4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Rhapsody]

Right, following MrsB's good example I have just sent this e-mail around to everyone I could think of. Aplogies if I havent got some of my facts exactly right, and I'm not having a dig at Hugh or Jamie but I was mindful of the mentality of some of the people I was mailing to

 

 

 

Subject- Dont Break a Chicken to get an Egg

I just wanted to send you all these pictures of the ex-Battery hens I got on Saturday. These hens have been reared indoors, had the top of their beaks cut off, and sent over to a battery cage where they have lived cramped together, each with a space the size of an A4 page to live on. They have stood on bare sloping wire for that year, in a permanent artifical midsummer's day, with bright flourescent lighting and not a breath of air. They have been fed the very cheapest grain, laced with anti-biotics, with nothing to do except eat, lay eggs, and peck each other out of frustration. They have never even seen daylight or opened their wings until Saturday.

 

Normally on Saturday the farmer would sell them off for pet food, as after a year a hens production slows down, not alot, but enough to make her commercially unviable as he is constantly under pressure to produce maximum eggs at minimum cost. There has been alot of media attention to this story lately, but I'm not a celebrity chef or media darling- I have no book to sell or series to plug, I just want to show you what the reality is.

Even if you dont see hens as the engaging, funny, clever litle creatures that I do, please look at the photos and ask yourself if you really want to eat eggs that have come from such obviously sick animals.

 

April x

 

[Helen&Lee]

Thats great, gets to the point and will hopefully jog a conscience

 

And the chicken wheels of freedom keep turning......

 

Helen

[AMO]

Well said!

 

I did notice in Morrisons yesterday there was not one piece of free range chicken available - all the shelves were empty Although they still had at ten times more space available for lower welfare meat

[Tina C]

I was a bit scared of looking at this when I saw the title.

 

Well done.

 

Every time the battery hen's plight is highlighted it helps to convert another person and the personal experience of someone you know says more to some than a celebrity with a career to perpetuate (although I am not knocking Hugh and Jamie etc as they reach a huge audience).

[Seagazer]

Well done Rhapsody

 

I've never seen a real live ex-batt. I've seen other photos and from the bhwt but I have to say that when I saw your photos at the weekend it really affected me. I think they just look so sad and seeing The Edge sunbathing with hardly any feathers on just brings tears to my eyes. I know this is probably because I have my own girls now and just cannot imagine how anybody could treat them so badly.

 

Good for you.

[Egg Lou]

Just want to echo all that has already been said.. well done you!

[missuscluck]

Go Rhapsody Where can we see your pictures of your hens?

 

 

Just found them in the chicken section.

[The Dogmother]

Good for you!

[Phonix]

well done - do you mind if i copy that and send it round to people i know too? You just manage to make the point very well and without going on for so long that people stop reading (as I know i would if i tried to write anything similar!)

x

[Rhapsody]

I'd be honoured- save and attach a couple of photos from my ex-batts thread in the chicken section if you want.

[Phonix]

thanks - i'll do that.

Must add that to my 'to do' list that always seems to get longer and never shorter! lol

[The Dogmother]

I've blogged your story and photos April.