STOP THE ROTTEN EGG LAW

[two early]

Please inform yourselves of the federal law that will affect all chicken owners (H.R. 3797 and S. 3239). It will soon be coming up for a vote. It would establish a law concerning egg factory cages that could never be changed! It has implications for small family run hatcheries and all chicken owners. Please read about this at: stoptherotteneggbill.org. and contact your elected representatives. Thanks

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Which country are you in? The USA?

 

[two early]

Yep, the good ol' USA

 

[ChickChickChicky]

two early, the website you list would be much more effective if it showed the actual language of the proposed bill(s). Cartoon characters don't do anything to change my mind about things, I want facts. In fact, sappy websites and organizations like that are rather offputting to me BECAUSE they are not showing the facts... it makes me feel that they have some hidden agenda which the facts would muddy for them. So what ARE the actual facts????

 

[akovia]

This kind of corporate written legislation most commonly gets buried into much larger bills and thus becomes law without public input or transparency. Pro-active efforts by groups like HFA, and use of the internet, manage to cast a little light on otherwise shady political deals. That's a fact for you

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

two , I want facts. In fact, sappy websites and organizations like that are rather offputting to me BECAUSE they are not showing the facts... it makes me feel that they have some hidden agenda which the facts would muddy for them. So what ARE the actual facts????

You won't get facts from webistes or groups with an ANTI-Agriculture agenda like this one or "That which must not be named." Their agenda is to end animal ownership and meat consumption.

 

[ChickChickChicky]

You won't get facts from webistes or groups with an ANTI-Agriculture agenda like this one or "That which must not be named." Their agenda is to end animal ownership and meat consumption.

That's what I thought, which is why I surely won't be supporting the "stoptherotten egg" stuff. From what little I can gather about it, they want it impossible for chickens to ever be caged, in any way, shape or form. That is just plain crazy! MY chickens are technically "caged" (in the form of a run... no free-range here, I'm in the city and too many predators). How would anyone ever transport a chicken if not in some type of cage? And who the heck wants to be the one gathering 1,000's of eggs every day from a commercial operation where the chickens run loose... hide and seek, anyone?????

I think it should be verbotten for chickens to be crammed into cages (or buildings) where they don't have adequate room to move around, and I think it should be illegal for ANY animal to have diseases or injuries that go untended (either heal them or humanely destroy them, but don't let them languish). I think de-beaking should be outlawed. Unwanted male chicks should be humanely destroyed. Beyond that, I don't have any problems with commercial poultry raising.

 

[Earthologie]

I think it is disgusting.

The United Egg Producers have ganged up to make the American public THINK they are for the welfare of hens. They aren't.

They state that they want hens to have larger cages. Currently hens typically have LESS than 8.5 x 11 inches (sheet of paper) to themselves. They want to double that. That's still too small in my opinion, but overall they are pushing it as being better for the hens: hey, at least they have more room, right?

***From what I understand the legislation is only for hens kept in confinement for mass egg production, and NOT in back yards.

From stoptherotteneggbill.org---->

"The egg industry’s trade association – the United Egg Producers (UEP) – has hatched an insidious plan: It is now pushing for federal legislation that, if enacted, would forever keep hens locked in cages, despite the wishes of the vast majority of the American public.

Under the guise of “enriching” cages, the egg industry’s legislation would:

Nullify existing state laws that ban or restrict battery cages.

Deprive voters of the right and ability to pass ballot measures banning cages.

Deny state legislatures the ability to enact laws to outlaw battery cages or otherwise regulate egg factory conditions." (from stoptherotteneggbill.org)

This means that all the current progress that has been made towards the better welfare of factory farmed hens will be crushed like a thin egg shell.

Where cages were once banned in certain areas, they will once again be used. Chickens are treated horribly for egg production in the states. Many have all their feathers plucked off of them by other chickens due to being confined so closely. That is just one of the horrors they face in their short lives.

For me, Even "cage free" is better where chickens have one big giant room. They are able to climb up and down off of nests, move around. While its not perfect, since there are so many of them in the building it is better for them.

Even if it applies to back yard chickens, I highly doubt it means a person can't transport a chicken in a cage.

Do people really want their voting rights to be taken away by an industry who cares less about the birds before them (other than for money)? I surely don't.

Even the UEP's president stated "Some people talk about the bill being a government takeover of farming. It's no such thing. This is only about eggs and the ability to market eggs for our customers in all states."

I disagree with him. The rotten egg bill, as it has been called would do just that. Who could compete with millionaires who can afford millions of 124 inch cages?

Add to that, it seems most back yard chicken keepers tend to keep their chickens in cages or runs that are larger that 124 square inches anyways (which is the minium size called for) anyways. If that's the case, what's the point in NOT stopping the rotten egg bill.
*************
PERHAPS the best way to solve this is if we all work together to discover if it would trully affect us as back yard chicken keepers.

As I said it is my understanding that it is only the industry that would be affected, and I for one would like to look into it further to make sure that it is indeed industry only.

 

[Earthologie]

GRRR! I have no clue why the spaces between my paragraphs will not save?!?!

 

[Liath]

Wow, I have never seen such a sorry piece of legislation. Read the text on THOMAS... the largest amount of space it requires after it fully phases in is 144 sq. in... that's 12x12... one square foot. Granted my girls are a bit more round than commercial hens but I can't even imaging someone thinking that's enough room for more than temporary confinement. It strikes me as an bill so egg producers can claim they meet federal standards without having to change the way they opperate. Hell, they have 15 years "improve" them up 1 sq foot.
That being said, there are some good things... no starvation for forced molting, air quality... Though I don't know exactly how much 25 ppm ammonia is in practice (though OSHA list the odor threshold as 20 ppm), it seems to me that its probably an improvement over existing conditions many places.

I think it should be better, but I don't think it's the end of the world if it passes...

Oh and if you search THOMAS it's H.R.3798... 3797 is a gambling bill.