Guest Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I saw it too, a dreadful, unbalanced bit of scaremongering Doesn't one of the One Show's contributors keep chickens? I'm pretty certain that I read somwhere that Bill whatever his name is who's doing the 30 mins of sleep every 4 hours feature is a backyard chicken keeper Oh, well I expect they're expecting a heated post bag tomorrow. You're right Kate! I forgot about that (I don't really watch the show). Bill Turnbull was on Strictly Come Dancing last year and they showed him with his chickens at home. Someone should ask them what Bill thinks about the report! In fact, I think I will! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightworker01 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 He's probably too spaced out due to lack of sleep to be able to argue about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I think it was 'doctored' by the powers that be but I still think it said hens are good pets and we aren't worried. Keep calm and be mindful of what we all love about hens. I hope BHWT can get a feature so don't burn any bridges just yet please Autumn approaches and the media will pick on the AV threat no doubt, or Defra and Insurance push for certain comments;/visual aids. We shouldn't rise to the bait but educate them, come on guys Oh and it did say that our Omlet hens are vaccinated. BBx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I have emailed the following to Richard & Judy... Hi, I am writing in response to an extremely biased piece on the BBC's "One Show" this evening on keeping chickens in your back garden. I feel that channel 4 & in particular Richard & Judy are just the people to redress the balance & show on national TV what an utter joy chickens can be & how easy they are to keep healthy in your own garden. The BBC feature was based on the scaremongering theme that garden hens may infect larger commercial flocks with diseases such as chicken flu,presumably because we do not take care to keep our pets clean & well. The presenter was shown in a disposable paper suit,as were the crew,in case they "caught anything from the chickens" They then went to a barn chicken farmer who had 6000 hens in a large barn,with barely any space. My 5 hens live in an Eglu,an innovative new plastic hen house which is a doddle to keep clean & a joy to use. It is produced by a company called Omlet & here is a link to their website http://www.omlet.co.uk/homepage/homepage.php The hens they sell are all vaccinated,healthy,happy,gorgeous & will lay on average 6 wonderful eggs a week! My hens (Poppy,Rosie,Lily,Daisy & Pansy) are proper pets.They come onto our laps for a cuddle,chase the dog & will kill for a bit of sweetcorn!!! Please can you look into showing how easy & fulfilling it is to keep hens in even the smallest of back yards,& reassure the public that us happy hen owners are not all harbouring disease ridden creatures in our gardens. With thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 my to richard and judy was very similar, I also did a link to omlet and also advised the pro's on chicken keeping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 FANTASTIC EMAIL! Just about to do my bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightworker01 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 You know what would have been good. If they had bought some eggs from a supermarket that day (eggs with a different coloured shell) and boiled one, as well as one of the fresh that day laid by an Omlet chook. they then could have cut it in half and shown people how lovely the yolk looks in comparison to the battery and other "Free Range" eggs you get in Sainsburys etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Sent my email. Not rude, but sounding very annoyed!!!1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlb1871 Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I have been out and have just returned to watch "The Show" we recorded. What a load of c**p. Typical tabloid rubbish and I agree with with all of the comments so far. I too have sent mails to the BBC and am all drafting a letter to The Times. That idiot barn farmer is the one who needs investigating. I bet he thought it was Christmas when the BBC turned up to ask him his opinion on urban chickens. He was probably expecting a rockeing about how he keep his animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlb1871 Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Attached is a copy of my mail to the one show. I appologise for the language but I am furious. Quote.... What the hell were you playing at. Your story was a disgrace and scaremongering. Typical tabloid rubbish and I thought the One Show was better than that but this has made me question the other stories you have had on and confirms that the producers of this show are just tabloid scaremongers That idiot barn farmer is the one who needs investigating. I bet he thought it was Christmas when the BBC turned up to ask him his opinion on urban chickens. He was probably expecting a rocketing about how he keep his animals. I have 3 chickens kept in much better conditions than most prisoners in gaol, they are fully vaccinated and we as pet owners are much more aware of their condition and faster to react to an outbreak of a disease like avian flu than a barn farmer. You wasted a huge opportunity here and I hope you readdress it with a proper story on Urban Chickens, since when was a barn farmer effected by pets? Why did you not mention parrots or budgies or any other bird kept in an aviary if the risk as so huge. And the need to dress up in protection is also quite frankly "Ooops, word censored!", you don't do that if you go to a Zoo or a bird sanctuary do you? Your programme is a waste of time. End Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightworker01 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 I just fell out of my chair laughing - WELL done for not dressing it up in politeness - Brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 GO BRIAN!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightworker01 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 Its me now - Dark_Storm_01 - Russell - damn my Dad - he snuck the certificate thing on here grrr. Oh well.... He's just gone to bed and I can't be bothered to turn my PC on and log in... and it won't let me log in at al on my dads pc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightworker01 Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 Oh boy am I looking forward to see what happens with the BBC tomorrow! They'll either delete all the e-mails or they'll take the michael out of us... If they do, can everyone e-mail them again and call them incompitent morons who couldn't do their jobs properly if they were given someone to do it for them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I will email them everyday untill I get a decent responce! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I've let Johannes and James know the strong feeling so perhaps let them take it from here. Losing our tempers isn't going to improve the situation is it BBx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I completely agree with you Buffie. Most of us with strong feeling have e-mailed the show. In my opinion the barn farmer was shown in a very bad light to any one with any feelings for animals. The real harm has been done to Omlet. Its up to them now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I didn't see the programme, (of course, lack of TV has something to do with this), but sympathise with the strong sentiments expressed. However, Omlet are the people to take this further if they want to, and by the sound of it, anybody with more than half a brain cell would have had some serious doubts about the conditions and welfare of 6000 barn hens. I am sure comparing them to a few happy garden hens has been positive. Regarding the style of the article, I know of at least 5 instances where so called "TV journalists" have ruined things by creating monsters through sensationalism, bad information gathering, cruel editing and the need to trivialise for the masses. Throw your TV's away folks! Not having one is good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bracken Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Hi there. Have just sent the beeb my complaints. Lets hope that all the complaints get mentioned tonight? If not shall never watch the stupid show again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 In defense of the tv crew (ducks for cover!!!) they too were aware of how alarmist they looked, but also that they were in a no win situation, if they had worn no protective clothing, then an equal number of viewers would have become enraged by this, and probably e-mailed in in similar if not greater numbers I think with regards to the suits, they probably felt they were between a rock and a hard place karen x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 PS will I ever be allowed to post on here again karen x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Very true, but they made a very big play of the suited up issue showing the entire crew Just read your next post. Will you be allowed to post here again You are an injured party in this Karen and I think that we seem to have forgotten this. I would feel terrible too if it had been me on the TV setting things up for the BBC only to be double crossed. You are entirely inocent of any blame here Karen. Both of you and Omlet were skillfully taken in. Please don't feel bad Here's a big HUG for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I had an email from Johannes last night (because I copied him the email I sent to the show). He feels much the same as we do. He is going to talk to the producers today and ask them to put the record straight. I guess we'll all have to watch again tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 In defense of the tv crew (ducks for cover!!!) they too were aware of how alarmist they looked, but also that they were in a no win situation, if they had worn no protective clothing, then an equal number of viewers would have become enraged by this, and probably e-mailed in in similar if not greater numbers I think with regards to the suits, they probably felt they were between a rock and a hard place karen x I Well done you! I don't think the suits were worn for effect. Insurance may make it necessary or Defra, egg production is seriously at threat generally so there are alot of preventative measures ,even when the AV risk wasn't around. They travelled from one group of hens to another and again this was mentioned as another reason. I think they knew it looked daft but most likely had to satisfy health and safety. Mikey deals with this all the time in his wiork and he has to wear hard hats and jackets, boots for silly reasons. We just don't have all the facts, I've found out alot since meeting the egg inspectorate and there are 2 sides to every story, BBx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I have to agree with karen - The crew would have preferred not to have been suited up (and they did cover feet as well!) but were worried that they would be seen to be not taking the health of chickens seriously. Rajesh spent 3 hours sat in my lounge because he wasn't suited up and couldnt come anywhere near the rest of us until we had finished filming, I also think that some of the scaremongering was actually put in their heads by the chicken farmer - he wouldnt let the producer/director onto his farm because she had been on antibiotics for a chest infection and he was worried she might pass on germs!!!! I agree witht the rest of you that it didnt show urban chicken keeping in a good light - so many bits were edited - it took them 3 hours for my 30 seconds - but lets see what happens tonight............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
