Chicken Rescue

This week we have rescued 201 battery hens. We are looking for kind lifelong homes for these girls. They are currently in a bad way, but are starting to learn how to be chickens. its lovely to see them stretch their wings for the first time, or scratch on the barn floor. They will be free-range and able to enjoy sunbathing and grass beneath their feet when the weather is kinder for them. For now, most are in our barn where they have room to move about and are able to roost where they choose. The ones with more immediate special needs are either in our home, or in our small animal unit. 4 very poorly girls are in a foster home, as they are having problems standing.

poor girls.

It makes me mad that the EU aren't going to comply with the new cage standards.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:poor girls.

It makes me mad that the EU aren't going to comply with the new cage standards.

Wholeheartedly agree with this

I am so happy for these ladies and so sad that this is the way any animal is forced to live.

The only way to change this is through consumer choice. We need to make sure that not only the eggs we buy are free range but that the other products we used contain free range eggs. Its only us that can make a difference. While there is a demand for cheap eggs, these little ladies will continue to suffer.

Im so glad that there are rescues like you out there that are letting these girls find out what it is to have a life. x x From them.....thank you x

I do always buy free range - but the uk is ahead of most of the EU on this topic. Whilst I would never by battery chicken products I am a little heartened that the chickens in this country don't live in the extreme battery conditions. This cheers me a bit not for the sake of the birds but because I feel we are moving in the right direction. However many restaurants buy from non uk suppliers and the welfare quality is not guarenteed. It is just exasperating that these 'better' battery cages were supposed to be a europe wide standard and many eu farmers have chosen simply not to comply due to cost. If you can't legistate for better conidtions then the farmers will drag their heels over the next upgrade and the improvement for chickens will never happen.

Maybe if pictures of these hens were put onto the battery egg packages, people would 'get' why it is so cruel.

At the moment, this sort of treatment is 100% legal, and would have passed an RSPCA inspection. New welfare legislation which takes effect in January next year, means that all these places have to sell up and close by the end of this year. However, mass-produced eggs will still come from over-crowded, de-beaked chickens.