Locating No Kill Hen Farms In The US

[Studabird]

Obviously not the OP but interested in this subject. I remember a law passed in California that all laying hens had to have a measly one sf of cage space or the eggs wouldn't be allowed to enter the CA commercial egg market and there was an uproar from the battery companies. One measly sf per hen. Forgive if my fuzzy memory is recalling this incorrectly. But how greedy and miserly are the companies who feel they have a right to deprive a sentient being space to turn around. How our food industry treats animals is nothing short of disgusting and shameful. I'll leave health and environmental concerns out of this.
That said, you answered a good part of your question when you mention you sell eggs. I sell eggs too. My hens have a lot of space and they are loved. This year the chicken market has gone crazy with people buying pullets and dedicating space in their backyards to pet chickens that provide eggs for their families. It took a pandemic to create the awareness that our food supply is not safe and also the awareness that chickens are amazing, lovable creatures. How do we clear this hurdle? Let's put them out of business. You, me and the rest of us .

I agree wholeheartedly! But I think it is safe to say that even if every member of BYC and all those hobby farmers and just chicken lovers out there tried the biggest hurdle is how do you get our eggs to Broadway or Rodeo Avenue or whatever fancy zip code comes to mind. One just objectively speaking our eggs taste better! I challenge anyone to do a blind taste test and tell me that battery hen eggs bought from Walmart tastes as good as an egg laid this morning in my coop! But this is how change starts a few crazy people looking at something and saying “Really? There has to be a better way.” I am far from an expert. The only reason my family finally gave into my chicken raising idea is because of the pandemic but now my wife has ducks and we bought a country home. But this is how we get somewhere and put the cold hearted dollars before ethics companies out of business.

As an aside. Not to sound crazy but does anyone else think that as more people raise chickens that the eggs inc. people will try to push stricter ordinances about raising chickens?

 

[IAmTheEggMan2]

Welcome To BYC!

Do you have a link to your blog or website? Maybe those that have such a farm could contact you to be put on a list.

I'm at the beginning of my journey. Doing research and slowly pinning farms on a dedicated Google map. There's so much work to be done. Maybe I'll attract some volunteers, that could work. I also work full time and handle my senior mom's affairs in an AL facility.

 

[Daisycar]

That's a great idea @IAmTheEggMan2 , I wish you good luck!

The real problem is that, in my opinion, people never ask themselves where their food comes from. If people were made aware of the situation of farm animals I am sure that sales would drop significantly and people would go looking for those places where they are raised ethically.

But, who wants people to open their eyes? in my opinion, all the kids in the last year of school should be taken to visit a slaughter houses, for example. This way they could get a personal idea of what they eat and how they want to eat...

Most people living in the city (that I know) have never seen or touched a hen. How could they desire the best for livestock if they doesn't know what they are?

 

[FortCluck]

Obviously not the OP but interested in this subject. I remember a law passed in California that all laying hens had to have a measly one sf of cage space or the eggs wouldn't be allowed to enter the CA commercial egg market and there was an uproar from the battery companies. One measly sf per hen. Forgive if my fuzzy memory is recalling this incorrectly. But how greedy and miserly are the companies who feel they have a right to deprive a sentient being space to turn around. How our food industry treats animals is nothing short of disgusting and shameful. I'll leave health and environmental concerns out of this.
That said, you answered a good part of your question when you mention you sell eggs. I sell eggs too. My hens have a lot of space and they are loved. This year the chicken market has gone crazy with people buying pullets and dedicating space in their backyards to pet chickens that provide eggs for their families. It took a pandemic to create the awareness that our food supply is not safe and also the awareness that chickens are amazing, lovable creatures. How do we clear this hurdle? Let's put them out of business. You, me and the rest of us .

I was so irritated the other day because I had to BUY eggs when I have 30+ pullets and hens... They all stopped laying after the light cycle changed and I do not want to add supplemental lighting... They stop laying at this time for a reason and I believe this is the reason why many of my sex links have lived well past their life expectancy. I cannot wait until they start laying again!

Thank you for pointing out the practices of factory farming and other things. I would rather do my own thing here on my own farm to prevent my family from eating meat off the shelves at the grocery stores.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I am in Southern California and have just started my journey to find some humane no-kill egg farms. Do you have any on your list from So-Cal or close(ish)?

Impossible business model, unless they somehow prevent male eggs from being fertilized. I don't even believe sexing developing embryos in egg is possible, so the best case scenario in 2024 is sexing them after hatch- upon which time most males will be killed for food

No kill farms do not exist. At best they outsource their killing to others

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Maybe the fda has lists like that? I'm not really sure thougg

 

[Studabird]

I think it is a great idea! For several reasons. First, these birds are not machines and they should be able to live a happy life. Second, if this list is compiled and people use it to procure their eggs it will drive down the demand for less ethically sourced eggs. Third, it will over a very long and protracted period get us all to where we want to be. A place where humans worry more about their actions and less about the wad of bills in their pocket. I congratulate you on your effort. My previous post was to point out that any business is not going to adhere to this practice. I raise my own chickens and eat their eggs my neighbors eat my eggs as well. This means that I am reducing the market for eggs by a few dozen a week. If there were more like me (and I am sure there are) the demand for eggs is going down. If there is a concerted effort to do this than the egg demand would diminish greatly and that means less battery hens living a horrible life. The real question is how to get our eggs into cities where the neighbor doesn’t raise chickens. The problem there is this. Even if the majority of people in a city want no kill eggs the FDA certification to put them in stores is cost prohibitive and no kill egg production doesn’t lend itself to this form of production. So my question to the OP is how do we fix this? Or how do we clear this hurdle.

 

[Araucana Nest]

I agree wholeheartedly! But I think it is safe to say that even if every member of BYC and all those hobby farmers and just chicken lovers out there tried the biggest hurdle is how do you get our eggs to Broadway or Rodeo Avenue or whatever fancy zip code comes to mind.

Local economy. I don't live anywhere near those zip codes. I hope those people are fortunate enough to either raise their own chickens or make friends with their local humane farmers.

 

[IAmTheEggMan2]

Is it your goal to compile then dessiminate this list to those wishing to purchase ethically farmed eggs?
Because in that case a list of local small farms and hobby farms may be just as ethical as no kill factories. It also may help out with a sense of local sustainability. Either way it’s a great idea!

Local no kill egg farms for sure! Under 100 birds most likely. Child's play compared to the industrial machine but hopefully strength in numbers. I have no delusions thinking I'll find a no kill factory. That's unlikely.

 

[IAmTheEggMan2]

Local economy. I don't live anywhere near those zip codes. I hope those people are fortunate enough to either raise their own chickens or make friends with their local humane farmers.

I'm getting ahead of myself, local no kill farm producers first, but ANYTHING can be shipped these days for a price. But seriously, I'd like to establish the network first and keep it local (maybe within 100 miles of no kill farm xyz). Mind you, these ideas are all growing/shifting as I hear more from great communities like this. Ideas are..."hatching". Hey, at one point, being "vegan" got nothing but belly laughs then a demand for such products emerged and the supply arose in tandem.