The Dogmother Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 http://www.supportchickennow.co.uk/ There was a full page ad in the Mail for this today - it's regarding the welfare of meat chickens rather than egg layers, so doesn't step on BHWT toes, but is still a cause close to us... log on and register your support - there is also a link to send to all your friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Have signed petition and forwarded. Thanks for this info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I have not signed and I will not forward. This might sound controversial but I really don't agree with 'Freedom Food' the word Freedom is so misleading in this case as the birds are not free. The welfare standards are only just better and I might be wrong but I think 'Freedom Food' logos appear on some battery eggs which have been raised to legal conditions which are not good enough. I think the RSPCA don't know what they are doing half the time. I just don't agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I have signed and forwarded it. A step in the right direction is better than none at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I don't think it is a step in the right direction across the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I just get food where I know it is ethical and I encourage people to do that to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 (edited) Martin, I think you are absolutely right to be aware of the unsaid aspects of a news story, especially before supporting it. Some welfare claims indeed need careful analysis to see if they are as good as they appear. I haven't looked into all the details of this yet, but I'm hoping it will spark mass debate, and then changes. However, I saw a similar article in another paper today & was greatly encouraged by it. The piece I read was really pointing out to consumers that they would be appalled if they saw the factory farming conditions used to supply their chicken. It also said that the RSPCA want supermarkets to stop supporting the grotesque conditions on some farms just so that chicken can be sold at a price lower than a reasonable cost price. Even if the outcome doesn't bring about the ideal conditions that we might like to see for all poultry, I think the RSPCA stance & newspaper reporting adds weight to the case for much better minimum practices to be achieved by 2010. I agree with you Martin that some improvements are put forward as if they were ideal when they are far from it, but I'd still like to see a step in the right direction of at least expecting chickens to be able to move & behave like chickens. If this welfare issue is getting good coverage then I'm delighted. Apparently the RSPCA campaign coincides with 3 Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall programmes on the subject to be broadcast next week. PS. Martin, I really admire your own principles & encouragement to others on this. It's a great stand to try & promote best practice, and it makes "step in the right direction" sound woefully inadequate. But, I'd rather see the lowest acceptable threshold raised to something half decent, that the food industry can sustain, than to have nothing change. Edited January 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Jamie Oliver aswell Sheila is doing a few programmes on it. Don't think it is the same programme as Hugh. As soon as they take the 'freedom food' label off intensively farmed meat and battery eggs I will sign it. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 (edited) As I said earlier....a small step in the right direction is better than none at all. As long as the consumer wants cheap chicken. the producers will supply it. If campaigns like this relieve the unspeakable suffering of these poor creatures even slightly then that has to be a good thing. We don't live in an ideal world unfortunately. Edited January 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 But I don't see it as a step in the right direction if they putting this stamp on the wrong products. The producer seems to be getting away with intensive farming, banging this sticker on the packaging, misleading the consumer. It's corrupt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 PS. Martin, I really admire your own principles & encouragement to others on this. It's a great stand to try & promote best practice, and it makes "step in the right direction" sound woefully inadequate. But, I'd rather see the lowest acceptable threshold raised to something half decent, that the food industry can sustain, than to have nothing change. Good for you Martin, and you're setting a great example. I had to quote my ps. here as it was overtaken by faster typists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Something will change, but 'Freedom Food' is not the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 anything that raises awreness and makes people think about where their food comes from is a step in the right direction IMO. I clicked on the link but it was just cartoon chickens in a cartoon barn, I'd have liked to have seen the real thing, to make an informed opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 (edited) I might be wrong but I think 'Freedom Food' logos appear on some battery eggs **Here** is a list of the products which carry the Freedom Food label. Battery eggs do not appear to be on it. If you have seen battery eggs with the Freedom Food logo you should report it Martin. Edited January 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Handy Steamers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I just get food where I know it is ethical and I encourage people to do that to. I agree Martin, we only ever buy free range stuff. We had a free range chicken for dinner yesterday, I have just finished off the stock, we will be having either soup or curry for tomorrows tea, not a drop or morsel wasted. I would not have normally done this but for ...... ahem Jamie Oliver. I am not a Jamie Oliver fan, in fact I dislike the fat tongued git with a passion. But reading the article about him the other day made me realise that buying ethically raised food only makes it worse if you waste it. So Jamie I'll call a truce. If you reinstate the dinnerladies! Kev. (ps im 35) but still live for pink custard (yes we know it doesn't taste any differsnt but it's pink! and can affect yor spellinng in later life as can spam fritters and Aluminium water jugs with dents in,) or was it the overcooked white cabbage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 (edited) the 'freedom' part of freedom food refers to the conditions the animals are kept in which I do believe is misleading as Martin says but it is also a step in the right direction, as Egluntine says. some might find this interesting reading, it outlines what the 5 freedoms are all about. I think it's also misleading having photos of hens in a field at the beginning of the document, that implies this is all about free range when in fact, farmers who have chickens in barns can sign up to use the 'freedom food' logo. http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=layinghensresourcepage surely it's better than the appalling, intensively reared broiler system that we are to be witness to on Monday though? Edited January 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Yes Poet, I've just been looking at the 'Tour the Farm' bit and they only show 'happy' free range farms and the stories are frankly boring. Will have a peak at your link now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Handy Steamers? Eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I've just read about stocking density which says 11.7 hens are allowed per usable metre squared. Thats a lot of chickens per square metre surely!!!??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Find it interesting that 11.7 hens can be kept in 1sqm. Isn't that the size of half the eglu run. Yes this may be only the case in buildings or firms built or formed before 1999. How many establishments like this still provide 'Freedom food' with produce. It also goes on about hens should be able to turn around and stretch their wings. Sorry but they can do this in battery cages, just. So it could mean a battery farmer could supply eggs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Handy Steamers? Eh? Your link took me to a page on 'Handy Steamers' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I've just read about stocking density which says 11.7 hens are allowed per usable metre squared. Thats a lot of chickens per square metre surely!!!??? I've just commented on that too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 that cartoon chicken barn makes me angry actually, what an insult to people's intelligence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 There is a set of criteria that are laid down by the RSPCA. Battery cages are not one of them There are inspections and the producers have to sign up to adhere to certain standards. I doubt that any of the supermarkets would jeopardise their reputations by deliberately dealing with rogue suppliers, in the present climate. Have you proof that this is happening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
