Part 0800.0005

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Anybody else heard about this? I have been told by several people, that in the UK (maybe not Ireland, though) putting hens into those dreadfully small battery cages is going to be banned in the next few years.

 

If it is true, this is a massive step forward towards an end to what I would call "cruelty to chickens"

 

A hopeful Mr Rhode Island Red

[surfer_chicken]

This is the only recent thing I could find online:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-124834/Battery-hens-banned.html

 

It says that the 'barren' cages will be replaced with 'enriched' cages, with roosting bars and a nest box. I'd still call that battery farming myself , but I suppose it's at least a step in the right direction.

[LuckyChickenLover-]

They're going to be 'banned' in 2012.

 

They'll still live in cages, but the cages will be larger and will contain enrichment like nesting boxes and perches.

[Chucky Mama]

Our local battery farm has just closed because of the new legislation.

[Olly]

I hate to be a voice of gloom, but part of the problem is that the annual consumption of eggs in the UK is such that if the whole industry converted to free range only, they would simply not be able to supply enough eggs to meet demand. We would then be importing eggs from other countries where welfare standards are undoubtedly a lot worse.

 

I only buy free-range eggs (not that I need to buy them very often!) and I try to buy products containing only f/r egg, but other people make their choice based on price and availability. On the basis that we will never see an end to intensive chicken-farming, I think the enriched cages are a positive move for animal welfare.