Commercial Egg production

[RoostersCrow]

To be clear...

I have no use for "animal rights" advocates. I do not and will never believe or advocate atrributing human rights to animals. However, there is a need for reasonable and humane standards in how we keep and use animals.

I would not pretend to know what those "just right" standards are... However, I do know what they are not... They are not birds coming out of that industry in the state you received yours and they are not the de-beaked snout to rump, wall to wall, wing to wing conditions in my neighbors broiler house under contract to Allen Foods.

I don't have to know the right answer to recognize a wrong one. The current industry standard model is a wrong one.

Again, I applaude you for seeking a better way... but you don't (yet) represent the industry.

Do I hear CEF for president?

 

[hooligan]

I think when askign questions we need to be specific as the 650 are HIS birds but the other 60,000 are COMMERCIAL birds. So if we want to know about the commercial chickens we need to be specific as it may start to get confusing

CEF, do you offer both your and the commercial chickens a chance at new homes ones they are 'spent' or just yours?

 

[Wolf-Kim]

That was well put RoostersCrow.

I think CEF is doing a good job in moving in the right direction. They are trying to make the birds as comfortable as possible without breaking the bank.

The problem is those commercial producers who are out the make the most profit "possible". Instead of putting 60,000 chickens in the 100,000 chicken house, those after the most profit would have made sure there were in fact at least 100,000 birds in the house. Instead of 5 hens to a 9 hen cage, those after the biggest profit would have put 9 in each cage.

I'm sure that farms like CEF would be willing to do more for the birds, but we have to remember that farms like CEF are still having to compete commercially with those who don't care for the animals. You can be certain that those farms who don't care for the birds still make more money than farms like CEF who are trying to be more ethical. It truly is a tedious and frustrating balancing act between ethics and money.

-Kim

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
I asked him that one Hooligan. I think he said that he didn't own the commercial ones. It would probably be a situation where he would need to talk to his family members who own those birds(the commercial ones).

CEF, perhaps it is something you could ask them about. Maybe they would be willing to let you try to rehome the commercial hens through BYC or other organizations who do this.

-Kim

 

[hooligan]

Yes, we discussed that via PM but them I made the connection that he did not refer to the commercial ones as being his, only the 650 so I wanted to clarify

Oh and does the family actually own the birds or are they under contract to a company like the broilers houses are (I know much more about broilers so I am trying to make the normal connections on how the businesses run). If under contract, I don't think there are any companies in the US that allow the birds freedom before the rendering date. Though I do know of a few farmers that have 'forgotten' birds that find new homes.

 

[silkiechicken]

Ethics and money is always a hard thing when it comes to big business. Especially when you see threads with people outraged over increasing egg prices at the store... it's the trickle down effect, and so everything is a double edges sword. Even when it comes to "just raise your own", there are thousands can barely afford to pay rent in an apartment... so can't be done. Change starts with the little person.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
Oh okay.

-Kim

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
I agree. Commercial farming changing needs to start with the customers. I recently did this for a speech and it amazed me how many people didn't know how a majority of those store-bought eggs are produced. I felt good too, because the next class period I had at least one person who said she tracked down a local 'farmer' to buy eggs from. YAY!

It was a persuasive speech and I was "persuading" my audience to either own their own chickens or to buy cage-free or free-range eggs. At least I persuaded at least one person! lol

For those who are worried about the issue, I suggest informing your friends. Change can happen, but it will only happen through informing the public and consumer.

-Kim

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

Exactly if all farms did a little more for the chicken we could all be happy. But due to compitition we can't do more for a higher egg price while the other companies do less for the chicken and have a lower price. see ya tommorrow. And yes my chickens are able to go to a good home. But i keep mine for 2 years and there only 6 weeks old so that is a long time off.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

Will return tommorrow Keep up the questions. and keep the rules. Ask anything from chickens to eggs in a box.