Chicken picking at feet

[Guest]

my friend, who volunteers for the RSPCA, just sent me this. It's a press release issued today and they need our help. The decision is imminent, so they urgently need you to take action today!

 

Please also pass this on to your chicken friends and family, thanks.

 

 

 

RSPCA News from the press office

 

Embargoed until 00.01hrs Tuesday 25 August 2009

 

RSPCA Calls For Spaced-Out Chickens

 

The RSPCA is urging the Government not to compromise the welfare of millions of chickens reared for meat by reducing the amount of space they have to live in.

 

Despite strong support from consumers, retailers and farmers for better animal welfare¹, the lives of hundreds of millions of chickens reared for meat in England and Wales are still hanging in the balance.

 

Defra is considering new EU legislation which includes providing meat chickens with less space than current industry practice in England. The RSPCA believes this is a retrograde step that would have significant impact on their welfare.

 

Currently chickens reared to basic industry standards in England are allocated less space than a sheet of A4 paper each. This could be reduced even further if the EU legislation is adopted².

 

Dr Marc Cooper, RSPCA senior farm animal scientist, said: “At a time when more of us are concerned about how chickens are reared, we seem to be in a position where the EU is making conditions worse, not better. Implementing these new provisions could have a significant impact on mortality rates, skin and leg problems as well as making it harder for these birds to perform basic natural behaviours like walking or flapping their wings.”

 

“In England we have traditionally had some of the most progressive animal welfare laws in the world, and that is why we are asking people to support us in calling on Defra to make the right decision for chicken welfare.”

 

The RSPCA has launched an online campaign called ‘Quash the Squash’ to highlight this issue, and is urging people to sign its e-petition, available online at

 

http://www.giveanimalsavoice.org.uk/campaigns/quash-squash/

 

Leading animal welfare charities, the World Society of the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and Compassion in World Farming are also backing the RSPCA’s campaign, and are calling on people to join us in urging the government not to take a step backwards in terms of animal welfare.

 

Päivi Vahvelainen, programmes manager UK at WSPA said: "It is tragic that new EU legislation may result in the UK government bringing in regulations to worsen welfare for millions of chickens on British farms. WSPA believes all UK chicken farmers should at least meet RSPCA welfare standards³, and that these are the minimum that UK legislation should adopt.

 

Chickens need at least sufficient space and some environmental enrichment to be able to run, walk and flap their wings. The World Society for the Protection of Animals lobbies governments across the globe to make conditions for farmed animals more humane. UK consumers are increasingly demanding higher animal welfare standards, we hope the UK government will listen to them too.”

 

Chicken Out!* Campaign co-ordinator for Compassion in World Farming, Eloise Shavelar, said: “The proposed legislation would mean a huge step backwards for UK poultry welfare. Compassion in World Farming would be very disappointed if the UK supported the EU directive; effectively giving the green light to further intensification of chicken farming and removing any obligation on standard producers to improve welfare conditions.

 

This new law will undermine achievements to date if the crowded conditions in chickens shed are made worse. At a time when consumer demand for higher welfare chickens is growing, we urge Defra to consider this legislation carefully. With many major retailers reacting to consumer supported campaigns and with over 260 MPs having signed a Parliamentary motion for improved standards, the government must acknowledge the importance of this issue and respond to the public pressure.”

 

Research conducted in 2003** clearly demonstrated that high stocking densities have a negative impact on chickens’ ability to perform certain behaviours. This impact cannot be mitigated by other factors, such as good husbandry and management.

 

Jim Fitzpatrick MP, the Minister for Food, Farming and Environment, will consider in September how to introduce the new EU legislation into the UK.

 

[beulah59]

Thanks for this - have done!

[Guest]

rather than an e-petition, it seems to be a template letter to Jim Fitzpatrick, minister for agriculture.

 

If you can, please try and personalise your letter as it will have more impact.

 

I changed the subject header to 'For the love of chickens!', obviously try and use something different yourself. I changed the template to this...you don't have to ramble on, just a few lines in your own words.

 

I am writing with regards to the EU Directive on meat chicken welfare and specifically concerning the issue of stocking density.

 

I'm sure you've received lots of mails already with the standard template attached so you know why I'm mailing you!

 

This country must NOT compromise the welfare of our meat chickens any further. Rather than considering reducing the amount of space they have we should be working towards making their short lives better NOT worse!

 

You're probably too busy to reply to everyone individually but if you do have the time, I would like to hear from you about this issue. I'd love to know whether the govt actually listens to the people who put them in power and does not support cruel initiatives such as this one!

 

Regards

 

NAME

[CluckyBucks]

Thankyou very much for posting this, i have signed it and i hope everyone else does too

 

xx xx

[Space Chick]

I also amended the template and submitted. I am appalled that worse conditions could be considered when current conditions of intensively reared meat birds are already inadequate.

[Faye&Ant]

Amended letter and sent - lets hope it makes a difference

[Guest]

[cutechic]

Ive also posted the similar news on a few other chicken sites and also sent the email

Tina

x

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

We're joining the petition as well.

[keyhole kate]

Tis done

And I have roped in all my friends, no letter no eggs

[Valkyrie]

Me done it tooooo! Will send link to OH when he comes home and then he can do it and forward it to his mates.

[Old Speckled Hen]

Yes dreadful.

It was in the news yesterday and my letter has gone.

[Guest]

just bumping this back up

[Pikey]

Sent and sent to all on e:mail address to send as well!

[Valkyrie]

OH sorted - he can forward it to his contacts now.

[sandyhas3chucks]

bumped as only just seen myself.