Door too small for Jersey Giant?

[Guest]

Poet I do like a woman with an opinion!!

 

funnily enough, we do have them from time to time

 

it's okay Buffie, we're just having a discussion/debate, it's good for the mind, body and soul

[Guest]

What we consider acceptable here on this forum and what is considered acceptable to an industry that exists to make money not the world a better place are wildly different things.

 

good point but I still think it's better than battery farming, the rest is up to the consumer, to push for better welfare. I have faith we'll get there, in the end.

[The Dogmother]

It'll be a struggle Poet, but a worthwhile one. As we've discussed before in similar threads - we just need to help educate the consumer.

 

I had no idea that this thread would prove so contentious - I just thought that it was good to see the RSPCA (belatedly) getting off their bums and trying to do something about it. At least their one page ads in the press might make more people think about what they eat.

[Guest]

It'll be a struggle Poet, but a worthwhile one. As we've discussed before in similar threads - we just need to help educate the consumer.

 

 

I mentioned this in my egg box thread, one set of our immediate neghbours and their little boy, Jason, came to see the girls yesterday after we'd dropped off a box of 'Happy New Year' eggs to our next door neighbours. We explained about battery farming to them and Michelle (the wife) went home and realised she had eggs from caged hens in her fridge. I think she felt bad about that so hopefully we've converted someone else to free range.

 

Jason brought one of his friends round today (she lives opposite us) to see the chickens. DH explained why they looked the way they did and the little girl even asked "why are their beaks flat?" so DH explained but said that they were getting better now etc. He also got one of the girls out for them to stroke and DH gave her an egg that had just been laid. She ran home saying she was going to ask her dad if they could have chickens!

 

We've told the kids they come and see the chickens whenever they want, hopefully when they grow up, they'll think about the eggs they buy and maybe they'll even have their own chickens

[Louise]

Remember this RSPCA campaign is nothing to do with caged battery birds it is to do with meat birds

 

Things seem to be getting a little confused in places

[The Dogmother]

Brilliants news Poet - that sort of subtle education works wonders - perhaps you could arrange to take a couple of the girls in to a local school? Ours have been to school twice and to Brownies as well - they each got a little quiz to do (downloaded from the schools area of the Omlet site) and a BHWT leaflet - I was careful not to be scary about batter farming, but explained the different types of egg production and let them ask the questions and make up their own minds.

[Guest]

Remember this RSPCA campaign is nothing to do with caged battery birds it is to do with meat birds

 

Things seem to be getting a little confused in places

 

it's to do with both and not just birds either.

 

The link to the guidlines I posted were the 'laying hen' guidelines.

 

Here's the main page

 

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/FreedomFood/FreedomFoodHomepage

Edited January 3, 2008 by Guest

[Guest]

- I was careful not to be scary about batter farming, .

 

we were very mindful of that, DH explained about their beaks because the little girl had asked about them but he then reassured her by saying the girls were getting better now that they were out of the cage.

 

I don't want her dad coming over saying we'd given her nightmares.

[Guest]

I was careful not to be scary about batter farming, .

 

interesting Freudian slip but true.

[The Dogmother]

fingers going faster than brain again!

[Martin B]

Remember this RSPCA campaign is nothing to do with caged battery birds it is to do with meat birds

 

 

The meat birds are even bigger than layers so 11.7 big chickens in a sqm

[Rhapsody]

 

I had no idea that this thread would prove so contentious - I just thought that it was good to see the RSPCA (belatedly) getting off their bums and trying to do something about it. At least their one page ads in the press might make more people think about what they eat.

 

Didn't want to offend you hun, but I couldnt not say anything, this lady's not for keeping schtum!

[The Dogmother]

 

I had no idea that this thread would prove so contentious - I just thought that it was good to see the RSPCA (belatedly) getting off their bums and trying to do something about it. At least their one page ads in the press might make more people think about what they eat.

 

Didn't want to offend you hun, but I couldnt not say anything, this lady's not for keeping schtum!

 

That's totally OK Rhapsody - I was just concerned that I might have opened a can of worms (goodness, wouldn't the chooks love that?). I like a bit of healthy debate myself, but this ghastly cold has taken all the fight out of me today I'd gone to bed, then logged on today to a few PMs about this thread and a couple of pages of posts. I hadn't given it another thought until now.

 

I've just as fed up of the RSPCA as anyone else - they are pretty useless - but it's a good way to get our message across - small steps are better then none.

[Egluntyne]

small steps are better then none.

 

This is exactly what I have been saying Claret.

 

Rome wasn't built in a day and all that.

 

We'd all like to see all chickens living happy lives, with plenty of room to run about, scratch for worms, flap their wings and feel the sun on their back and the breeze ruffling their feathers.

 

Realistically it ain't going to happen overnight I'm afraid.

 

We must be glad of each step forward, no matter how small, and build on it......and continue to try to educate as many people as we can about chicken welfare.

[Guest]

I'm grateful for small steps also, just disappointed that they're packaged as something more than they actually are.

[Egluntyne]

I'm grateful for small steps also, just disappointed that they're packaged as something more than they actually are.

 

I know what you mean.

 

That's life....and business practice I'm afraid.

[Snowy]

I'm grateful for small steps also, just disappointed that they're packaged as something more than they actually are.

 

I know what you mean.

 

That's life....and business practice I'm afraid.

 

It's good to applaud these small steps, as long as we are savvy to the fact that they are only small steps. We mustn't become complacent or stop trying to educate people. A series of small steps may just get us all the way in the end

[Christian]

Well said Snowy!

 

We try and do our bit and educate people, but it isn't always easy.......!

 

We must change ourselves before we change the World.

[Guest]

 

That's life....and business practice I'm afraid.

 

But that's just it, this is NOT the actions of a business. This is a charity that is supposed to prevent cruelty to animals and I'm just a little disheartened at how they're misleading people with this Freedom Food thing. Well, maybe 'misleading' is too strong but they aren't laying (pardon the pun) all their cards on the table. Unless you do a bit of digging.

 

Most people wouldn't bother to read the guidelines in depth and just take it at face value. The word "Freedom" is going to make most people assume 'free range'.

 

You don't expect to be given half the story by a charity.

 

That's why I feel quite sad about the whole thing. Sad but not without hope

[Lesley]

I'm grateful for small steps also, just disappointed that they're packaged as something more than they actually are.

 

I know what you mean.

 

That's life....and business practice I'm afraid.

 

It's good to applaud these small steps, as long as we are savvy to the fact that they are only small steps. We mustn't become complacent or stop trying to educate people. A series of small steps may just get us all the way in the end

 

I agree but I think that it's a shame that the RSPCA are in a position to make quite big waves over something like this and they choose instead to take extremely small steps.

 

Small steps by small groups or individuals is fine............ but the RSPCA could do more.

[Egluntyne]

I'm grateful for small steps also, just disappointed that they're packaged as something more than they actually are.

 

I know what you mean.

 

That's life....and business practice I'm afraid.

 

It's good to applaud these small steps, as long as we are savvy to the fact that they are only small steps. We mustn't become complacent or stop trying to educate people. A series of small steps may just get us all the way in the end

 

I agree but I think that it's a shame that the RSPCA are in a position to make quite big waves over something like this and they choose instead to take extremely small steps.

 

Small steps by small groups or individuals is fine............ but the RSPCA could do more.

 

A good point.

[Lesley]

I think it's one Martin has been trying to make as well.

[Martin B]

I think it's one Martin has been trying to make as well.

 

YES!

[Guest]

I think I saw somewhere in the guidelines that any farmer that wishes to be accredited for the FF scheme has to pay for an inspection by the RSPCA. So, in effect, the RSPCA are charging farmers for the priviledge of using their FF name.

 

I wonder if the charges are merely to cover the expenses of the inspector or if the RSPCA are making considerable amounts of money from this scheme.

 

As has been said, they could do an awful lot more than they are.

 

I, like many others, have called upon their services in the past and been sadly let down so my opinion of them is probably tainted by previous contact too and it makes me wary of any scheme they come up with.

 

I really do hope their motivation is farm animal welfare and not money.

 

 

**edit** sorry, just checked again (page 6) and it says that charges are levied to cover inspection and admin costs and that FF is non profit making.

 

I'm really ambivalent about the whole FF thing. I think the way it's packaged is misleading but it is a step in the direction but then again it's not big a big enough step by such a big charity.

[The Dogmother]

There's an article in the Independent today http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article3307570.ece

 

Not really anything we haven't already heard, and linked in with the HFW angle too. It's all exposure, which might just educate people

 

(sorry not to be on more of a rant - this cold has finally defeated me and I am at home, snuffling)