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.
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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.
