery hens! Once we get a larger coop set up I think I will. I just wish I could take them all!

 

[sumi]

I felt that way when I went to pick up my girls. I bought 40 and I felt so bad about the ones I left behind. What I'd also like to do is rescue some roosters from a hatchery. One day... You must keep me updated on your adventures. If this thread expires PM me.

 

[HenFriend]

Think it may have been called "The Secret Life of Chickens" but not sure. It was presented by Jimmy Doherty. Don't know if its on youtube, sorry.

 

[Sparklewina]

Aha - it is called the Private Life of Chickens, done by BBC 2. Unfortunately I can't find it streaming online anywhere :/

 

[86121]

Awe, now thats a very cute story!! What a super hen

 

[Fittie]

Hi , i am staying in Thailand and wondering where i can buy the breed of chicken called Black Star or Red Star. Can you help

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Hi , i am staying in Thailand and wondering where i can buy the breed of chicken called Black Star or Red Star. Can you help

Hi, Fittie.

I'm not sure if they have that variety of chicken in Thailand. They are sex- link hybrids that can go by many different names. Check out this article so you know what to ask for: http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/8/8-1/what-breed-is-it-understanding-sex-link-chickens.php

By the way, you tend to get more responses to your questions if you start a new thread on the forum. A question can get overlooked if you add it to an old thread.