Lately I separated Christa and Joyce for Joyce to go to her vet appointments. Christa was not happy about it and was vicious all day long.
Wow very interesting. And not in a good way.
I did read somewhere they banned battery cages in the UK about 10 years ago or so? Over here we are clearly savages still. It’s just so inhumane, I hope things change in the US eventually!
They did. Exactly how much difference it has made to the quality of life for battery hens is debatable. There is legislation in place that if one reads it one would be tempted to think chickens are having a wonderfull life. Most of the legislation isn't enforced.
Of course, any improvement is better than none but the egg and chicken meat industry have got so far to go that a small improvement doesn't mean much.
Well, even if you can't get ex battery hens, there are plenty of ill-kept chickens you could probably offer a better home to. I naively bought five pullets and a rooster to get started about three years ago -- not knowing they were actually "rescues." They all were nutrient deprived and had bronchitis and mites. Two of them had terrible bumblefoot. Boy, did I learn a lot in a hurry trying to take care of them as best I could. Anyway, based on some of the messages in the forums on BYC, there's a lot of folks who get overwhelmed with chicken keeping. Perhaps you can find some of these folks in your area looking to re-home birds for their own good.
I've looked after quite a few other creatures over the years and while chickens are the only type I'm really interested in they are without a doubt the hardest to keep well in both senses. I've metioned before, trying to look after what are basically coop and run chickens to what I consider an acceptable standard is hard on the heart and hard on the brain.
I didn't know of the hellish life that commercial caged layer hens live until after I got chickens. After I discovered how much I love chicken personalities and behaviors, I wanted to do the same as you. Specifically, I wanted to adopt about 40 red sexlink "spent" battery hens, and give them a safe, content and carefree life for the rest of their days. I didnt expect them for free; would have been happy to pay for them. I searched the internet and even inquired on several BYC threads. While the practice is common in the U.K., Canada and other countries, it seems almost impossible to adopt ex-battery hens in the U.S. I found that extremely sad and frustrating. (The above issue is also why I was immediately drawn to this thread when I first saw the thread title.) The following video touched me greatly, and I feel sure it will you too. I'm not telling you to give up; in fact I greatly hope you succeed in acquiring ex-battery hens. I got a strong feeling after my research, that in the U.S. it's helpful to know someone that works in the industry. Or at least know someone who knows someone that works in the industry.
Very true. They are such fascinating and endearing animals, but not easy. We "keep" two horses, for example, and they range free over fifteen acres. Sometimes we don't see them for days. They eat grass and leaves and bananas. They've been around for five years and I think we treated them for ticks a few times and once for a scratch on the leg. The chickens, on the other hand -- it's always something. Clean the poop up, clean the dust. Feed them every day. Make sure the water is clean, etc, etc, etc.
and this is where I'm lucky enough to let them call home I have been on vacation and spent a good chunk of my evening enjoying catching up on this thread! Taxes are remiss as my chickens had a substitute caretaker that neglected photography during my absence. After all, isnt blame best cast off if [and when] possible?
