Rescue chickens

[dpetzen]

I am VERY interested in doing this as well, not quite ready yet....but DEFINITELY will be in my future. She was only 17 months old? Why would a factory be getting rid of her so soon? I would think she has a significant amount of "laying time" ahead of her.

You definitely should!

It's not only a very kind thing to do, but it's also extremely rewarding, I'm loving it!

I don't want to elaborate on the details of what I've learned about the chicken industry as it's too depressing, but the main reason is that they have a few months of decreased egg laying, which they use as en excuse to kill every single chicken and clean out the shed (yes, they don't clean properly for 1.5 years) and fill it with new chickens. The meat isn't good enough, so they are either thrown away or end up as pet food.

My last rescue chooks were carried out by their legs to my contact person four weeks before they killed the remaining 21,000.

It's worth mentioning that this particular factory was about to get the SPCA's certificate as free range, as they were planning on opening a door at the back leading out to a mud plain at the back of the sheds. The number of chickens who would actually make it out into the mud would have been symbolic at best.

So yes, I only saved 4, but they have a wonderful life and it's better than none at all!

 

[Callender Girl]

What an amazing transformation! She is lovely and so lucky. Is there a patron saint of chickens? If not, it may be you!

 

[meetthebubus]

Thanks, and I'm glad to hear that you're speaking about this.

I recently joined SAFE (https://www.safe.org.nz/) here in New Zealand to try to make a difference. I donate to their chicken campaigns on a monthly basis.

I was writing a little memory page for my beloved BOudie whi died yesterday and came across loads of pictures of my choosk immediately after they got out of the factory, so if you need material to show what the chicken industry do to these poor creatures, then I'm more than happy to pick out quite a few pictures.

That would be awesome to show these pics bc mostly online they show meatbird cruelty but I wanted to show egg layers too. There is an awareness in the general population, but it's slight and they are only slightly aware. Some are getting the news that free range isn't what they think but have no idea of the true conditions, imo. So seeing these pics i can link them to my powerpoint and display the truth. I usually put up a cute pic that gets 'awwws' bc they also don't see cute chickens, they usually see the basic chicken from a far off view pecking in the grass so I bring that aspect, and then show them something like your girl... in fact showing the before and after (after she gets good care) would be impactful I believe. Here's an example of a cute pic to bring in their attention

 

[JanetMarie]

One reason to only eat eggs and meat from your own birds (provided that the backyard owner is taking proper care of their chickens).

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I am VERY interested in doing this as well, not quite ready yet....but DEFINITELY will be in my future. She was only 17 months old? Why would a factory be getting rid of her so soon? I would think she has a significant amount of "laying time" ahead of her.

The hens in the egg industry have been laying for about 18 months before they are considered “spent”. In the industry once birds no longer lay 7 eggs a week (they may be laying 6 eggs a week) they are force molted (you don’t want to know how they force molt them) to shock their bodies into a final round of egg production and then they are packed up a few weeks later and sent to their death.

 

[JanetMarie]

The hens in the egg industry have been laying for about 18 months before they are considered “spent”. In the industry once birds no longer lay 7 eggs a week (they may be laying 6 eggs a week) they are force molted (you don’t want to know how they force molt them) to shock their bodies into a final round of egg production and then they are packed up a few weeks later and sent to their death.

I've read that all food and water is removed for three days to induce molting. I take every opportunity to let people know the facts, because too many people stay willfully ignorant of how bad animals used for human purposes are treated.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I've read that all food and water is removed for three days to induce molting. I take every opportunity to let people know the facts, because too many people stay willfully ignorant of how bad animals used for human purposes are treated.

Food is removed for 7-14 days sometimes up to 28 days to induce molting. Water is also removed for a few days.

 

[JanetMarie]

Food is removed for 7-14 weeks sometimes hot to 28 days to induce molting. Water is also removed for a few days.

Worse than I was aware of.

 

[townchicks]

What a wonderful transformation. Very inspiring. The way chickens are treated is one of the main reasons I originally thought about getting backyard hens. I love knowing that I am not contributing to the horrific conditions. When I am "forced" by winter to buy eggs, I'll go out of my way to find "pasture raised" eggs. I know that's not all that it cracked up to be, but still better than most. I don't do it often either, we just eat less eggs in winter.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Worse than I was aware of.

7-14 days not weeks
My bad