Picked up my factory hens....pictures and story

[asher]

Bless you!

I looked up my state and there are 36 in NC.

Wondering if I could go in with some people on our group and rescue some girls.

 

[Corey NC]

I would do it.

 

[4H kids and mom]

I looked up Wisconsin and was shocked to see 17 of them! I'm gonna call a few on Monday and see what the deal is. I have pullets ready to lay now, so maybe I'll even go rescue a few girls myself. I'm in a mood to save as many as I can! Plus, Monday our meat birds go off for processing, so I would have a seperate area for any new hens. Hmm....I'm gonna call them first thing Monday.

To the rescuer of these poor creatures, I believe that we are either rewarded or punished eventually for the things we do in our lives. I truely believe you will be greatly rewarded for your kind heart in rescuing these poor birds. Not only have you rescued a few, but by posting here, you have spread the word around the country (and WORLD!) and maybe a few of us will join you and rescue a few too. When many people rescue a few, its no longer just a few. We could really make a difference. And it would all be thanks to your first kind hearted act. Way to go!

 

[chrissieg]

Just saying 'Thank you', Livestock 101!

I started a thread about rehoming a couple of months ago, but it never took off - your pictures 'paint a thousand words' however!

Please can we have a diary of their progress?

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Reading this has me mentally rearranging my coop to allow room for a few of these poor babies. 27 egg farms in Texas- I had no idea. What a shame.

Kudos to you and *hugs* to those girls. Please keep us posted on their progress.

 

[usbr]

4H kids and mom, I couldnt find anything out from up by LaX but I had the wife call a place in Lake Mills and they dont sell them there. There is a very small place about 15 miles from me (not on that list) that I am going to contact next. If I find anything out I will let you know, if you find a place, please post it.

BTW, where are you getting you chickens processed at?

 

[peacebird]

those pictures... and your descriptions... good grief - how can people be so CRUEL!?!?!?! Those poor little feathered beasties... I truly feel ill....

But - on the other hand - I thank you for your efforts and for letting me know the inhumane treatment received by birds at the factory farms. All the more reason to buy local from organic and free range farms - where the birds are treated well.

You are truly kind to have given a good home to those you were able to rescue! St Francis is smiling down on you for certain.

 

[FarmerJones]

Wow! What a great thing to do! My husband told me that while we are planning the coop for the new chickies, we should make it bigger and get more chickens. After reading your tale, I know exactly what I need to do.

Regarding the toenails, I was taught in vet tech school to use a dremel tool on large bird nails including chickens. That being said, I have never done it or seen it done. Flour, baby powder, and corn starch are great to aid in clotting if you should accidentally quick one.

 

[lakecountychick]

I had no idea that the hens would look that bad . I also buy cage free eggs . I will not buy any after the girls start laying. I can only imagine how your daughter must have felt, seeing what she did. God bless you both. I am going to look up Florida on that site. I'm sure there is at least one factory near me. What does the humane farming stamp look like?

 

[4H kids and mom]

4H mom....BTW, where are you getting you chickens processed at?

We are taking them in to Twin Cities Pack Inc located in Shopiere, Wi about 5 minutes from me (Clinton, Wi). The cost total is $3.20 per bird which includes the culling, cleaning, plucking, dressing, USDA inspection, vacuum sealing, and flash freezing....and saves me all that mess! It would have cost only $2.80 per bird, but I opted for the vacuum sealing which is $0.40 more per bird. I needed them to be USDA inspected because I intend to sell a few up at the farmers market this month where they sell for $2.75 per pound! My birds going in tomorrow are 7 - 7.5 pounds live weight, so I estimate I'll see about 5 - 5.5 pound birds processed. If I can sell 4 birds at that price, I will have made back what it cost me to feed them ALL until this point.

I will let you know how my experience with this processing place goes. Everyone in town uses them and says good things, so we'll see. I can NOT wait until Tuesday when we pick them up. We are SO having one for dinner! I have waited a LONG 7 weeks!