Part 0800.0005

[Charlottechicken]

I'm the same, Alli . When I buy eggs (grudgingly!) I've always bought Happy Eggs on the strength of their advert. More fool me .

 

 

Me too I bought a couple of boxes last winter, as my girls generally don't lay from November to February. Think I'll either buy organic or not at all, and do without for three months.

[ali-s]

I stopped buying eggs from shops (free range and organic) when I rescued 4 ex free range Hens 18 months ago. They were in a terrible state, featherless, starving and very ill. It took months of care to bring them back to health. I have seen pictures posted on here of ex battery Hens which were in better condition than my four.

 

Thankfully I haven't had to buy any eggs for 18 months but if I did I would go to the farm shop were you pass their laying Hens in a field on the way to the shop.

 

I have also stopped buying products which contain egg. Recently I bought a Wrights cake mix but didn't use it as it contained egg which was probably from caged birds. Shame as Wrights mixes makes a delicious cake. Makes you wonder if buying products with free range egg in is any better.

[C&T]

I'm the same, Alli . When I buy eggs (grudgingly!) I've always bought Happy Eggs on the strength of their advert. More fool me .

 

 

Me too I bought a couple of boxes last winter, as my girls generally don't lay from November to February. Think I'll either buy organic or not at all, and do without for three months.

 

 

I understand the concept of Organic - but never sure if that means the animals are treated any better to any others? Not trying to be contraversial - just don't understand?

[the bradley bunch]

Most things to do with the RSCPA seem a bit suspect to me

Sue

 

me & hubby watch that programme 'What's in Your Basket?', and i was shocked by this week's episode which told how RSPCA's Freedom Food standard Willow Farm Chicken actually comes from 42 different farms across the country . Willow Farm is the brand, whereas i naively believed that it was the place the chickens came from . so whilst the chicken you're buying may meet RSPCA Freedom Food standards, the farm it's come from will almost always supply different grades of chicken - by buying this chicken we're actually supporting farmers who use the very farming methods we're trying to eradicate, such as barn, broiler & battery chickens. i felt sick to my stomach when i realised this, as i've always made my hubby (who's not a vegetarian like me) buy Willow Farm chicken. the programme also told how the same Freedom Food graded chicken packaged as 'Willow Farm chicken' goes out to other supermarkets, for example co-op, but is sold under a different brand name.

 

RSPCA's Freedom Food eggs also allow Beak Trimming, but Forced Moulting (starving hens to produce more eggs) is prohibited.

 

C&T -

for info on 'terms' & 'labelling' check out this great link:

http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/the-big-food-fight/chicken-label-jargon-buster-08-01-07_p_1.html

 

this is a snippet of what they say about the term 'Free Range':

From the name itself, you can guess that the birds are allowed to move outside with more space and to exhibit natural their behaviour. However, nothing is straightforward in the chicken world! There are EU legal standards but once again there are variations in interpretation. For example there is no limit to the size of flock (it can be in the 1000s) so once again cramped conditions can prevail, leading to stress.

Forced Moulting & Beak Trimming are both permitted in free-range egg layers.

 

and this is what they say about the term 'Organic':

The top standard remains organic and all such birds are supposed to be free ranging. Once again EU standards are open to interpretation. Flocks can be almost 10,000 strong meaning that some birds simply won't be able to make it out of the shed – picture commuters on a train during rush hour packed around the doorway with plenty more space inside!

 

Probably the best standards are those set by the Soil Association who recommend a flock size of 500. Birds here are truly free roaming spending two thirds of their life outdoors. They must have ground to root around and scratch in with cover from pasture, trees or shrubs. All of these things are important to promote natural bird behaviour and keep the bird active and healthier.

 

When it comes to the table an organic bird will have had at least double the life span of a 'standard' bird. But given the conditions some of those survive in, you may think it's a mercy they're killed so soon.

Hens are not routinely Beak Trimmed in organic egg laying.

 

i think making people aware of the above is going to be significent in the future of chicken welfare. don't just buy 'free range' or 'organic', always look at the logo to know what standard of living the hens have had.

 

however as is demonstrated above with regards to the Willow Farm chicken, even by buying something labelled as meeting higher welfare standards, you're not necessarily supporting a 'good' farm .

[C&T]

Thankyou Bradley Bunch - interesting.

 

Soil Association sounds a good label to look out for.

[the bradley bunch]

no probs C&T i've learnt a lot myself to be honest

this is the image to look out for:

and here's a link to their site if anyone wants more consumer info, campaign info, and welfare standard info:

http://www.soilassociation.org/Whyorganic/Welfareandwildlife/Animalwelfare/tabid/381/Default.aspx

[Hayleybug]

does anyone know which shops are likely to sell the soil association approved eggs? i'm going to mainly go and get mine from a local farm shop where possible, but it would be nice to know if anyone has spotted the approved ones anywhere such as a supermarket (unlikely i know!). am v worried now as i havent got my chickens yet and i now wont be buying any eggs at this rate! (no cakes for OH!)

[Chucky Mama]

I thought that all organic free range eggs were soil association approved - I may be completely wrong though. I see them in local shops and I am sure there must be some in some of the supermarkets.

[chickencam]

This is sad and a reflection on our greed and need for cheap food whatever the cost. Any intensive farming will cause welfare issues. I know that my girls can feather peck at times and I have had red mite problems this summer, and that is with 7 hens and lots of love and care. Unfortunately not all hen behaviour, though natural is friendly, so if you pack them into a small space they will peck each other and fight and disease will spread. We also know how quickly our girls can trash an area of grass, so imagine a huge flock on a field the same will happen.

 

My girls that have been laying since last August are looking very scappy and skinny at the moment, eg laying takes it out of a bird and they all need a rest over the winter. I would hate anyone who didn't know hens to see my girls at the moment because they look in poor condition, but this is down to nature not bad treatment.

 

I am coming up to my first egg free winter for a while and I will be taking great care where I buy my eggs from, but it is very hard to be truely certain about welfare standards without looking after the birds yourself. One of the problems is that these super egg laying hybrids should not have been bred in the first place, it is unnatural and wears the birds out.

[the bradley bunch]

does anyone know which shops are likely to sell the soil association approved eggs? i'm going to mainly go and get mine from a local farm shop where possible, but it would be nice to know if anyone has spotted the approved ones anywhere such as a supermarket (unlikely i know!). am v worried now as i havent got my chickens yet and i now wont be buying any eggs at this rate! (no cakes for OH!)

 

You could join a local Organic Buying Group; find your nearest one at http://www.soilassociation.org/Takeaction/Getinvolvedlocally/Joinalocalgroup/Findyournearestgroup/tabid/1192/Default.aspx

Organic buying groups

 

Organic buying groups involve people who regularly get together to buy organic food. Groups can be made up of a handful of people, or a much larger number, from your community, your workplace, your sports club etc. By pooling their buying power and ordering food in bulk, direct from farmers or suppliers, you can buy good quality food at a more affordable price.

Groups may buy fresh produce, such as meat, vegetables or dairy from a farmer, or dried goods from a whole food wholesaler. They may have an informal arrangement amongst themselves, or adopt a more formal structure such as a cooperative.

 

Buying groups enable greater access to fresh, local, ethically produced food and in addition can provide a secure market to local farmers who really benefit from having regular, reliable, local customers.

 

If you are interested in setting up a group, use our Guide to find about how go about it in the Resources section. Also see the Case Studies to find out more about other people's practical experience of how their buying groups operate.

 

If you are an established buying group currently purchasing dried goods from a wholesaler and want to begin sourcing fresh produce including meat, fruit and vegetables, eggs and dairy, please contact us and we can help you to establish links with local farmers.

 

you could also contact the Soil Association on 0117 314 5000 to see which supermarkets sell approved eggs. i think that's the only way you'll know for sure.

[Cranfield Kate]

oh NO! I don't even want to watch the video. i've bought their eggs when my girls stopped on the strength of their advert.

 

this is really depressing.

 

to avoid "hidden" battery eggs i never buy cakes or anything that involves eggs unless they come from waitrose, co-op or M&S AND the label specifically says free range.

 

but now you wonder if you can evern trust that.

[Heidi-Hi]

to avoid "hidden" battery eggs i never buy cakes or anything that involves eggs unless they come from waitrose, co-op or M&S AND the label specifically says free range.

 

but now you wonder if you can evern trust that.

 

I don't think so, because the lady in the video said that they supply to M&S, Co-op, Tesco etc. The only one they don't was Sainsbury's I think, because they do the 'Woodland' range.

 

Don't trust any of them anymore, local farm shop is the way to go I think!

[Cranfield Kate]

I live in south east london so a farm shop is not really an option. and the local farmers markets I don't believe are actually farmers. they look suspiciously like they've been to the cash and carry and bought a load of stuff and a trestle table.

 

and also, just because they're farmers doesn't mean the eggs are free range.

 

makes you just want to give up.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Thanks Bradley Bunch for posting that info about The Soil Association.

 

There are other organic certification schemes in the UK (they are all coded with a certification number - The Soil Association's is 'UK5') however, as far as I am aware The Soil Association is the only certification with strict welfare standards.

 

Soil Association approved eggs are fairly easily found in supermarkets - just check that the organic eggs you are buying are actually Soil Association approved and not some other organic standard as the welfare criteria may not be as stringent.

 

I think eggs from farm shops are unlikely to be Soil Association approved, unless they are from a farm which meets Soil Association standards. The farm I buy my veg box from is a Soil Association approved farm and their eggs meet the Soil Association standards so should I need to buy extra over the winter (I hope not) I will add them to my veg box order.

[sparkysmum]

Hi, I was so disturbed by all of this that today I spoke to " an expert in animal welfare" who said that the only eggs she would privately endorse were the organic soil association eggs. Now the only problem is finding them...................... If only my girls would lay, I wouldn't have to think about this at all Alli xx

[catalan]

Waitrose are the only main stream supermarket to sell Soil Association Organic eggs. If you can find Organic eggs in the other supermarkets they will have been certified by other Organic certifiers. I think Waitrose Organic eggs are now Duchy Organic but still Soil Association approved. I will have a look when I go shopping later. See pages 17 to 19 in the link below

http://www.efrc.com/manage/authincludes/article_uploads/Doingthejobproperly.pdf

[the bradley bunch]

no probs Lavenders

and thanks for that link Catalan...now i can tell all my friends that there is no excuse and that they can get their eggs from waitrose! (they all hate me, Lol )

[Lavenders_Blue]

Interesting link, Catalan. I am surprised that SA allows artificial lighting to be used to increase egg laying during the winter!

[Janty]

 

to avoid "hidden" battery eggs i never buy cakes or anything that involves eggs unless they come from waitrose, co-op or M&S AND the label specifically says free range.

 

but now you wonder if you can evern trust that.

 

Don't forget that these chocolate products also contain scanky eggs...

 

walnut whip

milky way

mars bar

toblerone

creme eggs

chomp bars

curly wurly

cadbury's fudge

double decker

 

 

Obviously the M&S walnut whips are ok.

[Chicken shack]

It makes me feel so to see all these poor hens treated like this. I am so glad I have my girls, I only wish I had room for more and could supply all my freinds and every one at work. Makes me so angry I never trusted that man with the quad bike anyway. The bird was trapped on it and must have been terrified.

[debbie9946]

I have just posted this video on my facebook, Wasn't surprised by the lack of response from my friends, easier for them to stick their heads in the sand, literally.

[Guest]

People who don't have hens don't tend to care so long as it is cheap.

I have given up trying to get through to people they dont want to know.

[Hayleybug]

does anyone know which shops are likely to sell the soil association approved eggs? i'm going to mainly go and get mine from a local farm shop where possible, but it would be nice to know if anyone has spotted the approved ones anywhere such as a supermarket (unlikely i know!). am v worried now as i havent got my chickens yet and i now wont be buying any eggs at this rate! (no cakes for OH!)

 

You could join a local Organic Buying Group; find your nearest one at http://www.soilassociation.org/Takeaction/Getinvolvedlocally/Joinalocalgroup/Findyournearestgroup/tabid/1192/Default.aspx

Organic buying groups

 

Organic buying groups involve people who regularly get together to buy organic food. Groups can be made up of a handful of people, or a much larger number, from your community, your workplace, your sports club etc. By pooling their buying power and ordering food in bulk, direct from farmers or suppliers, you can buy good quality food at a more affordable price.

Groups may buy fresh produce, such as meat, vegetables or dairy from a farmer, or dried goods from a whole food wholesaler. They may have an informal arrangement amongst themselves, or adopt a more formal structure such as a cooperative.

 

Buying groups enable greater access to fresh, local, ethically produced food and in addition can provide a secure market to local farmers who really benefit from having regular, reliable, local customers.

 

If you are interested in setting up a group, use our Guide to find about how go about it in the Resources section. Also see the Case Studies to find out more about other people's practical experience of how their buying groups operate.

 

If you are an established buying group currently purchasing dried goods from a wholesaler and want to begin sourcing fresh produce including meat, fruit and vegetables, eggs and dairy, please contact us and we can help you to establish links with local farmers.

 

you could also contact the Soil Association on 0117 314 5000 to see which supermarkets sell approved eggs. i think that's the only way you'll know for sure.

oh good information!! thanks very much

[Roobaloo]

I feel very stupid too. Before I got my girls, and while they're on medication or not laying, I bought Happy Eggs.

 

This is utterly disgusting.

 

Never again. I'd sooner go without eggs, cakes, sauces and any other egg-related product.