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

[Kar333]

Having visited a friend and her chickens today, I was appalled when she said they were ex-Waitrose free-range organic hens, only a year old and replaced as they were no longer efficient enough. They were in such a state they looked like ex-battery hens; sores, pecking injuries, missing feathers, some without tails, bare skin. One had such a bad prolapse her husband had to put it out of its pain and suffering. Can't stop thinking about it.....

[migsy]

How awful. I did not know that free-range hens would get into that condition. Perhaps you should take some photos and contact Waitrose to see what they have to say about it. It is terrible that the consumer can be conned into buying something that they believe has been produced ethically. Really shocking.

[Sam]

Thats awful.

 

I know they are different to their meat birds, but has anyone noticed on the packet of Waitrose chicken it says something along the lines of 'Reered by farmers who care' What does that actually mean? I'm guessing not free-range

[Kar333]

We're going to go back and take photos tomorrow. Have contacted Waitrose, also IFAW to see what they say.

[counturchickens]

Let us know what happens. Since having hens, still eat chicken (oh thought I wouldn't) and pay a fortune for free range!

[migsy]

We're going to go back and take photos tomorrow. Have contacted Waitrose, also IFAW to see what they say.

 

Great! Let us know how you get on. Omlet members got New Covent Garden to use FR eggs in quiches so perhaps we could make a difference here too.

[TAJ]

Organic, free range or not it seems the max age for laying hens is 18 months - there was an article a year or so ago - it wasn't the farmer that wanted to get rid of them so young - it was part of the contract the supermarkets stipulated. As to condition often free range rehomes look as bad as battery hens.

 

If you look at the minimum requirements (as used by large producers) free range organic can still be pretty intensive.

 

Tracy

[The Dogmother]

 

All the more reason to buy local so that you can see the conditions they're in.

[Jools]

From the Soil Association's website

 

It's also worth remembering that chickens are natural bullies and while free range or organic living conditions are a million times preferable to intensive, it's fairly well known that their chickens do exhibit more natural chicken-like behaviour. They may well have gone into moult too, which would make their condition look worse than it actually is. I'm not condoning it or trying to make excuses, just adding some information.

 

Taj is also right about the choice of when to replace not being with the farmer but with the packing station or supermarket.

 

I'd be interested to hear the Waitrose response

[chickanne]

Agree - Supermarkets have far too much power in our food supply chain. My local farm shop chicken man has had to get rid of his flock earlier because he now supplies into Mr Sainsbury!

 

The whole free range thing still does seem a bit of a con. When my chicken farm friend gets his so called free range birds they stay cooped up in the big sheds for several weeks so they can "learn the ropes" and know where to eat, sleep and lay. Then, when he opens up the sheds they have the opportunity to free range but some choose not to!

 

At least the ones outside seem content, dust bathing and wandering.......

[percy049]

pics of our supposedly ex-free range hens.....

 

 

[Guest]

We're going to go back and take photos tomorrow. Have contacted Waitrose, also IFAW to see what they say.

 

well done!

[zakjon-98]

I always thought free range ment they live good lives that's why I brought freerange eggs before chooks. Obviously not always

[The Dogmother]

If I remember rightly, 'Free Range' means only that they have the option to go outside; many choose not to or are bullied away from the doors.

[percy049]

And some are only let out every other day, and alot, like Claret said, stay inside because they are bullied

[stehaggan]

not what you would expect from waitrose.. makes you wonder what the others are like :-S x

[WitchHazel]

The girls in the pics do look in a bit of a state. I wonder if it's poor conditions, or whether it's just the way it is with having vast flocks?

 

I'm surprised that you are surprised that the Girls are still replaced at 12 or 18 months. That's a standard commercial decision, nothing to do with how the birds are kept.

 

We have a free range egg farmer near us who only sells locally. His birds are well kept in lovely housing, not massive sheds, and the Girls are properly free range - it's just the sort of place you'd want to buy your eggs from. They're still a breed which are bred to lay eggs frequently and regularly for 12 -18 months; after that time, the frequency (and quality) of the eggs declines sharply, and the return on investment (number of days you're feeding chickens which don't lay sellable eggs) just isn't there. He replaces his birds at less than 18 months, and I don't see how he could do anything different and still make a sensible profit.

[Guest]

it really annoys me when you see adverts like the 'happy egg' one with the chickens riding around on the back of quad bikes. I know people aren't daft enough to think this actually happens but the hens are show with beautiful glossy plumage and tons and tons of grass areas.

The reality in most cases is very different.

They should be done for false advertising but then again it's proving it!

Like clare says, best to buy local. I live in a town but still have a free range egg farm about a mile away from our house. If we didn't have our own girls then I'd get my eggs there.

You can find local free range suppliers using http://www.freerangereview.com/

Pass on to those not in the know.

[sjp]

Poet sadly a lot of the buying public do belive that chickens live like that ad both egg layers and meat birds

[poppy ben grace]

Even worse is that many people couldnt care less. They just want a cheap product.

[Jools]

And don't forget that most eggs end up in products and not in egg boxes on the shelves. Buying eggs locally is fine but what do you do if you want to buy cakes, quiches, pasta, mayo and other foods containing egg? At least if you buy free range or organic, you're not supporting the battery system.

 

Here's a link to the CIWF campaign to end battery cages for anyone who wants to get active.

[Kar333]

Reply from Waitrose:

 

"Thank you for your comments. We can assure you that animal welfare is of the utmost importance to us, and our organic egg farms are independently audited by the Lion Code and the Soil Association - in addition to our own audits at least every six months.

 

We're really keen to look in to this, as a matter of urgency, and therefore we hope you don't mind if we email you directly to find out some more details and to launch a full investigation."

 

Will keep you updated.......

[Guest]

Even worse is that many people couldnt care less. They just want a cheap product.

 

we have to turn them into social pariahs then, just like smokers If you buy cheap meat then eat it outside!

[Guest]

great reply from waitrose, hope they see it through, keep us posted x

[surfer_chicken]

I have seen footage of the treatment Waitrose "free-rangers" before. The farmers were picking them up and carrying around by the feet etc, throwing them around. I was happy to see in time that Waitrose stopped working with this farm as soon as they were shown the footage, but now I am wondering how common this kind of treatment is. I will be very interested to see how this investigation progresses.

 

I certainly count myself lucky to know exactly how the hens that lay my eggs have been treated, but this is still a major issue for those who can only rely on suppliers being trustworthy.