Battery Hen Thread!

[Johnn]

At the end of the day, it's still a cage.

 

[lolly 1]

At the end of the day, it's still a cage. 

Here here. Free range should be mandatory, but with legislation, everything is baby steps.

 

[Johnn]

Here here. Free range should be mandatory, but with legislation, everything is baby steps.

I've been to both farms to rescue hens. Obviously the caged one was worse. I went there when I was about 9 to rescue some hens. Back then I used to eat Macdonalds chicken nuggets, chicken dippers and all that stuff. I had no idea what cages hens were, as far as I knew they were all hens that lived happily in a field. Well I walked in and the smell just hit me. It was horrible. The noise also felt like it was cries for help. When the woman started packing out crate full of hens, she came across one who was dying in the cage. She just grabbed it by its feet and threw it over her shoulder. She walked away with out hens and I went to see it and it was still alive in a pool of its own blood. I went back to that farm a few more times to rescue hens but it eventually shut down. From that day on I never touched chicken again. Have never had any desire to eat it either. My chickens are like family members, it would feel like cannibalism. I'm 16 now and just lost my only hen left from that place in January. She made t to 7 (nearly 8).

As for the free range farm, we went there in 2012 to get my friend some hens. When we pulled up I could see a lot of hers running happily on the grass, scratching away. It looked great. She then said to us "would you like hens from inside or outside?" we chose inside as the outside ones were living their last day on the grass anyways. A lot of the inside ones have never been out before she said. We started picking them up to put them in boxes and I came across this tiny little bald one. I picked her up and the woman said to me "don't bother with her, she will probably die anyways". I put her back down and got some more healthy looking ones. We paid her, went to the car and then I decided I just couldn't leave that hen after she was so close to freedom. I went back to the woman and asked if I could go look for her. If I did get her, she would have been staying with me. I went back and I couldn't find her anywhere. It was really sad . To this day I still regret putting her down when that woman said to.

 

[lolly 1]

I've been to both farms to rescue hens. Obviously the caged one was worse. I went there when I was about 9 to rescue some hens. Back then I used to eat Macdonalds chicken nuggets, chicken dippers and all that stuff. I had no idea what cages hens were, as far as I knew they were all hens that lived happily in a field. Well I walked in and the smell just hit me. It was horrible. The noise also felt like it was cries for help. When the woman started packing out crate full of hens, she came across one who was dying in the cage. She just grabbed it by its feet and threw it over her shoulder. She walked away with out hens and I went to see it and it was still alive in a pool of its own blood. I went back to that farm a few more times to rescue hens but it eventually shut down. From that day on I never touched chicken again. Have never had any desire to eat it either. My chickens are like family members, it would feel like cannibalism. I'm 16 now and just lost my only hen left from that place in January. She made t to 7 (nearly 8)

As for the free range farm, we went there in 2012 to get my friend some hens. When we pulled up I could see a lot of hers running happily on the grass, scratching away. It looked great. She then said to us "would you like hens from inside or outside?" we chose inside as the outside ones were living their last day on the grass anyways. A lot of the inside ones have never been out before she said. We started picking them up to put them in boxes and I came across this tiny little bald one. I picked her up and the woman said to me "don't bother with her, she will probably die anyways". I put her back down and got some more healthy looking ones. We paid her, went to the car and then I decided I just couldn't leave that hen after she was so close to freedom. I went back to the woman and asked if I could go look for her. If I did get her, she would have been staying with me. I went back and I couldn't find her anywhere. It was really sad . To this day I still regret putting her down when that woman said to.

At least u got to see what really goes on, and got a few of them out of there. If more people saw first hand how they are treated id say the industry would fail eventually. When We bought our first coop with run attached, we were appalled when it arrived at how small it was and they were advertising it as suitable for four hens. I wouldn't have put one in it. And if that's what newbie backyard poultry keepers are coming across when they're l

 

[lolly 1]

At least u got to see what really goes on, and got a few of them out of there. If more people saw first hand how they are treated id say the industry would fail eventually. When We bought our first coop with run attached, we were appalled when it arrived at how small it was and they were advertising it as suitable for four hens. I wouldn't have put one in it. And if that's what newbie backyard poultry keepers are coming across when they're l

Sorry hit submit by accident.

If that's what people new to keeping poultry are being told is normal, I'd say there is plenty of backyard hens kept in just as bad conditions as battery hens. We now use the coop for our chicks during the day but in a few weeks we will be amalgamating two coops to give them enough space till they go in the run with the others.

 

[Johnn]

Sorry hit submit by accident.

If that's what people new to keeping poultry are being told is normal, I'd say there is plenty of backyard hens kept in just as bad conditions as battery hens. We now use the coop for our chicks during the day but in a few weeks we will be amalgamating two coops to give them enough space till they go in the run with the others.

I'm glad you didn't put a lot of hens in it if its not suitable. My hens are free range. This is just under half of their field

 

[Johnn]

Yous should watch this. The flock used in it are ex batts

 

[lolly 1]

Yous should watch this. The flock used in it are ex batts

I'll have look at that on my lunch break. Looks interesting. We were free ranging ours and we had to put them in a run as a nuisance dog nabbed three of them on us. We are currently bringing them into our enclosed back garden when our dogs our in the run to do a bit of training. Dogs are doing well, starting to accept them. They will never be trustworthy enough to be out together, but the idea is if we can train the dogs not to lunge at the chickens run , then we can move the chicken coop and 10x10 run into the back garden. Then the chucks can free range half the day and be in their run the other half. One of our dogs is an escape artist so hence the dog run for her. But they live inside most of the time. Hopefully it works out coz I font like the being in the run all the time.

 

[lolly 1]

I am rescuing 12 battery hens today  

Fair play. They make brilliant pets. Real placid. And lovely to watch them come back to health again. Enjoy

 

[ochochicas]

After they've been debeaked can their beaks grow back?